Trail Navigation App for Android Smartphone? Recommendations?

We use a guide book for navigating around 4wd trails. We used Avenza Maps as a navigator with our ATV for a couple of years and it worked well but, finding/shopping for the map and getting downloaded was always a huge pain in the ass.

Would anyone recommend (and why) an Android App for 4wd navigation using satellite (no cell service) to use on trails? Easy to use, reliable and accurate? I'm old so, not too complicated either, please?

 

I use this:

https://bcnavxe.com/#/

I download USGS maps for an area, or a couple other of their available maps. It works well for me. I do travel areas where new logging roads appear on a regular basis. I turn on my tracks to add those roads to my maps. It is a little funky to down load maps. If you try it, hopefully not too much of a learning curve for you.

 

I've used Gaia GPS for the past year and been very happy with it.
I use it on an 11 inch tablet with an external Garmin GPS antenna (bluetooth) and on our phones for hiking. Used this setup on the TAT and all over NM, AZ and Utah for five weeks.
Mike

 

+1 for gaia GPS, i use the MVUM/USFS map layers for forest roads up here (WA state)

 

CalTopo. Lots of options, high detail, easy offline maps. Import/export any track file and quick sync with the website. It's also great with battery life and has some great features for hiking.

 

I've been using Avenza for years. I build my own maps from free government map layers and export as a georeferenced pdf of geo tiff.

 

GAIA, it rocks

 

Gaia, all day everyday day. Is a bit complicated, but not bad.
Has maps ranging from 1918 historic maps, to multiple years of USGS and USFS maps, to MVUM/OHV maps, all the way to bed rock geology maps

 

And it can record your route

 

GAIA x100

 

I use the Backcountry Navigator Pro. I love the fact that you can choose from so many types of maps depending on your needs.

 

ONX has a trail app.
I have not used it but I’ve been really happy with their hunt app.

 

I have seen OHV trails in all trails, might be worth checking out?

 

Open Street Maps (OsmAnd / +) has a surprisingly good lightweight base map (crowd sourced and decently updated). Per state/region/country offline map downloads aren't huge, and it has one of the more powerful nav by POI or offroad auto nav that I've come across. Offline searching works well, and you can get associated wikipedia data for maps you download. You can add contour data as well, but it isn't as pretty as what you get with Gaia or others.

Free gives 7 map downloads/mo, + is $25 and unlimited downloads, Pro is their subscription model that has up to hourly map updates.

Gaia is great and has a web map you can use for easy planning. I was turned off of it in the early days of it because downloading areas for offline use was slow and a pain in the ass. Any of the apps you try will take some time to get used to and setup for features you need. I still use a Windows XP era software (Natl Geo TOPO! State Series) when I want serious detail because the older map data it uses tends to have more detail and data in the maps that get removed over time in a lot of apps.

 

I use Gaia and have had good results. My son uses ONX hunt and he prefers it over Gaia.

 

Same here. I use it for wheelin, riding, hiking, back country skiing, even a walking trip in an unfamiliar city. It saves trails to all devices with it and will geotag photos and pin the trail where It was taken. This has been helpful for compiling trail information, doing a write up, or simply making a photo book of a trip.

 

I will second this. I have Gaia GPS and like the functionality and the many overlays available with subscription. I use it for trip planning and navigation when I have reception. As a back up I have a Garmin Montana 700i. Garmin's software is garbage though which is why I plan my trips with Gaia and only use the Garmin as a backup.



This is from my phone so you cannot see much but I have only 1 overlay (Nat Geo trails illustrated at the highest detail) but you can see the campgrounds at Zion Natl Park. There are other great overlays that you can stack so you have topo along with city streets and satellite. Worth the subscription $ IMO as long as you use it. I use the route tracking function to track my mountain bike rides, the map has much more detail than my Garmin Fenix has.

 

Best tablet for Gaia GPS?

 

I have no basis for comparison as I have only used it on iOS devices. It works well on my iPhone 12 Pro Max as well as my 10.5 in iPad Pro. I cannot speak to other tablets. Interestingly, it seems like the app is no longer listed on the Apple App Store when I search for it on my Mac as an iPhone or an iPad app, but when I look for it on my phone it shows up as Gaia GPS on the app store. I'm not fluent on the MacBook though since I'm a windows guy so maybe it is something I am doing wrong.

I didn't realize this, but Gaia GPS recently merged, or was acquired, or has partnered with with Outside +. According to this blog post it appears the standalone Gaia GPS app subscription is available, or you can opt for the app and a subscription to Outside magazine.

• For planning I would suggest a 10+ inch tablet so you aren't pinching and zooming every other second
• For hiking, adventure, biking, whatever, have it on your phone to record your route and bring a 20,000 Ah spare battery and cable for your phone in case you get caught out at night or are on a multi day backpacking trip.
• Have a backup in case your electronics fail. Delorme Maps or other topo maps of your area and a compass are a good idea if you have basic land nav skills

 

That’s a good question because I have been wondering that these past few days lol