How to Upload Gpx File to Viewranger
How frustrating it tin be when your friend shares with you an awesome hike but y'all cannot open the map because they u se a dissimilar application or you lot download the map of a walk yous want to exercise online but cannot go it to work on your phone!!! This is considering maps idue south in a GPX format. So what exactly is a GPX file and how can you view the GPX files on your phone? This article is a step past pace guide to prove you how to download and upload GPX files to get the route on your phone.
If you haven't visited information technology already, I accept a page where you can notice the maps of nearly of the walks I have done here. All the files on this page are in GPX format. In this guide, I prove you how to download and upload the file to be able to view it on your phone.
What is a GPX file?
And then what is a GPX file? Co-ordinate to Wikipedia, a GPX file (GPS Substitution Format) is a GPS information file showing tracks, routes and waypoints that can exist read by software applications. The format is "open" which means anyone can read the maps for free. The aim of a GPX file is to allow GPS data to exist exchanged between devices such equally smartwatches to phones. It additionally makes it possible for hikers to share maps, routes and tracks they completed with others.
View GPX files on Google Maps
Tin can I open a GPX file on Google Maps? Yes, yous can. Allow me show you how yous can import a GPX file on Google Maps.
Opening a GPX file on Google Maps
If you already accept the file of the map y'all want to open on Google Maps, that's fine. If not, head to my Maps folio to download a map. Click on the pink push where information technology is written "Download Map Here" in front of the proper name of the walk. The file volition automatically download and appear in your "downloads" folder on your calculator. In this instance, nosotros are downloading the Sole Street Round Map.
Once you lot downloaded the map, open up Google My Maps. Click on "Get Started". You then land on your My Maps account which should look like the one below. Note that you might exist required to open up an account if you exercise not have a Google account already.
Click on the red button "Create a New Map" in the elevation left corner. You lot then arrive on a page showing a map (in my case Europe considering this is where I am based). On the left-mitt corner, you lot see a box chosen "Untitled Map". You tin create a proper noun for your map hither. Just below, there is an "Untitled Layer" box ticked. Click on it and a pop-upwardly window volition open up and you will be able to modify the proper name of the layer to any you want. Just underneath it, there is a blue arrow called "Import".
Click on the blue "Import". It will open a pop-upward window where you can upload the GPX file yous desire to open on Google Maps. Requite it a few seconds for the map to load and ta-da!!!
Is Google Maps good for hiking trails?
While Google Maps is a great and reputable application, it is not suitable for hiking trails. Every bit you can encounter on the map above, Google Maps does not evidence tracks simply but streets and roads which makes it unsuitable for hiking.
To exist able to read a hiking map and follow the directions, you demand an application that provides you with greater details in terms of tracks, waypoints and as well elevation. So let's take a wait at some of the applications y'all can download on your phone.
Applications you need to view GPX files for hiking maps
There is a myriad of applications out at that place to help you view GPX files on Android or IOS phones. But which ones are the best for hiking? I volition talk yous through 2 very popular applications you tin can download on your phone for hiking maps.
ViewRanger
History
ViewRanger is an application for Android and IOS with more than 6 million users in the world. Information technology allows you to navigate, record tracks and share them.
Information technology was founded by Craig Wareham and Mike Brocklehurst in 2006. Mike is an gentleman of Alfred Wainwright and wanted to create a digital version of Alfred'due south guides to the Lake Commune.
Following the launch of the iPhone and the App Store, they could finally see a way to realise their vision. They started developing a navigation application and in 2015 they released ViewRanger six.
The company has been growing rapidly since, and in 2019 was acquired past Outdoor Active GmbH with the vision to create the world'southward number 1 navigation platform.
Pricing
You can download the application, open an business relationship and use their navigation features for free. All the same, if you desire boosted features, you will be required to pay a yearly subscription. The table below shows their different offers.
| Premium | Premium Plus | |
| Include | 3D, AR, BuddyDeacon, Offline Maps, AutoPlot, Photos | 3D, AR, BuddyDeacon, Offline Maps, AutoPlot, Photos |
| Additional Features | Unlimited Bone maps, OS Landranger maps, Os Explorer maps, Comprehend England, Wales and Scotland, Unlimited offline maps | |
| Toll | £iv.99/yr | £24.99/year |
Please notation that since ViewRanger was caused by Outdoor Active in that location might be a change in the above pricing table. They have a basic free offer, a Pro and a Pro + plans for respectively €2.50/calendar month and €v.00/calendar month.
