Practical guides for planning better maps
Find step-by-step help for creating projects, planning routes, importing GPX files, organizing map layers, and sharing finished maps.
Featured Guides
New to TrailNote? These guides cover the first decisions most users make: creating a project, planning a complete hike, and understanding plan limits.
Explore by Use Case
Choose a workflow when you want a focused product overview before jumping into detailed guides.
Plan a Route
Start a project, choose the right routing workflow, and build a clean trail or cycling plan.
Getting Started with a Map-Based Trip Planner
A fast start guide: create a project, add your first marker and route, then share or export your map.
Route PlanningRoute Planner: Freehand vs Directions Planning
Two ways to build routes: sketch by hand or use directions for accurate distance and travel time.
Route PlanningPlan a Walking or Cycling Route with Waypoints
A practical guide to directions planning profiles, waypoints, and fixing routes that fail to calculate.
Trip PlanningPlan a Weekend Hike: Route, Markers, and GPX
A complete workflow: choose an area, create a project, add markers, plan a route, and export GPX.
Annotate the Map
Add markers, labels, polygons, and route styling so the map stays readable and useful later.
POI Markers: Pins with Notes and Photos
How to create useful POI markers: naming conventions, readable notes, and photos without clutter.
Map AnnotationText Annotations: Label Your Map Fast
Add lightweight text labels to your map for quick context: names, reminders, and notes you want visible at a glance.
Map AnnotationPolygon Annotations: Highlight Areas on the Map
Draw areas (polygons) to mark zones like camps, viewpoints, restricted regions, or day-by-day regions with editable geometry and styling.
Map AnnotationRoute Styling for Readable Maps
Make routes readable with consistent colors, line width hierarchy, and opacity control.
Import, Export, and Share
Move GPX data in and out, create share links, and keep map projects portable.
Import GPX Tracks and Waypoints
Import GPX routes and waypoints into an existing project. Includes limits, cleanup tips, and common errors.
GPXExport GPX for Garmin, Strava, and Backups
Export routes and markers as GPX for backup, sharing, or importing into other apps and GPS devices.
SharingShare a Map Privately with Unlisted Links
How unlisted share links work, what live sharing means, and how to revoke a link safely.
SharingMap Privacy and Sharing Checklist
A practical checklist for sharing maps safely: unlisted links, sensitive locations, and oversharing risks.
Compare Plans and Limits
Understand project limits, decide when to upgrade, and choose the right workflow for your team.
Free vs Premium: Plan Limits for Map Projects
Understand plan limits for projects, markers, and routes and decide when Premium makes sense.
Project OrganizationTrip Planning Projects: Organize Maps, Markers, and Routes
Learn how projects keep your trips separate, how to structure projects, and how to name them for quick scanning.
Project OrganizationFolders for Large Map Projects
Group markers and routes by day, area, or theme so large map projects stay manageable.
Project OrganizationFolder Visibility: Hide Map Layers in Large Projects
Use the folder eye button to hide or show groups of routes, markers, text labels, and polygons so large map projects stay readable.
Project OrganizationMulti-Select Batch Move: Organize Map Items Faster
Select multiple markers, routes, text labels, and polygons on the map, then move them into a folder in one action.
TroubleshootingGPX and Map Troubleshooting: Common Fixes
Quick fixes for common problems: GPX import errors, missing routes, share links, and map performance.
All Guides and Articles
Search by feature name, filter by task, or sort by latest updates when you already know what you need.
Showing 26 of 26 guides