What is a GPX file?
A GPX file is a standard GPS data file.
It is commonly used to store route lines, tracks, waypoints, and other basic geographic information that mapping and outdoor-planning tools can read.
In plain language, it is one of the most common ways 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.
What a GPX file usually 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 thing is usually the route or track line.
Route file versus recorded activity
These are not always the same thing.
A route GPX is usually something you created on purpose in a mapping tool.
A recorded activity track is usually something captured by a GPS watch, phone, or device during a real trip.
Either can sometimes work, but for trip planning you usually want a clean route file that represents the route you intend to travel.
How people usually make GPX files
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 you are using, but the basic pattern is usually:
- 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.
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
- clean enough that obvious detours or errors do not distort the itinerary
You do not need perfection for a first planning pass.
You mainly want a route that is directionally correct and usable for campsite placement and output review.
Common mistakes
Watch for these:
- exporting only one segment when you meant to export the whole route
- exporting the wrong route variation
- 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:
- Choose and prepare a GPX for TRIPS
If the file is ready and you just want to load it, read:
- Upload a GPX