Hiking Route Planner & Elevation Calculator
Plan Hiking Routes and Calculate Elevation Gain
Use the hiking route planner to map trails and calculate distance, elevation gain, and estimated hiking time. Draw your hiking route on the map and instantly analyze terrain difficulty, altitude profile, and total elevation gain. Whether you're planning a day hike or a multi-day trek, the tool helps you prepare for any trail with accurate elevation data.
How to Plan a Hiking Route
1. Set Your Starting Point on the Map
How do I set my trailhead? Search for an address, city, region, mountain name, or parking area, or use your current location. You can also zoom in on the map to define your hiking starting point and locate nearby parking for easy access.
Explorer
2. Set a Time or Distance Limit
Only have 1 hour for your hike or want to limit your distance? Enter your constraints and see how far you can go. The zone takes elevation, terrain, and hiking speed into account for accurate distance estimation.
3. Draw Your Hiking Route on the Map
I have my trailhead set, how do I draw my hike or trail route? Click or tap once to set your start point, then add waypoints. The route will follow roads, forest paths, and trails. You can undo your last point or return to the start via the shortest path. Prefer miles instead of kilometers? Just change the unit in the header and everything will update instantly.
Choose the Best Map for Hiking and Trails
Use detailed maps like USGS Map, OpenTopoMap, OS Maps, or SwissTopo to analyze terrain, trails, and elevation for your hike.
Export Your Route as GPX, KML, or FIT
Export your route as GPX, KML, or FIT files and import it to your GPS devices like Garmin, Apple Watch, Suunto, Polar, Wahoo, Coros, or Samsung. Analyze additional data like heart rate for deeper insights.
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Follow Your Hike in Real Time
Track your real-time position and orientation directly on the map using Explorer mode. Stay on your route, navigate easily, and never get lost during your activity.
What our Explorer users say
I planned a 5-mile running loop around my neighborhood in minutes. The distance and pace estimate were spot on for my morning run before work.
With the isochrone mode, I plan my hikes in no time! I instantly see how far I can go with my available time. GPS tracking keeps me on trail in the Rockies.
We prepared a 25-mile cycling loop with friends and exported the GPX track. Everyone followed the same route on their Garmin without getting lost. Perfect organization!
Before a hike in Shenandoah, I checked the elevation and duration. The route followed real trails, which saved me from unpleasant surprises. Very reliable!
I wanted an easy walk for my kids. I set a short max distance and MapPlanner helped me create the perfect loop. We had a wonderful family afternoon.
I love planning my outings in advance. I saved several routes for the weekends. It saves me so much time compared to figuring it out on the go.
By exploring the routes around my area, I discovered great trails I didn’t know about. MapPlanner opened new places for me to explore right in my backyard.
I keep track of my progress with the history feature. Comparing my running pace and distance over the months keeps me motivated and accountable.
For our MTB group ride, we created the route and sent the GPX to everyone. Nobody got separated — the whole group stayed together from start to finish.
I love taking photos while hiking. MapPlanner automatically places my pictures on the map. It’s awesome to review the route and share it with friends.
Depending on the activity, I switch the map style: topo for the mountains, street for the city, satellite to scout terrain. It makes route planning super intuitive.
MapPlanner now estimates my times based on my own pace. I know exactly how long my next run will take. Perfect for squeezing in a workout on a tight schedule.
Want to Use All of MapPlanner's Features?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the free and paid versions?
The free version allows you to draw, view and export routes but with limitations. The paid “Explorer” version adds:
- advanced maps (satellite, topographic, USGS, etc.)
- more complete tools for drawing and planning routes (reachable distance, ...)
- additional features depending on your subscription
- no usage limits
What does the “Explorer” subscription include?
The Explorer subscription gives you access to all premium features: unlimited reachable zones, real-time GPS tracking, premium maps, unlimited 3D views, advanced GPX export and much more.
Can I get a refund for my “Explorer” subscription?
You can request a refund within 30 days after the initial purchase by contacting our support team.