Plan a hiking route in a few clicks: the line snaps to real trails on its own while distance, time and elevation gain update as you go.
No more tracing every switchback by hand or guessing the mileage. You pick the places you want to pass through and MapPlanner finds the path that actually exists on the ground. The planner is free, opens without an account and works just as well for a hike as for a trail run, a bike ride or an easy walk.
From the first click to a finished route
- Pick your activity above the map: running, hiking, cycling or walking. The routing depends on it.
- Click to set your start: a parking lot, a trailhead, a village or your own front door.
- Click the places you want to go through. Each click extends the route along real paths rather than as a straight line.
- Read the numbers under the map: distance, estimated time and elevation gain change with every point; kilometer markers appear along the line.
On a phone it is the same gesture: tap the map and the stats follow. Plan Sunday's outing from the couch or tweak the route at the trailhead before you set off.
Plan your own route
MapPlanner helps you calculate distances, elevation, duration and plan your hikes, runs and bike rides on an interactive map.
- Automatic distance & elevation calculation
- Topographic, satellite maps
- GPX/KML export for your GPS
- Real-time GPS tracking
Hiking, trail running or cycling: the route adapts
The line does not go the same way for every activity. On foot, it prefers paths over roads and can stick to waymarked hiking trails, so you are not walking along the asphalt when a footpath runs right beside it. On a bike, it looks for ways you can actually ride.
The map legend sorts ways from narrow trail to main road. One glance tells you what you will be walking, running or riding on.
Take this climb from the shore of Lake Annecy up to Mont Rampignon: barely 6 km, yet 556 m of elevation gain and an estimated 2 h 18 min on foot. The elevation figure tells you straight away whether it is a stroll or a proper climb. Time estimates take the slope into account; here is how walking time is calculated.
Fix the route without starting over
First drafts rarely stick. Undo the last point, then redo it if you change your mind. Drag any point onto another trail and the route reshapes itself around it. From the edit menu you can reverse the direction, turn the route into an out-and-back on the same path or head back to the start by the shortest way.
Heading off-trail? Turn off path snapping and two points are joined by a straight line. You can also draw freehand by dragging across the map; the line then snaps to the roads and trails you followed.
Habits that make a cleaner route
- Put points at junctions and at the places that matter (summit, hut, viewpoint), not every hundred meters. Between two points, the route finds its own way.
- Watch the legend. If the line runs along a main road, one well-placed point on a nearby trail usually pulls it off.
- Check the elevation gain before the distance: a few mountain kilometers can be worth a long day on the flat.
Out of ideas? The loop generator suggests a circular route from your start point.
Save your route and take it with you
Drawing, reading the stats and exporting to GPX all work without an account. A free account lets you save the route and find it again later. The GPX file loads onto a watch or GPS device; other formats are covered in the guide to importing and exporting tracks.
Without a subscription, route length is capped by activity. Exports are limited too, with a little more room on a free account. The Explorer plan allows much longer routes and unlimited exports.
Got an outing in mind? Open the route planner, drop your first point and watch the path take shape.
Drawing a route: common questions
Do I need an account to plan a route?
No. The planner opens straight away: you draw, you see distance, time and elevation gain; you can even export to GPX. A free account is only needed to save your routes.
Does the route always follow trails?
By default, yes: between two points it uses existing trails, tracks and roads. For an off-trail section, turn off path snapping and points are joined by a straight line.
Can I plan a route on my phone?
Yes, in your phone's browser with nothing to install. Tap the map to add points.
Is there a maximum route length?
Without a subscription, length is capped by activity, which covers a day out. The Explorer plan lets you draw much longer routes, for a multi-day trip for example.
How do I get the route onto my watch?
Export it as GPX, then import the file into your watch's or GPS device's app. Exports are limited for visitors, a little more generous with a free account and unlimited with the Explorer plan.
