Step 3: What is a GPX file?
A GPX file is a standard GPS data file.
It stores route lines, tracks, waypoints, and related geographic information that mapping tools can read.
In practice, it is a common way to move a route from one tool into another.
Why TRIPS uses GPX files
TRIPS needs a route line so it can analyze the trip you want to plan.
A GPX gives TRIPS the route geometry it needs to:
- load the route onto the map
- estimate route-level difficulty
- let you place campsites or split points
- calculate day-by-day outputs from the same route
Without a GPX or another route source, TRIPS does not know what trip you want evaluated.
Why elevation data matters so much
For TRIPS, a GPX is most useful when it includes elevation data along the route.
Elevation data is what lets TRIPS understand:
- how much the route climbs and descends
- where the major climbs and descents occur
- how steep different sections are
- how route difficulty is distributed across the trip and across individual days
That matters because TRIPS is not just drawing a line on a map. It is trying to help you plan the effort, day structure, and difficulty of a route.
If the GPX is missing elevation data, TRIPS loses an important part of what makes the route hard or easy. That can reduce how useful the route and day outputs are, especially when:
- the route has major climbs or descents
- you are trying to place campsites intelligently
- you want to compare one itinerary against another
- you are trying to understand why one day is much harder than another
In short:
- a GPX without elevation data can still be usable
- a GPX with good elevation data gives TRIPS much more of what it needs to help you plan well
If you want to maximize how helpful TRIPS can be, make sure your GPX export includes elevation data.
What a GPX file contains
A GPX may include:
- a route you created in a mapping tool
- a recorded GPS track from an actual outing
- waypoints such as campsites, trailheads, or passes
For TRIPS, the most important part is the route or track line.
The best case is a route or track line that also includes elevation data throughout the file.
Route file versus recorded activity
These are not always the same thing.
A route GPX is a file you created in a mapping tool.
A recorded activity track is a file captured by a GPS watch, phone, or device during a trip.
Either can work, but trip planning works best with a clean route file that represents the route you intend to travel.
Common ways to create a GPX file
Common methods include:
- drawing a route in a mapping app or website, then exporting it as GPX
- creating a route in a trail-planning tool and downloading the GPX export
- saving a route from a GPS device or phone app
- exporting a past recorded track from another platform
The exact steps depend on the tool, but the basic pattern is:
- Create or open the route in the mapping tool.
- Look for an export, download, or share option.
- Choose the GPX format.
- Save the file, then upload it into TRIPS.
Before you export, also check whether the mapping app or service includes elevation data in its GPX exports.
Not every tool handles this the same way:
- some tools include elevation data automatically
- some offer export choices that affect what is included
- some route exports are less useful than others for terrain-aware planning
If the tool gives you a choice, prefer the export that preserves route elevation data.
If you are not sure, inspect the export settings or test one file before committing to a larger planning workflow.
What makes a GPX good for TRIPS
A good GPX for TRIPS is:
- the route you actually want to evaluate
- complete enough to cover the trip you are planning
- rich enough in elevation data that TRIPS can understand the terrain shape of the route
- clean enough that obvious detours or errors do not distort the itinerary
You do not need a perfect file for a first planning pass. You need a route line that is usable for campsite placement and output review.
If you have two candidate GPX exports for the same route, the better export for TRIPS is usually the one that preserves the route shape and the elevation profile more completely.
Common mistakes
Watch for these:
- exporting only one segment when you meant to export the whole route
- exporting the wrong route variation
- exporting a GPX that does not include usable elevation data
- using a messy recorded track with obvious errors or side trips
- assuming every GPX from every tool is immediately ready for planning
What to do next
If you are still deciding whether the file is ready, read:
If the file is ready and you just want to load it, read: