How to Plot Your Hiking Route with GaiaGPS

Similar Entries In: Technique, Hike Safety, Recommended Reads, , .

thumbnail for YouTube video

Fast YouTube tutorial

Disclosure: This content may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Here’s how I get a good estimate of the length of a planned hike with its elevation gain

Watch as I plot a trailed route in the Catskills using GaiaGPS on my phone — after which, I plot a bushwhack route up Sleeping Lion and Halcott Mountain.

This is something Gaia does really well.

Video

This video tutorial is in a tall format so it will look best on phones, but you can follow along on desktops too.

All the tools and functions shown in the phone app are also available on Gaia’s website interface.

Plotting a route — either trailed or untrailed — on Gaia is a great way to get an estimate of the length of a planned hike, as well as the total elevation gain and loss.

You can use these numbers in conjunction with your personal hiking pace formula to estimate how long your hike will take.

It’s always wise to also check with fellow hikers and online resources about current trail conditions, and to get some general trail intel for the route you’re planning.

Lean on your hiking community. Stay safe.

Read More

My YouTube channel is currently filling up with a nice mix of videos. Subscribe now to get notified of new videos as I post them.

Get full access…

Get instant access to the full version of this site and enjoy great supporter benefits: full galleries, full trail notes, early access to the latest content, and more.

Hot on the website right now…

Follow for more…

Follow my @TotalCatskills content on Instagram for regular hiking inspo and safe, inclusive community.

I also stay active on Facebook and Threads.

Your comments are welcome here…