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.
The National Geographic Trails Illustrated source can be previewed here.
Coverage Updates
- 03/07/2018 - Bob Marshall Wilderness
- 03/25/2018 - John Muir Trail*
- 04/26/2018 - Appalachian Trail*
- 07/24/2018 - Colorado Trail*
- 01/23/2019 - Desolation Wilderness and Big Bend National Park
- 11/20/2019 - Pacific Crest Trail*
- 12/09/2019 - Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- 03/04/2020 - Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Sun Valley
* 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
- Catskill Park
Notes about map legends:
The trail name index found on paper maps is not available in the Gaia GPS digital version.
Comments
44 comments
@howesthehike & @volgrad90
We are still working with National Geographic to add the rest of the available Trails Illustrated maps to Gaia GPS and unfortunately, I do not have an ETA for the Canadian maps.
I will update this article whenever there are additions in coverage, and we'll also make an announcement on our blog.
Any update on when the Alaska NatGeo Trail maps will be added? I specifically got the Premium Gaia membership for the NatGeo Trail maps, but you have nothing for my state and in some cases the USGS Topos are decades and decades out of date.
@vicki.scarpato
I don't have an ETA on the Alaska maps in the Trails Illustrated series at this time, sorry about that. When the Alaska maps are available, we will update this article and announce it on our social media pages.
Hi Ashli,
Is the lack of Adirondack trail maps due to licensing difficulty? Just curious.
Thanks,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Yes, some of the data on the Adirondacks maps include licensing agreements which prevent the maps from being published in Gaia GPS.
Catskill Park, NY does not show up in the app. Will that map be added? Thanks.
@thumper
I'm sorry the Catskill Park map is apart of the Adirondacks Trails Illustrated maps and will not be available within Gaia GPS due to their licensing agreements. Sorry about that.
Can the Nat Geo Map layers be used to create routes or tracks into and around area included on the layer? Like wth other layers, can you see yourself on the map and follow a route or track you previously created?
Thanks.
@danjiglesias
Yes, the app stores your tracks, routes, waypoints, and offline maps as separate items
andthen layers them together on the main map for seamless viewing.Any update on the NatGeo Canadian maps?
Ditto here for Canada
Any update on the San Rafael Swell map that was mentioned above?
@rlngstrt
Thanks for posting. We are still working on making more of the Trails Illustrated maps such as the San Refael Swell available within Gaia GPS.
When new coverage areas within the National Geographic Trails Illustrated layer are added, this article will be updated.
Please add the New York Catskills and Adirondack maps to your service. I use Gaia GPS all the time, as well as the paper maps, and would really like to see it integrated. Thank you.
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