Plan Routes on Detailed Outdoor Maps
Backtrack is built around planning an outdoor route before you head out. From the map workspace, you can search for places, routes, or saved items, draw an intended path, and drop markers for campsites, start points, or other useful landmarks. A route line gives the outing a clear shape instead of leaving the plan as a loose list of places.
That workflow suits hikers, backcountry skiers, and mountain bikers who want to think through an adventure on a detailed map and then keep the plan available on a phone. The Explore screen combines the map with a mode selector, a 3D control, a location control, and bottom navigation, so moving from discovery to route planning feels like one connected task.
Explore Ski Terrain and Map Layers
Map layers help turn a basic route into a more informed plan. Backtrack lists terrain-focused options such as slope-angle shading, sun exposure, public-land boundaries, cell-phone coverage, and avalanche accidents, observations, and forecasts. You can stack layers to compare conditions and land information while deciding where a route makes sense.
For ski days, the app also brings together a backcountry route collection with guidebook-style details, avalanche information from local centers, and Mountain View aerial imagery for scouting popular areas. Weather forecasts along a route and readings from SNOTEL stations add another practical reference when the day's conditions matter, before committing to a long day in complex terrain.
Save, Share, and Sync Adventure Plans
Adventure plans become more useful when they are easy to revisit and share. Backtrack lets you save favorites in a Library, return to public maps, and keep personal activity and photo areas together in the You section. Search and organized navigation make it easier to find a saved place again instead of rebuilding the same idea for every trip.
Sharing is designed for groups as well as solo planning. A map can be sent to travel partners so everyone can work from the same outline, and edits are reflected across collaborators in real time. Sign-in supports saving, syncing, and carrying maps between mobile and desktop, which helps a plan stay current as details change.
Choose Pro Tools for Offline Trips
Backtrack offers a free mapping experience and a Pro tier for users who need more from a trip plan. Pro features include offline maps, 3D maps, GPX export, and additional tools that can be useful when you are preparing a route away from a reliable connection. The 3D control and Pro prompts are visible alongside the main mapping workflow.
That makes the app flexible for different outings: casual exploration can stay in the free experience, while frequent hikers, skiers, and riders can use extra map detail or offline access for more deliberate preparation. The combination is useful for users who want a familiar planning workspace at home and more capable maps when heading into the backcountry.
