# Gaia GPS: Mobile Trail Maps — Hiking, Overlanding, Camping > Outdoor navigation app with topographic maps, GPS tracking, and route planning. (iPhone/iPad app by TrailBehind.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaia-gps-mobile-trail-maps/id1201979492 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [TrailBehind](https://appshunter.io/developer/315985618) - Category: Navigation, Travel - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.80/5 from 32,155 App Store ratings · 964 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 121 MB - Languages: American English, Arabic, Czech, Dutch, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish and 7 more - Released: 2017-05-22 - Data updated: 2026-08-27 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaia-gps-mobile-trail-maps/id1201979492/reviews.md ## What is Gaia GPS? Welcome the warm weather with the ultimate collection of hiking trails and camping sites around you – Gaia GPS. Find amazing adventures with topographic maps while spending less time looking at your phone. Explore with map layers, weather condition updates, GPS navigation, hill-shading and hiking maps. Discover local routes or map your own trail and share online. Whether you’re looking for hiking trails, off-roading routes, backpacking, or public land, discover with Gaia GPS. Find backpacker trails or offroad routes with the help of Gaia GPS. Make the wilderness your backyard with the best hiking, backpacking, and backcountry navigator – all in one. Navigate routes with offline navigation, weather reports, GPS coordinates, camping sites and distance tracking features to help you explore. Cruise through a popular backpacking route, hiking trail, or walking map with GPS navigation tools to guide you. Download the premier outdoor activity app featured in publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, and GearJunkie. BACKPACK OR HIKE • Hike the largest collection of trails and routes available on Gaia Topo, the ultimate backcountry navigator. • National parks or scenic hiking trails – Discover new outdoor routes waiting to be explored • Backpacking from base camp all along offroad hiking trails and back again is easy with breadcrumbs • Distance tracker with altitude and elevation monitoring for every activity • Travel easily to trailheads with connections to directions CAMPING COMPANION • Explore different camping sites and navigate to them conveniently using GPS coordinates • Discover campgrounds across national parks, forests, and scenic landscapes ROAD TRIP PLANNER MADE FOR YOU • Offline maps: RV travel is easy with offline maps that track your location, even when far from cell service • Discover camping sites, parks and route conditions seamlessly to help you prepare OFFROAD ACTIVITY PLANNING • 4x4 & overlanding adventures are easy to record on Gaia GPS • Activity tracker and route planner make trekking, hiking, and backpacking offroad trails simple • Maps, routes, and waypoints displayed on Apple CarPlay SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING • Discover ski slopes and cross country skiing trails around you with best-in-class topographic maps • Know weather conditions with ski resort information and Nordic trails from OnTheSnow EXPLORE THE WORLD LIKE A PROFESSIONAL • GPS coordinates help explore while creating routes and tracking progress • Share your data with clients to improve Gaia GPS • Access the full NatGeo map collection ELEVATE YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WITH GAIA GPS PREMIUM WITH OUTSIDE+ • Access 300+ maps including NatGeo Trails Illustrated, Private Lands, weather forecasts, and more • Offline maps to download anytime • Weather, terrain, and safety features • Access the Trailforks GPS biking app • Expert-led online courses on Outside Learn • Premium access to award-winning films, shows, and live TV on Outside Watch • Unlimited digital access to Outside Network's 15 iconic brands including Outside, Backpacker and National Park Trips Explore the world with Gaia GPS to guide all of your adventures. Enjoy GPS navigation, countless hike trails, and more with Gaia GPS – your perfect outdoor companion. SIGNUP • Gaia GPS is part of the Outside Network. Create an Outside account to access the app. TO MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION: • TURN OFF auto-renewal: https://support.apple.com/kb/ht4098 • Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period. • Your Apple App Store Account will be charged at confirmation of purchase. • Privacy Policy: https://www.gaiagps.com/company/privacy • Terms of use: https://www.gaiagps.com/company/terms_of_use ## Key features - Topographic maps - GPS navigation - Offline maps - Route planning - Distance tracking - Weather updates - Camping site discovery ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Gaia GPS Test Intro Offers | $999.99 | per year | | Gaia GPS Premium with Outside+ | $89.90 | per year | | Gaia GPS Premium | $59.90 | per year | | Outside Plus Test Intro Offers | $89.99 | per year | | No longer available - Member | $19.99 | per year | | No Longer Available - Outside+ | $71.90 | per year | ## Chart rankings - #63 in Top Free · Navigation (US App Store) - #6 in Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store) ## What do users think of Gaia GPS? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Excellent offline functionality - 🗺️ Detailed and customizable maps - 🧭 Accurate GPS tracking and navigation - 📸 Ability to add photos to tracks - 🔍 Useful map overlays (e.g. property boundaries) - 🤝 Seamless sync between devices **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy and unstable app performance - 🔋 High battery consumption - 🔍 Confusing map/feature management - 💰 Expensive subscription model - 🇬🇧 Limited functionality for non-US users **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes and freezes - Unreliable offline map downloads - GPS location inaccuracies - Syncing issues between app and web portal **Most requested features** - Improved route planning tools (e.g. distance/elevation between waypoints) - Better organization and management of saved tracks/waypoints - More map data coverage for international users - Customizable map layers and display options ## Recent user reviews (10 of 964) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaia-gps-mobile-trail-maps/id1201979492/reviews.md ### 3/5 — Hot mess *2026-08-16, version 2026.5.1* The site works perfectly but the app sometimes decides it doesn’t want to or the account isn’t valid and don’t even think about downloading a map or syncing data ### 1/5 — Confusing and glitchy *2026-08-13, version 2026.5.1* I had a lot of hope for Gaia. I’ve used it for many years and expected product improvements over time would lead to a more reliable, intuitive, easier to navigate, more performant app. Unfortunately, Outside has not invested in this product and it has frequent glitches and a horribly complex user interface. ### 1/5 — Is the base map downloaded? *2026-08-13, version 2026.5.1* Steep learning curve and the Gaia websites aren’t helpful. It’s very difficult to confirm if the maps have downloaded for off grid reference. I regret this purchase and getting my $60 back seems unlikely. ### 3/5 — Please please please fix CarPlay *2026-08-11, version 2026.5.1* I love Gaia over the competition, have used it for years… and I’d love to get back “off” X… buuuuut Gaia CarPlay is garbage. Fails to load layers without kicking it, stops updating location if the phone screen goes to sleep, and other quirks that make relying on it impossible. Sad. Please spend some dev sprints on fixing all these problems. Read these reviews, read the support tickets many have submitted for years, read Reddit… ### 1/5 — Lost my data *2026-08-10, version 2026.5.1* Some changes a while back locked me out of my data (recorded tracks, etc.). Numerous support requests went unanswered. Awful app. ### 1/5 — No customer support *2026-08-04, version 2026.5* I absolutely LOVE this app. I can’t imagine life without it. I recommend it ALL THE TIME to strangers on the trail. BUT the only customer support available now is a stupid AI chat bot that is not at all helpful. It offers to open a support ticket, and says someone will email me shortly, but I’ve been lost to a black hole. I have a problem that needs to be solved, and AI isn’t helping. REAL HUMAN PLEASE ### 2/5 — So much potential ruined by a few things *2026-08-01, version 2026.5* 2 things that really bothers me: Can't snap a route to a trail when offline (why???) No free roaming navigation map with the apple watch (just copy footpath app) ### 4/5 — Great app, please fix CarPlay *2026-07-28, version 2026.5* I use this for hiking, hitting fire and logging roads on my motorcycle and getting around those same places with my truck. Great app, best I’ve seen so far. Only gripe I have is that you have to have the map layers opened on displayed on your phone/tablet before CarPlay starts up or the map doesn’t display right. A fix for CarPlay stability would be great! ### 1/5 — This app runs in background *2026-07-26, version 2026.5* POS WILL NOT SHUTDOWN ### 5/5 — GAIA is 1 *2026-07-26, version 2026.5* GAIA is the best hiking and mapping app out there, and I’ve used many. ## Frequently asked questions about Gaia GPS ### Does Gaia GPS have ads? Yes, Gaia GPS contains advertisements. Users may encounter advertisements within the app as part of its free offering. ### What is the price of Gaia GPS Premium? Gaia GPS Premium is available for $59.90 per year and includes a 14-day free trial. There are also bundled options with Outside+. ### How often is Gaia GPS updated? The latest version of Gaia GPS is 2026.4.3, and it was last updated on May 26, 2026. This indicates a recent and active development cycle. ### What devices does Gaia GPS support? Gaia GPS is supported on Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and iPod. This allows for versatile use across various Apple devices. ### What do users like most about Gaia GPS? Users praise Gaia GPS for its excellent offline functionality, detailed and customizable maps, and accurate GPS tracking and navigation. The ability to add photos to tracks and useful map overlays are also highlighted as pros. ### What are common complaints about Gaia GPS? Some users report buggy and unstable app performance, high battery consumption, and confusing map/feature management. The subscription model is also considered expensive by some. ### Is Gaia GPS suitable for beginners? While Gaia GPS offers extensive features for experienced users, its complexity and the potential for confusing map management might present a learning curve for absolute beginners. However, its detailed maps and navigation tools are invaluable once understood. ### Can I use Gaia GPS for skiing? Yes, Gaia GPS allows you to discover ski slopes and cross-country skiing trails. It provides access to ski resort information and Nordic trails from OnTheSnow, along with best-in-class topographic maps. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2026.5.1 — 2026-08-10 Gaia GPS Version 2026.5.1 Release Notes What’s New A quick maintenance release. We tracked down a handful of stability issues and cleaned them up so the app holds steady out in the field. Bug Fixes Fixed an issue where saved items could become inaccessible. Fixed a crash while downloading maps. Fixed a crash when tapping items in the search drawer. Clarified region coverage for offline maps. Fixed a data storage issue that could lead to a crash. ### 2026.5 — 2026-07-09 Gaia GPS Version 2026.5 Release Notes What’s New New Lockscreen Live Tiles — now you can see your recording distance and time without unlocking your phone! Bug Fixes - we went deep into the woods and looked under every rock to fix as many bugs and issues as we can. The app should be a much smoother experience for all your outdoor activities and keep you on trail. New Activities - We've added new categories for the cool kids. Now you can tag your tracks with E-Biking and Birding. ### 2026.4.3 — 2026-05-26 Gaia GPS Version 2026.4.3 Release Notes What’s New Meet Adventure Modes — the fastest way to get the right map for what you're doing. Tap Hike and you're looking at trails, terrain shading, and topo. Tap Off-Road and your road conditions, coverage maps, and overlays are ready. Tap Snow and avalanche zones and snowpack layers are front and center. We built this because configuring Gaia GPS from scratch every time you switch activities shouldn't be part of the adventure. Pick your mode, get outside. ### 2026.4.2 — 2026-05-11 Gaia GPS Version 2026.4.2 Release Notes What’s New Meet Adventure Modes — the fastest way to get the right map for what you're doing. Tap Hike and you're looking at trails, terrain shading, and topo. Tap Off-Road and your road conditions, coverage maps, and overlays are ready. Tap Snow and avalanche zones and snowpack layers are front and center. We built this because configuring Gaia GPS from scratch every time you switch activities shouldn't be part of the adventure. Pick your mode, get outside. ### 2026.4.01 — 2026-04-30 Gaia GPS Version 2026.4.01 Release Notes What’s New Reliability improvements, bug fixes, and a little behind-the-scenes work to set the stage for the next big thing coming to Gaia GPS. We think you're going to like it. Bug Fixes Fixed an issue where users could try to share items before they were synced to the server ## Apps similar to Gaia GPS | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [onX Hunt: GPS Hunting Maps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onx-hunt-gps-hunting-maps/id672902340) | 4.9 (274,288) | Free | Navigation | | [Avenza Maps: Offline Mapping](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avenza-maps-offline-mapping/id388424049) | 4.8 (127,094) | Free | Navigation | | [Guru Maps - Offline Navigation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guru-maps-offline-navigation/id321745474) | 4.7 (2,774) | Free | Navigation | | [Guru Maps Pro - Offline Nav](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guru-maps-pro-offline-nav/id891362701) | 4.7 (988) | $89.99 | Navigation | | [GPS Tracks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-tracks/id425589565) | 4.7 (17,491) | Free | Navigation | | [onX Offroad: Trail Maps & GPS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onx-offroad-trail-maps-and-gps/id1475112177) | 4.4 (9,471) | Free | Navigation | ## Related topics [gps navigation hiking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/gps-navigation-hiking) · [gps hiking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/gps-hiking) · [gaia gps](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/gaia-gps) · [gaia maps](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/gaia-maps) · [free gps for iphone hiking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/free-gps-for-iphone-hiking) · [guia](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/guia) · [gaia gps app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/gaia-gps-app) · [yousendit](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/yousendit) · [gaia](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/gaia) · [hiking trail map](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hiking-trail-map) · [wekiwa](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wekiwa) · [caltopo](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/caltopo) · [guthook](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/guthook) · [aava whistler](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/aava-whistler) · [map guided adventures](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/map-guided-adventures) · [outdoor alta badia](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/outdoor-alta-badia) · [telluride mountainfilm](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/telluride-mountainfilm) · [gaja](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/gaja) · [all trails map](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/all-trails-map) · [paladin go](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/paladin-go) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*