MapTools

A list of all the tools that I use to play with maps and gpx files. This assumes that you are familiar with OpenStreetMaps.

Some of these tools are proprietary and some are FOSS. I generally prefer to use FOSS tools whenever I can.
I use these tools to help me plan a trip. This could be anything from a hiking trip to a long motorcycle ride.

Open Street Maps

This is my primary map source that I use for offline navigation on a trail. Primary reason is that I can download the maps offline and I can contribute data back into the OSM community.

Also, the fact that most other apps / sites in this list rely on OSM data is an added bonus.
The OsmAnd on my phone is my primary navigation aid when I am on the trail.

GraphHopper Maps

The routing feature on the OSM website is quite bad. Fortunately GraphHopper exists. This is a series of OpenSource routing tools and they have a website that does routing beautifully. You basically get to create a route from point A to B and download the GPX. This is incredibly powerful especially if you are hiking / cycling and you need information regarding the terrain etc.

Waymarked Trails: Hiking

This is the primary source of publicly available gpx traces. When I am trying to plan a hike / traverse, the first thing I do is to visit this site and look at all the existing traces.

Of course there is no rule that says that you need to complete a trail end-to-end. So you can mix and match two trails that are in the same spot. Maybe find a new route / join two trails etc etc.

This is extremely helpful if you are unsure about venturing into virgin territory.

This is the hiking section of the website. There are also cycling / snow-sport sections etc etc.

I admit that the website is not the best in the world and it needs some getting used to. :p

GPS Visualizer

There are a LOT of use-cases for this website, most of which I am unfamiliar with. However the biggest feature that I use a LOT is the add-elevation data feature. The website uses NASA DEM data and can add elevation data to any GPX file. Check it here.

Most of the time, when you export GPX from a shitty app (Strava), they strip the elevation data. GPS Visualizer can fix that.

The website is also useful if you want to convert from one format to another (KML/KMZ etc etc)

Google My-Maps

You get to create your own maps using the data available at Google-Maps.
The very basic-est usage is that you can upload GPX traces to this and overlay that on top of google-maps.
This is very useful if you travel via car / motorcycle and you stick to roads which is where Google-Maps shines the most. The moment you are on-trail, Google Maps is not useful.

Here is a link to the map I created for the KonkanBikeTour2022.

Google Earth

There are 2 very special uses for these.
Firstly you can use Google-Earth to visualize a route in 3D. Once you have a GPX trace, you can upload it here and explore the route.

Secondly, if you are exploring unmapped places, sometimes you can see human trails on the map in Satellite-view mode. This is because in the higher altitudes due to lack of tree cover, you get to see trails that are carved by the locals of the region in the satellite view mode.

I mostly use this for fun / visualization.

Tools that I am learning now

• QGiS: I have always been interested in this and I feel this break is the perfect time to get started. I also want to build beautiful GPX traces.

• OSM: I want to be able to make serious / non-trivial edits to OpenStreetMaps, hence this.

Tools I dont use anymore

(but sometimes depending on the requirement, I do look at ramblr more often)

• ramblr: The UI / UX of the website is quite clunky and I feel that it become worse in the last few years. You can use this website as a way to find public gps traces.

• Gaia Gps: Even though the app is very intuitive to use, I personally find it very weird that I have to sign-up etc etc just to use maps. OSM is good enough for me.

References

Peter's website has a section dedicated entirely to navigation. This is where I have learnt most of what I've managed to learn