OS Maps
History
Their story begins in 1745 in the wake of the Jacobite rebellion where the need for war machine mapping of the Scottish Highlands felt necessary. 2 years later, as the French Revolution grew, at that place was a fright that it could aggrandize across the Channel. As a result, the young engineer William Roy was tasked to map the S Coast of England to be able for the armed forces to put in place a strategy to protect the coast.
Present, Ordnance Survey (OS) is a authorities-owned mapping agency of Peachy Britain. With headquarters located in South Hampton, the company counts around i,200 employees. Known from the general public for their leisure walkers map, OS also provides digital maps and phone applications also as services for businesses and the government.
Pricing
While OS Maps too offers a free version, yous are quite limited with what you can practise compared to the free version of ViewRanger. For case, you cannot save your tracks on the free version.
They offer 2 types of membership, either £2.99 monthly or £23.99 yearly, which is cheaper than the yearly subscription of ViewRanger.
There are a lot more navigation applications on the market. I chose to only review these two as they are the most pop applications among hikers. In the adjacent part, I will be showing you how to upload a GPX file onto your phone using ViewRanger and OS Maps applications.
Step by Step guide to view GPX files on your telephone
In order to view GPX files on your phone and follow the trails, you need to download the map and and so upload it onto your navigation application. In the below tutorial, I will be showing you how to download the map on your calculator and upload it on ViewRanger and OS Maps application on your phone.
Viewranger
Open up an account with Viewranger hither and follow the steps. If you already have an account, go on the abode page and click on "My ViewRanger" on the meridian menu.
On the adjacent folio, you need to log in to your business relationship. The link to login is located in the peak right-hand corner of the page.
Once logged in, hover your mouse on "Routes and Tracks" on the top menu and select "Create a road from GPX" from the dropdown card.
Then on the side by side page, you will be able to upload the route you downloaded. On the "GPX File" box click "Choose File". A pop-up window will announced where you can select the file y'all want to upload. Select the file and click "Choose for upload" on the bottom left corner. Leave the "Tolerance" at 30 and click "Upload".
And then you can view the map. Save it by clicking on the icon on the top menu.
Go to the application on your phone. On the home page click on the tertiary icon on the meridian menu representing a person and then click on "Routes" on the menu below the picture.
Scroll down until you detect the map.
When you lot are ready to start the hike, simply click on the map and on the next screen press "Get-go Route". Enjoy the hike!
Bone Maps
Open an account with Ordnance Survey (and not OS Maps to have a free business relationship) and download the OS Maps awarding on your phone. To create an account, click hither. Select "Sign Up Now" and follow the steps.
Then go to the Os Maps website using this link and sign in on the top right corner.
In one case on your profile click on the three lines on the superlative left corner and a menu will appear on the left-manus side of the screen. Select "Routes".
On the next screen, select "Import GPX".
Then chose the file you want to upload and once selected click on the "Upload" push.
A pop-upwards window will announced confirming the road you are trying to upload and asking you if you want to make this route individual or not. Once satisfied it is the correct road, click "Import".
You lot volition go a bulletin confirming that the route has been imported.
You take at present uploaded the map to your profile! You can so open the application on your phone and select the three lines on the left corner.
Select "Routes".
Then wait for the map you downloaded (in our case the Sole Street Circular Walk). Click on the pointer at the bottom right to expand the window and so select "Offset Route". Enjoy the hike!
Concluding Thoughts on how to view GPX files
While it might seem complicated at first to view GPX files on your telephone, it gets easier with do. The more you do it, the more intuitive information technology will go.
If you do experience any issues with downloading and uploading the maps from my site to your phone, please do not hesitate to contact me using the contact form here.
Source: https://theflamingohiker.com/how-to-view-gpx-files/