Gaia GPS now includes maps from the National Geographic Trails Illustrated series on iOS, Android, and gaiagps.com.
You can access this layer with a Gaia GPS Premium Membership.
Description
National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps are the most trusted and highly-rated topographic maps available for the United States' top outdoor destinations. They are produced and regularly updated in partnership with local land managers and experts.
Trails Illustrated maps include detailed topographic information, clearly marked trails, recreational points of interest, and navigational aids.
Coverage Updates
- 3/7/2018 - Bob Marshall Wilderness
- 3/25/2018 - John Muir Trail*
- 4/26/2018 - Appalachian Trail*
- 7/24/2018 - Colorado Trail*
- 1/23/2019 - Desolation Wilderness and Big Bend National Park
- 11/20/2019 - Pacific Crest Trail*
- 12/9/2019 - Theodore Roosevelt National Park
* Separate layer from the main National Geographic layer
Future Coverage Updates:
There are several maps that we plan to include, but aren't available yet:
- Boston, MA
- Hawaii
- Alaska
- Canadian maps
Notes about coverage:
The National Geographic Trails Illustrated source can be previewed here.
The National Geographic Trails Illustrated layer includes almost all of the same areas covered by the paper maps in the Trails Illustrated series. But due to licensing issues or technical difficulties, some areas are not included in the digital version in Gaia GPS. More details about this below.
Some areas we are unlikely to include, either due to licensing issues or a lack of digital availability:
- Anywhere outside of US/Canada, as they are not part of the Trails Illustrated series
- Adirondack Mountains
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
- San Rafael Swell
- White Mountains
Notes about map legends:
The trail name index found on paper maps is not available in the Gaia GPS digital version.
Comments
44 comments
I am heading to Canada soon. Any estimate on when Canadian Trails Illustrated maps will be included in premium membership? Thanks.
Hi,
We haven't received data for Canada yet, so, unfortunately, I don't have an ETA.
Would love to have had Jasper and Banff National Parks last summer. They have excellent National Geogrpahic maps available in print, so any ETA on getting these digitized? These are pretty popular hiking/backpacking parks! I’m planning more long trips this summer, so any word would be great. Love the app and rely on it a lot!
Hi,
Canada maps haven't been provided to us, and unfortunately, I don't have any sort of timeline for that!
Hi Ashli,
Thanks so much for the quick reply.
This may seem like a silly question, but have you guys asked for them for NatGeo? I mean, these are identical to the maps for US trails, so from their end, it should not be that big a deal to provide them. I;m curious where you all are in that process.
The maps in question are 900, 901, 903 and 904 to cover Banff and Jasper. I have all of these on paper, but sure would like them digitized on your app. As I said, last year in Banff on multi day trek, the trails on the app were not useful at all. A shame, as I am a huge supporter and have even mentioned your app on our Youtube channel - because when it has the trial data, it can;t be beat.
We have a couple hundred km planned on Jasper's North Boundary and South Boundary trails this summer and they are very remote. Thus, the urgency for us...
Thanks again for you help!
Stuart
Stuart,
Yes, we have an open dialogue with NatGeo -- I personally don't know the exact details about those maps, but I was given to believe adding them was complex in nature.
Gaia Topo and Canada Topo West would be great alternatives for your trip.
Thanks again Ashli. Those old maps are ok, but rather outdated. (I've recorded tracks and can see the real world result) Hope you guys get those NatGeo loaded up too, would be very helpful. (can't see why they'd be any tougher than the US ones... as they are the same maps)
Love the app. Keep up the great work!!
Stuart
Hi,
I was wondering what the issue was with Nat Geo maps of the White Mountains, NH? It was one of the top reasons I became a premium subscriber.
Thanks,
Rob
Rob,
There are licensing issues with those maps preventing us from adding them -- sorry!
You could write support for a refund if you no longer need the Premium Membership, just click 'submit a request' above.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for getting these maps included in Gaia GPS! These maps are some of the best I have ever used, and I was devastated when A**T****s dropped them and it's why I came to Gaia GPS even though you didn't have them at the time. I know the licensing must be difficult and I appreciate your working through it.
The natgeo layers work great for me in the IOS app, but when I load it on the web version, I just see blank tiles. Area of interest is CO, but even zooming out I dont get any content. Browser is Chrome.
Hi Jason,
It seems to be working for me -- keep in mind the NatGeo map doesn't have statewide coverage in Colorado. Here's a visual of NatGeo coverage in Colorado, with Gaia Topo underlaid for state-line reference:
If you're still unable to view, can you click 'submit a request' above to contact support?
I have the layer enabled and fully visible but nothing is showing up on the web here. Is it down?
Here is what I see, zoomed out in Colorado.
Hi Matt,
Please email support (click submit a request above) and let us know what browser and device you're using. You seem to be missing menu options at the top of the screen too.
i have the same problem
using firefox and macbook pro
Hi-
I have a question regarding TI map #712 - San Rafael Swell in Utah. It is in the Trails Illustrated series, yet is missing from the NatGeo Trails Illustrated Layer. The appropriate TI maps adjacent to 712 show up just fine. Thoughts?
Cheers, Jason
Hi Jason,
I opened up a bug report so we can investigate adding that map. It likely was missing in the original dataset sent to us. Sorry about that!
Thanks for the quick reply, Ashli!
I cannot get the Nat Geo map layer to work anymore. It doesn't show up in the layer options, and when I go to premium maps it say's I have already purchased it.
@pbasinger if the National Geographic maps don't show in your layers list, tap the button in the top right corner (More Layers or 'Edit' depending on your version).
You'll find National Geographic as an option under Premium Base Maps.
If you have trouble with that, click 'Submit a Request' at the top of this page to contact the support team and someone can definitely help!
Is there a timeline for the Alaska Nat geo maps? I’d love to utilize them ASAP! Excited they are likely to be included!
@Erica_Hausfeld
We are working with National Geographic to make more of the Trails Illustrated series available in Gaia GPS, but I don't have an ETA at this time on when the Alaska maps will be released. Sorry about that.
I'm looking at the Nat Geo maps for WA, and while useful, I can't find the key. There are trails in purple, green, and black, but I don't know the difference. Is there some way to pull up the key for these maps? I suspect I'll have the same question with other maps in Gaia. Thanks!
OK, I found this page with the info I need, but is there a way to bring this info up while using the app? This would be especially useful for offline scenarios.
https://help.gaiagps.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003639928-Map-Legends
@josham
You can access the map legend article in the app, but a WiFi or cellular connection is required.
Can you also open a new feature request here, so other users can vote and comment on adding an in-app legend that is available offline?
Thanks Nathan. I found an existing request for this feature, so I added my comment to it.
Whats ETA on the Big Bend Texas map? Was hoping it would have been included by now.
@Lnghrn892
We are still working with National Geographic to make the Trails Illustrate map for Big Bend National Park available in Gaia GPS, and I unfortunately don't have an ETA at this time. Sorry for the delay.
I'm heading to Canada in early August and wanted to see if there were any updates on the availability of the Trails Illustrated Maps for Banff and Jasper National Parks. I really like the details of those maps and would prefer to not have to purchase them separately. Thanks!
Been waiting for the Canadian Maps a long time. See my questions above from 7 months ago.
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