This powerful software will help you navigate your next backcountry adventure.
January 7, 2023
GAIA GPS is a powerful and easy to use GPS navigational app that is a great way to ride your next BDR if you plan to use your phone or tablet for navigation!
Even if you also use a dedicated GPS, this software makes an excellent complement to a GPS unit and provides additional features and benefits.
Loading BDR tracks and navigating using your tablet or phone is simple. You can use a free GAIA account to load and use all BDR tracks, however in order to be able to navigate outside of cell service, you will need a paid premium annual Gaia subscription.
To download your next BDR tracks, follow these simple steps.
On your desktop
- To load your next BDR tracks, simply navigate to https://ridebdr.com/routes/ and select the BDR route tracks you wish to download.
- Click on the “download GPS tracks” button, fill out your information, select your tracks, and click ‘submit’.
- You’ll then see a link to download your selected tracks.
- Click on the link to download and save to your computer.
- Navigate to www.gaiagps.com using your web browser.
- Register for a free account, log in with an existing account, or upgrade your subscription.
- Next, on the GAIA website map, click on the “Import Data” button on the left sidebar column.
- Select the BDR tracks you just downloaded, and import.
- Next, you’ll be shown the imported data with an option to save imported items. You can manually select which tracks or waypoints you wish to import. For all BDR .gpx files we recommend you download all assets within the file.
- Use the left hand column to view the various files you’ve imported. Here, you can make changes to track colors, waypoints, add additional waypoints, turn selected track visibility on and off, and much more. We recommend you familiarize yourself with the features within your subscription plan.
- Your newly imported tracks will sync with your mobile app when you are signed in to both.
On your cell phone
- Download the GAIA GPS app from your app store.
- Log in to your account, register for a free account or upgrade your subscription.
- To load your next BDR tracks, simply navigate to https://ridebdr.com/routes/ and select the BDR tracks you wish to download.
- Click on the “download GPS tracks” button, fill out your information, select your tracks, and click ‘submit’
- You’ll then see a link to download your selected tracks.
- Click on the link, and your phone will give you an option of where to ‘save’ or ‘import’ this .gpx file. Select the GAIA GPS app.
- The tracks will automatically be imported and ready to use!
- Within the GAIA app you can view all track information, track lengths, and waypoints. You can also select each track and change the track color.
- You can select each track individually and choose to show on map, or hide certain tracks until you’re ready to use them.
- Within the GAIA app, you can also record your track, take photos, create new waypoints, create routes, download additional map layers, and more!
- Be sure and download maps for offline use so you have full map data even while out of cell service.
- You can download offline maps for each GPS track by going to the “Saved” icon below, then select a track you wish to download maps along. Then, select “Download Map Along Track”. You can then select which map layers and detail to download along each track and Gaia will begin downloading offline maps for that particular track.
Whether you upload tracks to your desktop or cell phone, all changes will automatically sync.
This can take some time depending on wifi connection, cell coverage, etc.
To manually sync your account between the cell phone app and desktop site:
- On your cell phone app, click on SETTINGS>ACCOUNT
- You can ensure the button is on for sync/backup, and you can also click “Last Sync” to manually sync your data.
- You may need to refresh your app or web browser to view these changes.
To Navigate using GAIA on your cell phone:
- Launch the GAIA GPS app and ensure your desired tracks are loaded and visible.
- Click on the MAP icon in the bottom left.
- Show your current location on the map by pressing the locate icon in the top menu.
- If you are at the start of a track, you will see the track on the map in front of you.
- Simply ride and follow along on the tracks! Using this standard mode, GAIA will not provide turn-by-turn navigation. Rather, you simply follow the line. If you are off the track, you’re off the BDR route and can navigate back to where you got off. This is where it becomes helpful to record your track if you detour from the BDR so you can easily follow your line back.
NEED MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON USING THESE POWERFUL FEATURES?
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