Gaia GPS

On April 8, 2024, North America will witness a historic, awe-inspiring event: a total solar eclipse. Discover where to see it with our brand new North America Eclipse map. The post Find Prim...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/2024-north-america-total-solar-eclipse-map/

Playing hooky from the office just got even easier. Whether you’re looking to join video calls from the road or totally disconnect from the grid, our new, enhanced Cell Coverage… The pos...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/enhanced-cell-coverage-maps/

As the world opened back up in 2023, the Gaia GPS community adventured further, deeper, and higher than ever. As you climbed new peaks, skied new trails, and camped in… The post 2023 Mappe...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/best-new-features-2023/

Since 2008, Gaia GPS has revolutionized how people adventure outdoors. Now with millions of users, we remain committed to the Gaia GPS community and our mission of putting the best backcountry...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/price-adjustment-2023/

Maps like slope angle shading, topos, and satellite imagery can help you plan safer backcountry tours—if you know how to use them. Learn a few ways you can use maps as one more tool to mitig...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-use-maps-to-help-avoid-avalanches/

We’ve redesigned the top five features in the app to make Gaia GPS even easier and faster to use, so you can spend less time looking at your phone and more time adventuring. The post Meet ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/ux-updates-2023/

If you’re looking to give back this holiday season, give the gift of the great outdoors. Help us raise $2,500 for each of our nonprofit partners working to protect the planet and grow outdoo...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/support-what-you-love-this-giving-season/

Spy fall foliage from the comfort of your couch and time your leaf peeping just right with the help of a few trusted tools, including two of our special map layers. FreshSat — Recent and Fre...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/use-gaia-gps-to-find-the-best-fall-foliage/

Gaia GPS provides the best backcountry maps in the world. (We’re not biased or anything.) Our proprietary Gaia Topo, Gaia Overland, and Gaia Winter maps equip backcountry travelers on foot,�...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/discover-adventure-easier-than-ever-with-new-map-spotlight-on-gaia-gps/

The Gaia GPS team reflects on the parallels in persevering through adventures in the backcountry and in the office. The post Type 2 Engineering™: How the Gaia GPS Team Found Beauty in Suff...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/type-2-engineeering/

The famous Grizzly 399 and her four cubs are back! The grizzly bears survived the winter and continue charming Grand Teton National Park visitors. Learn more about Griz 399's amazing life stor...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/the-out-and-back-podcast-griz-399/

Move over technicolor, black and white is back in style. Meet Gaia Black and White, our brand new, very first all-black-and-white topo map. Whether you’re color vision deficient or want… ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-black-and-white-topo-map/

Calling all diehard map fans!  Do you yearn for the classic topo maps of old? You know, the ones not busied up with excessive colors and silliness when all you… The post Gaia Classic: The...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-classic-map/

If you’re considering an overlanding or off-roading trip, you’ll need a quiver of off-road driving skills like how to handle sand, mud, river crossings, and steeps climbs. Four 4x4 experts...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/9-expert-overlanding-tips-for-your-next-trip/

Save time and energy with map packs, our newest way to map. Enable this new experimental feature for iOS users and instantly put the best map presets in your hands. Whether you’re overlandin...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/map-packs/

Sometimes, it’s a relief—even a delight—to follow a trusted off-pavement route you know will go. Especially when you know it will go past breathtaking views, across challenging terrain, ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/backcountry-discovery-routes-integration/

You can live in a city and love the outdoors. In fact, there's an organization devoted to that premise: Mappy Hour. The post The Secret to Getting Young Urbanites Outdoors? ‘Mappiness’ ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/mappy-hour/

Don’t let cold feet hold you back. Stay warm and dry with our Snow Depth map. Inspired by a thru-hiker looking to track snow depths along the Pacific Crest Trail with Gaia GPS, the Snow Dept...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/snow-depth-map/

Knowing how to read a topographic map is the foundation to any backcountry adventure. Visualize the rise and fall of the land, and “see” the depths of canyons, the location of boggy meadow...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-read-topographic-maps/

We realize it’s still winter. But prime campsites for summer are going fast. As you pore over the map scheming up your 2023 adventures, you can snag the campsite of your dreams before it’s...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/campsite-reservations/

Come for the unparalleled accuracy and detail. Stay for the handwritten guide notes. Here’s how the most trusted and popular recreation maps from National Geographic Trails Illustrated can t...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/nationalgeographictrailsillustrated/

Cold weather is your phone battery’s nemesis. These tricks will help you save your phone’s juice so you can keep Gaia GPS up and running. The post How to Save Phone Battery Life in the B...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/save-phone-battery-life/

From planning your route to navigating in the field, Gaia GPS can take your backcountry skiing to the next level. Gaia GPS Group Product Manager and avid backcountry splitboarder Devin Lehman ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-plan-a-backcountry-ski-tour/

Spice up your next adventure with some delicious recipes and simple tips from Marco Hernandez, founder of Ovrlndx and author of The Overland Cook. While Marco brings an oven to slow bake roast...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-cook-camp-meals-marco-hernandez-ovrlndx/

You can now discover backcountry ski zones in Gaia Winter! Complete with worldwide ski resort maps plus trails for Nordic, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, fatbiking, and uphill skiing, your go-to w...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-winter-map-v2/

Looking for a new hobby, erhm, way of life in 2023? If you enjoy getting off the beaten path, overlanding might be for you. Learn exactly what overlanding even is, what an overloading route lo...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-get-started-overlanding/

As our community dreamed up more routes, downloaded more maps, and covered more ground than ever before, our team remained hard at work making Gaia GPS even better for your adventures. Explore...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/best-new-maps-and-features-2022/

Together, our adventures spanned 3.9 trips from earth to sun. Discover how the Gaia GPS community adventured this year, the top 10 most downloaded maps, and some surprising trends. The post ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/2022-mapped-gaia-gps-year-in-review/

Scout avalanche terrain easier than ever before. We’ve updated our Slope Angle map with the latest highest resolution lidar data from the USGS—the gold standard for slope angle shading. Us...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/spy-avalanche-terrain-with-higher-res-slope-angle-map/

Inject some adventure into your holiday spirit. Harvest your own Christmas tree! It’s an outing you’ll cherish forever. We’re here to help you find the perfect tree for your yuletide che...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-find-a-christmas-tree-using-gaia-gps/

Let’s face it—there’s no excuse to get stranded off the grid anymore. Satellite communication devices are now lightweight and budget-friendly. Learn all about these palm-sized messaging ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-satellite-communicators/

This Thanksgiving, join us in honoring the land under your feet—and those who have stewarded it for millenia. Check out our Native Land map from the world-renowned non-profit Native Land Dig...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/native-land-digital/

Happiness experts say it's better to receive an experience than something material. So ditch the shopping crowds and start dreaming. We rounded up the trips to gift your loved ones this holida...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/our-2023-travel-bucket-list/

We’ve partnered with our friends at OpenSnow to bring you leading backcountry forecasts right on the map. Tap anywhere in the world to get hyper-localized weather as you plan and navigate yo...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/opensnow-weather-forecasts-at-a-tap/

The flakes are flying! Find the lightest, fluffiest, deepest snow right from home. The Snow Stations (Daily) map gives you up-to-date reports on snow conditions around the West. Check out the ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/find-fresh-snow-with-the-new-snow-stations-daily-map/

Today we thank our veterans for their service. And we take a moment to reflect on how the history of one of our favorite pastimes, thru-hiking, remains inextricably linked to “walking off th...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/walking-off-the-war-on-the-appalachian-trail/

The high country is officially dusted in white, which means it’s time to tune the skis, get in those last-minute squats, and switch gears into snow mode. Get started by swapping your basemap...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-winter/

Freezing in the shade, sweltering in the sun, thermoregulation proves particularly tricky as the days get colder and shorter. Don't worry, we have a solution so you can keep getting after it n...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-layer-while-hiking-in-winter/

Level-up your adventures by taking our new online course from Outside Learn. Learn how to take your maps offline so you can navigate without cell service, how to reroute on the fly when you ne...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaiagps-advanced/

Stay safer and find legal ground while hunting across the United States. You just need that little app you already have on your phone – Gaia GPS. With Gaia GPS… The post How to Hunt with...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-go-hunting-with-gaia-gps/

Gaia GPS is such a powerful mapping and navigation tool that even we’ll admit there’s a little bit of a learning curve to mastering its breadth and depth. Take our free, brand-new course t...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-gps-101-outside-learn-course/

