Alright folks, this is a big one.
We all have that one trail—the one with the unbeatable views, the one that pushed us to our limits, the one that led to the best campsite we’ve ever found. And if you’ve been around the block, you also know that trails don’t maintain themselves. Closures happen. Erosion takes over. Signs disappear.
So, we’re doing something about it.
How It Works
For the first time ever, you can now donate directly to trail organizations with the Trail Karma program in Gaia GPS, and Toyota has already put $100,000 into the pot to make an impact.
Toyota kicked things off with a $100,000 upfront donation. Each of the 20 sponsored trails already received $1,000, meaning $80,000 is left to match donations from you, our Gaia GPS members.
That means if you donate $10, your trail gets $20. Donate $50? Boom—$100 toward keeping your favorite routes open. And the best part? Gaia GPS, Trail Karma, and Outside take exactly $0. Every cent goes straight to the folks out there doing the hard work.
How to Donate in Gaia GPS
We made this as simple as possible:
- Open Gaia GPS on Android, iOS, or the web.
- Select the “Gaia Overland” map to browse overland routes.
- Tap on a trail to check out photos, difficulty ratings, and detailed descriptions.
- Tap “Donate” to contribute funds directly to the trail association.
And Toyota will match every dollar up to $80,000.
The Gaia Overland Map Layer is Free for Everyone
Because we want more people to experience these trails (and understand why they matter), we’re unlocking the Gaia Overland Map Layer for FREE from February 3 to May 3, 2025.
For three months, everyone—free and paid members—can access:
- Curated overland routes across the U.S.
- Photos so you know what you’re getting into
- Difficulty ratings so you can plan accordingly
- Detailed descriptions to help you prep like a pro
Why This Matters
We all talk about protecting access to the outdoors, but let’s be honest—it’s hard to know where to start. We’ve all seen trails get shut down or driven miles only to hit a locked gate. And we’ve all wished there was a way to actually help keep these places open.
Well, now there is. And Toyota is backing the effort in a huge way.
This is just the beginning. If you’re part of a trail association, club, or group and want to enable donations for your lands, reach out. We’d love to grow this initiative and support more trails.
If a trail has ever given you an incredible adventure, now’s your chance to give back. Let’s keep these places open—for us, and for the next folks rolling up to explore.
See you out there.
