Welcome to onX Backcountry:
Pro Tips to Get You Started!
Maximize your outdoor adventures with our top pro tips. Whether you’re planning a hike off the beaten path, looking for a new mountain biking trial, or exploring new terrains, these tips from our onX team will help you navigate, plan, and enjoy your outings like a pro. Dive in to learn how to make the most of your trial period and unlock the full potential of onX Backcountry!
Maximize your outdoor adventures with our top pro tips. Whether you’re planning a hike off the beaten path, looking for a new mountain biking trial, or exploring new terrains, these tips from our onX team will help you navigate, plan, and enjoy your outings like a pro. Dive in to learn how to make the most of your trial period and unlock the full potential of onX Backcountry!
Quick Waypoints 
“One of my favorite hidden features is the ability to quickly add waypoints. Just tap and hold on the map where you want to place a waypoint, and it’s done. It’s perfect while you’re planning your trip or for quickly marking those interesting spots you find along the way!”
How-To: Tap and hold anywhere on the map to create a waypoint.
Benefit: Quickly document points of interest without navigating through menus.
Directional GPS Navigation 
Tip: “When I’m out in the field, I always use the Heading Indicator to keep my bearings straight. Just tap the location icon once to find your position on the map, then tap it again to orient the map in the direction you’re facing. It’s a simple trick that makes navigation much easier, especially when you’re exploring new terrain.”
How-To: Tap the location icon once, then tap it again to orient the map.
Benefit: Simplifies navigation by aligning the map with your direction.
Quick Distance Check 
Tip: “A super helpful and often unknown feature is quick distance check. Simply tap and hold two fingers on the map to get a quick distance reference – it’s perfect for quickly checking how far away a landmark or waypoint might be.”
How-To: Tap and hold with two fingers on the map to measure distance.
Benefit: Quickly estimate distances without additional tools.
Skip the Trial and Save 70%
Take your outdoor adventures to the next level with 70% off your Premium or Elite Subscription. Explore uncharted territories, discover hidden trails, and navigate with confidence using the powerful GPS mapping features of onX. Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock a world of outdoor possibilities—Skip the trial and save!
Go Offline to Save Battery Life 
Tip: “If you’ve downloaded a map for a particular area, it’s best to ‘Go Offline’ once you start your adventure. This preserves battery life and improves map performance when you’re in spotty service areas.”
How-To: Download your map area, then go to settings and switch to offline mode.
Benefit: Extends battery life and ensures continuous map access.
Building Custom Routes for Off-Trail Navigation 
Tip: “One of my favorite features for planning any type of outing is using the Route Builder to plot my path. The Snap To mode makes plotting on a trail super quick and easy, and I especially love using the Point method to plan off-trail while still getting distance and elevation data.” – Matt Maydick / onX employee
How-To: Select ‘Route Builder,’ choose Snap To for trails or Point for off-trail navigation.
Benefit: Enhances planning with accurate distance and elevation insights.
Finding Fresh Air with Smoke Layers 
Tip: “Planning your next hike or ride? Use the Smoke Layer feature to locate areas with clear air, especially during wildfire season. It’s a quick way to ensure you’re heading into safe, breathable conditions.”
How-To: Enable the Smoke Layer from the map settings to see air quality.
Benefit: Helps find safe air conditions during wildfire season.
Ensure Complete Coverage with Offline Maps
Tip: “If you need to cover a large area, download multiple maps and overlap the edges slightly. This way, you’ll have seamless coverage with no gaps, making sure you’re always connected to your map, even in remote areas.”
How-To: Download adjacent map sections and overlap their edges.
Benefit: Prevents gaps in map coverage, ensuring continuous navigation.
Find the Perfect Trail with Advanced Filters 
Tip: “I love using the Discovery feature to find new trails that match exactly what I’m looking for. Just the other day, I wanted a challenging hike that wouldn’t take all day. By setting the difficulty to ‘Strenuous’ and the total time to under 6 hours, I found a perfect trail that was both demanding and manageable. You can fine-tune your search by adjusting filters for trail length, elevation gain, and even whether dogs are allowed. It’s a great way to discover trails that fit your adventure style!”
How-To: Open the filters menu, adjust the settings for difficulty, trail length, and other preferences.
Benefit: Helps find trails that match specific adventure criteria.
Skip the Trial and Save 70%
Take your outdoor adventures to the next level with 70% off your Premium or Elite Subscription. Explore uncharted territories, discover hidden trails, and navigate with confidence using the powerful GPS mapping features of onX. Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock a world of outdoor possibilities—Skip the trial and save!