The Best Hiking Navigation Apps
There are two main types of hiking navigation apps: general navigation apps and trail-specific apps. In the first, you need to import your own data to overlay on top of a base map. Examples include Gaiagps, CalTopo and MapOut. In the second option, information about a specific trail is prebuilt into the app. The most common example is FarOut.
Each type offers unique features suited to different needs. By understanding the strengths and limitations of these apps, you can select the best tool—or combination of tools— for your next hike.
Comparing the types of navigational apps
General navigation apps
- Equipped with advanced features and offline tools, which are typically available through a subscription
- Provide advanced customisation options (e.g. custom map layers).
- Not restricted to established trails
- Requires more time and effort to learn
Trail-specific apps
- Available through a one-off purchase
- Very quick and easy to set up
- Has fewer features compared to general navigation apps
- Often contains valuable comments from hikers
- Only works on established tracks
- Offers limited map layers which are generally sufficient for basic navigation
- May encourage dependency on a single source of information
Discussion
For us, if a trail has a pre-built guide, we almost always use it since it is quick, easy to access, and offers great value with its relatively inexpensive one-time purchase. Having trail specific information (such as track closures, water availability or resupply options) is incredibly valuable. Not to mention the up-to-date comments from other hikers on the trail (available in apps such as FarOut).
However, we would never rely solely on these apps as we find they have quite a few limitations. Instead, we like to pair them with a general navigation app (like GaiaGPS or MapOut) with the same trail (but different GPX file) imported into it. That way, we can add our own waypoints and access added information accessible through additional map layers (such as Strava heatmaps, high-resolution satellite imagery or state/government maps).
Comparing general navigational apps
One of the most frequent questions we receive is which general navigation app to choose. For us, it comes down to a few key criteria: functionality whilst planning a trip, functionality whilst hiking, and cost.
Useful trip planning functionality
- Offers a web version for easier planning on your computer (compared to a phone)
- Reliable syncing with the app
- Capable of handling large GPX files with numerous waypoints
- Supports importing custom map layers (e.g. Strava heatmap, NSW SIX maps, other satellite imagery)
- Provides useful map overlays (e.g. slope, aspect, sun loading)
- Allows bulk editing of waypoints
- Features a 3D view
- Enables the import of physical maps
Useful functionality whilst hiking
- Stable
- Easy to download maps offline
- Can download custom map layers
- Provides useful offline map overlays (e.g. slope, aspect, sun loading)
- Create routes offline
- Determines the distance and elevation gain between points on a GPX file
- Offers a downloadable 3D view
Cost
- Free is the best option
- A one-off payment is the second-best choice
- A subscription is our least preferred option
Discussion
The short answer, unfortunately, is that no tool excels in all three criteria. We generally opt for a combination of CalTopo, Gaia GPS, and MapOut, each having their own strengths and weaknesses.
For trip planning, we think CalTopo is by far the best option. In the web version, it can basically do everything we want, from custom map imports, to handling large GPX files. In comparison, the web version of Gaia GPS tends to be slower and clunkier. It struggles with large data sets, lacks bulk waypoint editing, and is missing some useful map overlays (e.g. sun loading). It is also difficult to add scanned topo maps in Gaia GPS, something that we find very useful in CalTopo. MapOut unfortunately does not have a web version, and is therefore limiting (but not unhelpful) when it comes to planning a trip.
Whilst hiking, we find that the Gaia GPS and MapOut apps are much easier to use than CalTopo. CalTopo lacks some crucial features, such as downloading custom map sources. This means no Strava heatmap, other government maps or different satellite imagery. You also can’t download satellite imagery in high resolution. These limitations are deal-breakers for us, so we end up using a combination of Gaia GPS (which has all the above features) and MapOut in the field instead.
We find MapOut is the most useful offline app for measuring distances along GPX files and generating elevation profiles. It effectively answers the questions, “How far is it to X?” and “How much climbing and descending is there along the way?” It also excels at creating routes offline. However, it lacks the ability to download different map layers, and the database is not very sophisticated. Whilst it’s not a standalone solution, it is the app we rely on most in the field.
Both CalTopo and Gaia GPS are subscription based models. If we only had to choose one, we would opt for Gaia GPS. This is because it is more important for us to have detailed satellite imagery and access to the Strava heatmap offline than it is to have a better web version for trip planning. Fortunately, we benefit from a lifetime Gaia GPS membership because we were an early purchaser.
Summary
Whilst there are many different navigation apps, the most important thing is to spend the time becoming familiar with the one you decide to use. Understanding its features and limitations will ensure you can make the most of it in the field. Ultimately, you have the flexibility to use more than one app, leveraging different strengths to better meet your specific needs.
Once you’ve chosen your app(s), the next step is to establish a reliable digital navigation system for your hike. This system may also involve learning how to use a GPS watch for navigation. We cover all of this in our navigation series.