Dreaming of winter vacation? Whether you’re craving a balmy escape or looking for a snowy adventure far away from the crowds, explore the top 10 national parks to visit during winter. The ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/ten-national-parks-for-winter-adventure/

Cooler temps, a rainbow of colors, apple picking – fall is the perfect time for a road trip. The challenge is figuring out where to go. Author of the new book ‘Ultimate Road Trips: USA and...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/five-incredible-road-trips-perfect-for-fall/

Autumn presents one of the best opportunities to bust out the camera and practice your craft. But finding the perfect location for your photography project requires some skill. Professional ph...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-find-the-perfect-photography-location-with-gaia-gps/

Don’t let your weekend plans go up in smoke. Gaia GPS’s robust collection of weather maps can help you avoid current wildfires and find smoke-free skies. Learn how to use these (free!) wil...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/wildfire-and-smoke-maps/

Dreaming of taking an exotic vacation? Plan now, travel later with the Nat Geo Baja California maps. Find the best spots for surfing and sightseeing along the coast, or follow remote backroads...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/new-baja-california-maps-from-national-geographic/

Take your adventures off-road with the best maps for overlanding. This list includes favorites like Gaia Overland, USFS Roads and Trails, and Motor Vehicle Use Maps. Plus unlock a few bonus ma...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/the-best-maps-for-overlanding/

Creating your own adventures in Gaia GPS just got even easier — and more fun. Meet our new route editing tools, here to let you quickly fix any mistakes or changes of heart, automatically ou...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/create-route-edit-tools/

It was such a treat to see so many of you at Overland Expo Mountain West! Thank you to everyone who swung by our tent, and to our partners who put on incredible classes. We're listening to you...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/feedback-friends-and-fuel-at-overland-expo-mountain-west/

Join us in soaking up the last of summer by celebrating the holiday weekend outside! Between now and the end of Tuesday (11:59 pm PT), go on an adventure and add a photo waypoint to your Gaia ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/top-10-ways-to-use-waypoints/

Ditch the crowds with Gaia Overland, our brand new overlanding map. Designed in-house for planning big routes, navigating tricky terrain, and rerouting on the fly, Gaia Overland is the definit...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-overland-map/

Fastpacking is the next evolution of wilderness trips for those who want to go farther and faster. Practically speaking, such an endeavor entails jogging the descents, shuffling the flats, p...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/fastpacking-101-what-you-need-for-this-running-backpacking-hybrid/

Finding your way in the backcountry may be as simple as paying attention to the natural world around you. Raging rIvers, prevailing winds, and moss growing on tress can help you stay on course...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/natural-navigation-clues-how-to-find-your-way-without-a-compass/

Find out where you can send texts, make calls or access the internet along any route or trail. The new Cell Phone Coverage maps define where major cell phone carriers reach across the United S...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/find-phone-signal-with-new-cell-phone-coverage-maps/

What do you do when you’re unhappy in your corporate job? You hit the road and drive…all the way to Australia. That’s how Monique Song found her way into offroading and eventually becomi...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/monique-song-how-a-city-girl-became-the-overland-lady/

Overlanding upgrades often include expensive add-ons like lockers, a winch, or a new suspension. But there is a simple upgrade that will improve your vehicle's traction, and it doesn't have to...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-air-down-off-road-tires-for-overlanding/

Sunny spring days make us eager to hit the trails. But warm, dry conditions at the parking lot do not necessarily indicate that all the snow has melted out on the high mountain passes and deep...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-check-for-snow-on-the-trail/

We sat down with Brad and Regena Kowitz of the wildly popular YouTube channel TrailRecon to get an exclusive look into their lives and perspectives as overlanders. Learn how they started docum...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/trailrecon-explains-how-to-become-an-overlander-overnight/

Looking for a peaceful (and free) escape to the outdoors? Many National Forests across the United States allow free dispersed camping. Use Gaia GPS to find those free camping spots before head...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/using-gaia-gps-find-free-camping/

If you’ve ever wondered why your pack felt so heavy, it might be time to re-examine what you’ve stuffed in it. In this deep dive, our in-house expert walks you through how to plan your mul...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-plan-a-backpacking-trip-2/

No need to rifle through various guidebooks, websites, and maps on your next snow machine trip. Our brand new Snowmobile Trails map lets you plan and navigate in one place. Trails found around...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/snowmobile-trails-map/

