Why onX Backcountry Is the Best FATMAP Alternative for Backcountry Adventures

FATMAP helped you see the mountain before you stepped onto it. Replacing it means finding an app that helps you study terrain, plan a route, and carry that information into the field.

For backcountry skiers, splitboarders, and hikers exploring the United States, onX Backcountry is our pick for the best FATMAP alternative. It brings together 3D terrain, downloadable maps, winter planning tools, and expert-curated routes—the features that matter when your day takes you beyond the trailhead. Explore the tools built for backcountry skiing and splitboarding.

Whether you’re scouting a new ski zone or connecting trails for a summer overnight, here’s how onX Backcountry fits into your next adventure.

What Happened to FATMAP?

FATMAP’s app and website retired on October 1, 2024, as Strava continued bringing FATMAP features into its platform. FATMAP is no longer available as a standalone app. Read Strava’s announcement.

If you’re looking for a replacement, start with what you used most: visualizing terrain, finding ski routes, checking slope angles, or navigating without cell service. Those needs should drive your choice.

What Makes onX Backcountry a Strong FATMAP Replacement?

onX Backcountry connects at-home planning with navigation in the field. You can study an objective, build your plan, and download maps before leaving service.

Here’s how its features match the tools former FATMAP users are looking for:

Explore 3D terrain features, winter planning tools, and supported route imports.

Study the Mountain With 3D Maps

If 3D terrain was your favorite part of FATMAP, start here.

onX Backcountry’s 3D maps help you understand how ridges, drainages, and slopes fit together. Tilt the map to study an approach. Rotate around a summit to explore the surrounding terrain. Compare your planned route with the landscape it crosses.

Premium and Elite memberships also include offline 3D terrain, so you can take that perspective into the field after downloading your map. Learn about offline 3D maps.

Put Slope Angle and Aspect Into Your Planning

For ski touring, a route line is only the beginning.

Slope Angle shading helps you examine steepness along your proposed route and in surrounding terrain. Slope Aspect shows which direction slopes face, giving you another way to connect the terrain with the day’s avalanche forecast.

Use those views to identify decision points and compare alternatives before you leave home. Explore Slope Angle maps.

onX Backcountry also displays avalanche forecasts from local avalanche centers and provides Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) information where available. These tools help you review exposure around your objective, including overhead hazards and connected avalanche paths.

Maps and forecasts support your decisions. They do not establish that a slope is safe or replace avalanche education, rescue equipment, partner communication, and field observations. Learn about avalanche planning tools.

Find Ski Routes With Local Context

Exploring an unfamiliar zone takes more than spotting a promising line.

onX Backcountry includes ski route content from partners such as Beacon Guidebooks and Colorado Mountain Club. That guidebook context gives you a starting point for researching an objective and understanding the terrain around it.

Pair route information with your own planning: inspect the approach, review the forecast, and identify places where your group will reassess. Explore ski touring maps and routes.

Carry Your Maps Beyond Cell Service

A useful FATMAP replacement needs to work where you actually travel.

With onX Backcountry, download an Offline Map while you have a connection, then use your phone’s GPS to see your location within the saved area without cell service.

Before heading out, confirm the download is complete and test the map in airplane mode. Save enough surrounding terrain to cover alternate routes and exits. Check current forecasts before losing service; a downloaded map does not provide live conditions updates. See how Offline Maps work.

Keep Planning When Ski Season Ends

Your mapping app should earn its place on your device year-round.

onX Backcountry supports hiking, mountain biking, and climbing alongside ski touring. Use custom routes and curated adventure information to plan a day hike, explore an approach, or put together a longer trip.

Public land information adds context to your planning. Elite adds private land boundaries and landowner names—useful when researching access around a route. Always confirm applicable access rules before heading out. Compare membership features.

How to Switch From FATMAP to onX Backcountry

Start with a familiar area. Exploring terrain you already know makes it easier to learn a new map.

1. Find your usual trailhead or ski zone. Examine the map and identify familiar landmarks.
2. Review the terrain in 3D. Compare the map with what you know from past trips.
3. Build your next plan. Mark your starting point, key junctions, and turnaround options.
4. Import compatible saved routes. If you already have GPX or KML files from your FATMAP days, you can upload files under 4 MB through onX Backcountry’s desktop Web Map. Check each imported route before using it. Follow the import instructions.
5. Download and check your Offline Map. Open the saved area in airplane mode before leaving home. Follow the download instructions.

Importing an existing file is different from recovering data from the retired FATMAP service. You’ll need a compatible file already available to you.

FATMAP Alternative FAQs