Planning your next adventure just got a serious upgrade. We recently rolled out some updates in the Route Editor on the web, giving you more control and smarter tools to build routes exactly the way you want.
Whether you’re mapping out a backcountry hike, off-road route, or any adventure for that matter, the new experience is designed to make planning faster, clearer, and more flexible. The updated editor is available in both the full-width and the sidebar editor, so you can plan your way without changing your workflow.
What’s New in the Route Editor
Numbered Route Points
No more guessing which point is which. Each point in your route is now clearly numbered, making it easier to track your progress, reference specific sections, and adjust complex routes with confidence.
This is especially helpful when fine-tuning longer or more detailed routes, and when communicating specific points along your route.
Mile Markers
You can now toggle mile markers on or off to quickly reference mileage along the route while you’re planning. This makes it easier to keep track of distances directly on the map as you plan out your route.
Reverse, Loop, and Out-and-Back with Clarity
Whether you’re reversing a route, closing a loop, or creating an out-and-back, the Route Editor keeps everything clear and easy to follow.
When you use Reverse Route, Close Loop, or Out-and-Back, the route point numbers automatically update to reflect the new direction, and directional arrows adjust accordingly, just like before.
These visual updates make it easy to understand your route direction at a glance, no matter how you create or modify it.
Flexible Routing: Snap + Straight Line Combined
You’re no longer locked into a single routing mode. Start with Snap-to-Trail or Snap-to-Road, and switch to Straight Line at any time – or vice versa – while building your route.
And when using a Snap mode, the editor adapts as you build:
- Click near a trail and your route snaps automatically
- Click slightly off the trail, and a short straight-line connection is created via the shortest path
- Click farther away and place points freely in Straight Line mode
- Return near a trail, and snapping resumes
If you prefer more control, you can manually switch routing modes at any time to apply different styles to specific sections of your route.
Pro Tip: While routing in one of the ‘Snap to’ modes, hold the Shift key to momentarily switch to Straight Line mode while you continue to add points. This allows for very fast, very flexible route building!
Add Waypoints While You Build
You can now add waypoints directly while creating your route!
Turn on Manage Route Markers (it will appear green), then click anywhere on the map to add waypoints for locations such as trailheads, campsites, water sources, and scenic viewpoints.
To adjust the waypoints, simply drag them to a new location at any time. When you’re ready to continue building your route, turn off Manage Route Markers.
Note: Waypoints added this way are saved separately from your route and can be edited later from the Saved menu after you save your route.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Speed up your workflow with built-in keyboard shortcuts.
Quickly undo edits, add more points, choose route navigation, and streamline your route building without breaking your flow. You can view all available shortcuts anytime by clicking the Keyboard Shortcuts icon in the right sidebar.
Try It Now
The new Route Editor isn’t just about drawing lines; it’s about planning smarter adventures.
With new features like numbered route points, waypoint creation, flexible routing modes, and improved visual planning, you can map out your route with more confidence before you leave home.
Head to the map on Gaia GPS and start building your next route with the new Route Editor!