Adventuring with your partner can be challenging to say the least. But don’t give up when tensions run high. Tim and Marisa Notier are living proof that it can be done — even when you shar...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/offroad-podcast-how-to-stay-married-on-adventures/

Gaia GPS has the perfect map for every adventure. Whether you’re snowshoeing up a mountain, backpacking off trail, or overlanding across multiple states, we’ve got you covered. To help you...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/top-10-maps/

We’ve revamped Gaia GPS on Android Auto to give you full functionality from your dashboard. Pan around on your navigation screen to view other parts of the map. Pinch the screen to zoom in a...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/android-auto-2022/

Get the latest ski resort conditions with just a tap. Our brand new Ski Resort Reports map provides the latest trail reports, weather readings, and terrain updates for ski areas around the glo...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/ski-resort-reports-map/

From following snow-swept trails to keeping an eye on avalanche conditions, Gaia GPS proves even more valuable during winter. But you can't use your phone if it dies in the cold. Learn how to ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-keep-your-phone-alive-in-cold-weather/

On a high avalanche danger day last February, two parties sought out safer, low angle-terrain in Utah’s Wasatch mountains. A colossal avalanche swept through the zone. Four of eight people d...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/avalanche-safety-tips/

Discover brand new routes, get the beta on trail conditions, and easily spy trails based on type and difficulty level with this new trail overlay. Combining Trailfork’s premier collection of...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/trailforks-mtb/

Ashley and Richard Giordano were the picture of success in 2013. But deep down, they were burned out from city life. Find out how a little red Toyota pickup truck and a leap of faith sent them...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaiagps-offroad-podcast-desk-to-glory/

While you were eating up the trail in 2021, we were busy rolling out improvements. From Android Auto to offline snap-to-trail route planning, Gaia Winter to 3D maps, check out these new maps a...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-gps-year-in-review-best-new-maps-and-features-of-2021/

Learn how to train for big mountain adventures from the city…during a pandemic. Find out the biggest reason why people quit their thru-hike. Get our very best five pieces of advice from the ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/out-and-back-podcast-best-stories-2021/

This year our cartographers and engineers worked hard to generate new maps and features to make Gaia GPS even better for your adventures. Learn about the updates that overlanders can’t imagi...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/best-new-overlanding-maps-and-features-of-2021/

Alaska adventurer Luc Mehl ice skated 125 miles along the Arctic Circle. Learn why wild skating has become Luc’s favorite winter pastime. Plus, get a crash course in using Gaia GPS to find s...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/the-art-of-expedition-ice-skating/

Backcountry skiing and riding can be both tempting and intimidating. The promise of untouched powder is alluring, but the threat of deadly avalanches is ever-present. How do you manage the ris...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/the-out-and-back-podcast-avalanche-safety/

Nothing ruins an adventure quite like getting lost. Say goodbye to that stress, panic, and wasted time by locating yourself with Gaia GPS. Learn how to quickly and easily find your way, even w...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-find-your-location-without-cell-service/

Dan Grec has travelled the world in his Jeep since 2009. The author of The Road Chose Me, Grec dishes his top tips on traveling across Africa and the Americas. Plus, learn how to pay for an in...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-gps-offroad-podcast-the-road-chose-me/

Access global 3D maps on gaiagps.com! Just click on the 3D button on the map, and watch the canyons plunge and the mountains pop into 3D. Whether you are hiking, overlanding, or backcountry sk...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/worldwide-3d-maps-gaia-gps/

Drive away before you stopped recording your track? We’ve got you covered. Learn how to trim your track, plus four more tips and tricks to get the most out of the app. The post 5 Gaia GPS ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/5-gaia-gps-hacks/

Van life with its sunset views and cozy living quarters seems like a dream — until you see the price tag. Jason Darrah, star of the viral YouTube show Primal Outdoors, is here to show you a ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-gps-offroad-podcast-primal-outdoors/

Mac of Halfway Anywhere has been conducting surveys on the PCT for eight years, and on the CDT for four. Get the inside scoop on what makes people quit the trail, why he dislikes trail magic, ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/planning-a-thru-hike-next-year-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

Never miss a turn on the trail again. Turn-by-turn directions are now available in both iOS and Android. Enjoy visual and voice directions on your next hike, run, or ride. Plus, iOS users can ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/turn-by-turn-directions/

