Finding good spots and trails.
Posted by trucks_and_stuff@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 23 comments
For finding good spots and trails do you prefer to use a trail app, or google maps, or do you just drive around and see what you discover. What are some methods you use and which ones do you think work the best?
outdoorsauce@reddit
I pay for OnX basic or whatever, there’s a few reasons I like it:
Good detail on roads, there are solid labeled rated trails with descriptions (green, blue, black, red), yellow roads which are usually just forest or blm roads, thick grey dotted lines which usually exist but can be unpredictable, and translucent dotted lines that are even more unreliable.
Tons of layers, avalanche layers are really good for skiing. We lost FatMaps a few years and OnX comes close for this.
Building routes tool is very good and tracking tool is very good.
Love the customization of line type and color. Including for pins too, tons of icons for 4x4, camp, make it blue for waterside camp, make it green for forest camp, lookout tower icons, scenic views, etc.
Waypoint clustering has been nice.
Land ownership layer is very nice for blm/nf/private designations.
Those fuckers don’t even pay me to say all this but they should. I use onx every week and have ~1k pins of landmarks, skiing routes, offroad adventures, rafting put ins and take outs, climbing routes, boulders, hiking trails, mtn biking trails.
trucks_and_stuff@reddit (OP)
I've really only heard good things about OnX. It seems like it might be the best option I might invest in one of the paid plans. Thanks!
outdoorsauce@reddit
Here’s my map of Utah as a demo. Blue is waterside (can be a road, camp, fishing hole, etc. based on icon) but blue = water access. Green is forest. Brown is dessert. Red is slept overnight. Purple is want to go. Grey is me being lazy while driving and marking pins lol.
You can see gas stations, views, hikes, swimming holes, camps, hot springs, off road trails, impassable barriers, rock climbing, shooting areas, watercraft launch, etc.
MercedesAutoX@reddit
Gaia is worth the learning curve
trucks_and_stuff@reddit (OP)
Def gonna check this one out along with OnX. Thanks
Comfortable-Story-53@reddit
Google maps. I never tell as anyone my secret places.
trucks_and_stuff@reddit (OP)
Gotta keep those hidden gems hidden. I gotta respect that.
Boredlight@reddit
It's great you're looking for effective methods to find good spots and trails. Many overlanders combine digital scouting with physical exploration. Start by examining detailed topographic maps for terrain features and potential access, then consult official land management websites for current conditions and regulations. What kind of regional areas are you planning to explore first?
trucks_and_stuff@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the insight and i'm staring off in the east-south east coast of the U.S. There are some pretty decent trails around but now i'm going to be looking for something more unknown.
getalyf69@reddit
Gaia Maps app and a sense of adventure!
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
The public lands layer and the MVUM layer turned on (Motor Vehicle Use map shows what forest service roads are open to the public). Also will cross reference campsites I see on google sat view with Gaia and those layers.
lucky_ducker@reddit
I use Gaia and OnX Offroad.
Since OnX added USFS dispersed camping data, it's much more useful. The property ownership layer is indispensable to ensure you are camping on public land and not private property.
I do sometimes look up the official Forest Service Motor Vehicle Usage Maps (MVUM) but usually only to confirm what OnX is telling me.
Ok_Difficulty6224@reddit
A combination of all three. Find public lands like a national forest you want to explore. Usually there’s one or two “main” roads that go through an area. Then just start looking at the trails off those main roads and look for cool things to explore like rivers, lakes, hikes and camp spots. Then go out and explore.
kavOclock@reddit
Gaia and Google Maps. IOverlander for dump stations
Kerensky97@reddit
Gaia and Onx. But if you're on blm land or USFS, get actual maps from the ranger station. Many of the side trails you see people "with a sense of adventure" exploring are not trails and you're unwittingly contributing to cutting new trails where they shouldn't be if you follow them.
I've seen both Onx and Gaia report trails where there hasn't been a trail in years. Don't trust them exclusively. We don't need more trail closures from people going off trail. Deliberately or accidentally.
Adorable_Swing_2150@reddit
Adding to the ranger-station point, I usually cross check MVUM stuff against satellite before I leave. In GW NF I've had "open" roads turn into washed-out dead ends, and the satellite view at least showed the pullouts and turnarounds. Saves a lot of dumb backtracking once you're already committed.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
I switch between Gaia, Google Maps, and Copernicus Browser for early summer sat images to see what the snow level is like.
RockHopper707@reddit
Overlandtrailguides.com
jaym@reddit
OnX almost always. Live the tool.
I do also pay for Gaia and Trails Offroad too. Have Avenza for loading the MVUM files from Forest Service.
ninjawinch@reddit
I like OnX but I actually have both their Offroad and Hunt applications, as seeing detailed property owner info can be handy. Sadly they don't offer the standalone sim card based maps for Onx Hunt anymore, those were great, like having an offline map for a whole state in a handheld hiking GPS.
OnX is pretty good for finding places to drive, not so much for where to camp or whatnot - though it's gaining a lot of data lately. I appreciate info on water sources and hot springs in it.
Paper maps have a place but in the vehicle on the trip as a plan C.
Aartus@reddit
Drive around and see what i discover! Go explore ya goober
Photon_Chaser@reddit
Tried Gaia in 2023, switched to OnX.
But I still reference USFS and USGS paper maps.
mil1ion@reddit
Second Gaia! I know there’s lots of discourse around Gaia (and subsequent enshittification) vs OnX, but I found Gaia to suite my use case better for map-hunting and pin saving. I do pay for premium to get the map layers and offline maps.