Disappointed with lack of progress getting trails digitized in OSM

I love Gaia and believe it to be the best tool for the job right now. I also appreciate that Gaia uses open source trail data from OSM, and doesn't have proprietary, locked up trail data hoards like Alltrails. However, a tiny fraction of the hiking trails in my area are in OSM. I have done my part and helped add many of them, but I have run talked with four people in the last year alone that deleted Gaia becasue very few trails were on the map in Montana. Montana is not some obscure place for outdoor recreationists!

I obviously understand that USFS raster maps on your platform have the data, but route planning using these maps is extremely time expensive since there is no snapping or auto-routing. I have spend dozens of hours carefully tracing switchbacks over the years and frankly I am sick of it. This may not be a huge deal to some people but this is the only feature of your service that I can't (conveniently) get for free with competing tools.

The trail data is out there and the vast majority of these trails can be accurately digitized using any number of licensed air photo sources in OSM. I am sick of paying for your service AND having to do that work myself. I am not upset, just consider this a bit of a kick in the pants as I expect a little but more from you all...

Ryan McElroy

January 13, 2021 15:08

Hey Ben,

We're actually cooking up something that I think you're really going to enjoy. I can't share too many details as it's still under construction, but your wish to auto-route usfs trails may soon be granted.

We'll post about it far and wide when it's launched, so be sure to sign up for the newsletter so you hear about it.

And if you get sick of paying for your membership at any time, just let us know. We always offer a full refund, no questions asked.

Disappointed with lack of progress getting trails digitized in OSM

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