Seven years go, Brittany and Eric of Hourless Life quit their tech jobs to live on the road. Now they've just set out on a 10 to 15 year road trip around the globe — with their toddler. We c...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaiagps-offroad-podcast-hourless-life/

Making a great cup of coffee in the backcountry is tricky. You can enjoy a silky smooth cup from a french press, but you have to lug around the equipment and the messy grounds. Or you can sett...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/out-and-back-best-camp-coffee/

Gaia GPS has joined forces with Outside Inc. to bring you not only the best backcountry navigation tools, but also leading outdoor journalism from our award-winning titles like Outside Magazin...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/outsideplus/

Once a year, fleeting reds, yellows, and oranges light up national parks across the country. How do you choose which of the 61 national parks to visit? Learn about the best national parks for ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/the-best-national-parks-to-visit-in-october/

Fifteen years ago, an owl swooped down to Mike Clelland with a message. That event changed the trajectory of his life, leading Mike to become a leading historian and author on the connection b...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/out-and-back-with-mike-clelland/

Feeling overwhelmed by all the gear options for car camping and overlanding? Self-proclaimed “professional car camper” Jason Specht from Mountain State Overland is here to help. Jason join...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/build-your-dream-overlanding-vehicle-with-mountain-state-overland/

Learn how to overcome your backpacking fears this week on the Out and Back podcast. Allison Boyle, the face behind the ultra-popular blog and hiking resource She Dreams of Alpine, lays out the...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/out-and-back-she-dreams-of-alpine/

Learn more about the land you live and recreate on with the Native Land Territories map. Created by the Canadian non-profit Native Land Digital, this map is available for free in the Gaia GPS ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/deepen-your-land-knowledge-with-the-new-native-land-territories-map/

No more getting caught in the woods without a map. Download the easy-to-read, tiny-to-download Gaia Topo map for your entire state in a matter of minutes. By keeping a map on your phone, you c...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/how-to-download-an-entire-state-map/

With high desert mesas, alpine forests, and Moab’s copper-colored canyons, the Rimrocker trail makes a perfect weekend getaway for anyone looking to get into car camping and overlanding. Tun...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/rimrocker-trail-report-from-john-lumia-of-trails-offroad/

Lighten your pack with these ultralight backpacking tips from Adventure Alan Dixon. Plus, it's last call for Gaia GPS members for a 15% discount on Hyperlite Mountain Gear packs and shelters. ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/ultralight-backpacking-tips/

It’s not too late to catch one of the most striking meteor showers of the year. Whether you’re looking for a romantic date night, an opportunity to really wow a first-time camper, or a qui...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/see-the-perseids-meteor-shower/

As wildfires derail recreation plans across the West, how can we account for longer and fiercer fire seasons? Former wildland firefighter Amanda Monthei lifts the curtain on fire misperception...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/out-and-back-amanda-monthei/

Create snap-to-trail routes on the fly with offline routing. Our intelligent route planning tool you know and love is now available without cell service or wifi. Just download the route data a...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/offline-snap-to-trail-route-planning/

Tim and Kelsey Huber of Dirt Sunrise Adventures quit their jobs a few years ago and sold almost everything they own to pursue overland travel. Their first major adventure took them to South Am...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/pan-american-trail-with-dirt-sunrise/

No more guessing whether your activity is permitted on the trail. Discover the best trails for biking, four wheel travel, and horseback riding with the all new color-coded trails in Gaia Topo....

https://blog.gaiagps.com/find-the-best-trails-for-your-activity-with-gaia-topo-color-coded-trails/

Android Auto is here! Gaia GPS now connects with Android Auto, bringing all your favorite trail maps directly to your vehicle’s navigation screen. Pull up the MVUMs, satellite imagery, Natio...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-gps-on-android-auto/

Burning eyes, runny nose, and hazy skies indicate that it’s wildfire season. Steer clear of smokey, polluted air on your next adventure with three brand new Smoke Forecast maps. Smoke Foreca...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/wildfire-smoke-forecast-maps/

The Gaia GPS Offroad podcast launches today with a harrowing story about a run-in with disaster. Experienced overlander Casey Kaiser was on a solo trip in Oregon’s remote desert when all of ...

https://blog.gaiagps.com/offroad-podcast-casey-kaiser/