LightTrailGPSPro - GPS Tracking & Trail Navigation

Map & Navigation

Map Selection

Choose four different maps, each optimized for different activities and terrain visualization needs.

Map	Best For	Features
Outdoor	Hiking, trail running	Contour lines, trail markings, terrain shading
Topographic	Detailed topography	High-detail contours, elevation data
City	Urban navigation	Streets, buildings, urban landmarks
Satellite	Terrain analysis	Real aerial imagery, hybrid labels

How to Change

Tap button in control panel
Browse available map styles
Tap to select — map reloads instantly

Outdoor

Topographic

City

Satellite

👆

Map Gestures

Control the map with intuitive touch gestures. Every interaction is designed to feel natural and responsive.

Gesture	Action
One finger drag	Pan the map in any direction
Pinch in/out	Zoom — centers on point between fingers
Two finger rotate	Rotate map orientation
Single tap	Select trail, waypoint, or track
Long press	Open context menu at that location

Follow Location

Keep the map centered on your GPS position as you move. Essential for navigation while hiking.

Behavior

Map automatically moves as you move
Your position always stays at screen center
Two-finger gestures (pinch, rotate) do NOT disable follow
Single-finger pan intentionally disables follow
Tap Follow button again to re-enable

How to Enable

Tap button in control panel
Button highlights when active
Map animates to center on your location

Rotate with Device

The map rotates based on your phone's compass, so the top of the screen always shows the direction you're facing.

Behavior

Top of map = direction you're physically facing
As you turn, the map rotates with you
Perfect for orienting yourself on the trail
Requires Follow mode to be active first
Pinch gesture does not disable follow, rotate is disabled when follow is active
Direction ray with a ruler is shown when rotate is active

How to Enable

Tap button
Button highlights when active
Follow mode is automatically enabled when rotate is active
North lock button is disabled when rotate is active
To disable rotate, tap the button again

Compass

On-screen compass indicator shows north direction. The compass rotates to always point north, helping you orient yourself on the map.

Compass Features

Always points to true north
Rotates smoothly with map orientation
Visible in all map modes
Tap to reset map to north-up orientation

Context Menu

Long-press anywhere on the map to access location-specific actions.

Option	What It Does
Create Waypoint	Create a waypoint at the location
Show Weather	Get weather conditions for this point
Navigate in Google Maps	Navigate to the location in Google Maps
Share Geo-Coordinates	Share the GPS coordinates of the location

How to Use

Long-press on any map location
A context menu will appear at the location marked with a icon

Info Panel

The Info Panel displays three critical GPS values at the top of your screen, updating in real-time with each GPS reading.

Field	What It Shows
Altitude	Your elevation above sea level (meters or feet)
Speed	Current movement speed, updates while moving
Accuracy	GPS precision — lower = better.

Accuracy Guide

3-5m: Excellent — clear sky, strong signal
5-10m: Good — typical outdoor conditions
10-20m: Fair — partial obstruction
20m+: Poor — indoors or dense canopy

📏 Measurement

Ruler — Free Mode

Draw a path on the map and measure the distance

How to Use

Tap the button in the control panel
Draw a path on the map
The distance will be displayed nearby
Terrain is not taken into account, the distance is measured as the crow flies

Ruler - Track-Bound Mode

Measure distances along a selected GPX track or OSM trail, following the actual path. Measurement syncs with elevation chart and statistics.

What Happens

Ruler snaps to nearest track/trail point when you tap
Distance follows actual path curves
Elevation chart (for GPX tracks only) highlights the measured segment
Statistics (for GPX tracks only) update to show segment: distance, gain, loss, time

How to Use

Select a GPX track OR an OSM trail
Enter ruler mode
Paint on track path with the ruler
The distance will be displayed nearby
View along-path distance and synced stats

OSM Trails

GPX Tracks

Track Recording

Start & Stop Recording

One tap to start, one tap to stop. Your GPS path traces on the map in real-time.

Before Starting

Grant "Always" location permission for background recording

How to Record

Expand the control panel
Tap button
The recording widget will appear at the top of the screen
Start moving - the path will be traced on the map
The recording widget will show the distance and time
Expand the widget to show the elevation gain and loss
Tap the button again to stop the recording
Save the recording as a GPX track or discard it

Recording Widget

Real-time statistics displayed at the top of the screen while recording. Tap to expand for more details.

Stat	Description
Distance	Total distance traveled so far
Time	Elapsed recording time
Gain ↗️	Total elevation climbed
Loss ↘️	Total elevation descended

Widget Features

Tap to expand/collapse detailed view
Updates continuously as you move

📱

Background Recording

Recording continues when you lock your screen, switch apps, or put your phone in your pocket. Never miss a step.

Android

Foreground service starts automatically
Notification shows recording status and stats
Tap notification to return to app
Works with screen off

iOS

Background location mode activates
Keep "Always" permission granted

📊 GPX Track Analysis

Load GPX Files

Load any standard GPX file from your device. Track appears on the map with full analysis and statistics.

How to Load

Expand the control panel
Tap the button
Navigate to your GPX file
The track will appear on the map with the statistics panel

What Loads

Track points draw as colored path
Map zooms to fit the track

🎨

Elevation-Based Coloring

Tracks display with colors indicating terrain type. See at a glance where the climbs and descents are.

Color	Meaning	Description
🟢 Green	Flat	Level terrain (insignificant elevation change)
🟠 Orange	Ascent	Climbing / Uphill sections
🔵 Blue	Descent	Descending / Downhill sections
🟡 Yellow	Difficult	Steep sections (> 28° slope) overlay

Visual Markers

Start marker: A circle at the beginning of the track
End marker: A diamond at the end of the track
Helps orient yourself on the trail

📈

Elevation Profile Chart

Interactive chart showing the vertical profile of your track. Visualize every climb and descent along the route.

Chart Elements

X-axis: Distance along track
Y-axis: Elevation
Colors: Match track coloring (green/orange/blue)

Interactions

Drag to scrub through the track
Corresponding location highlights on map
Remaining ascent, descent, distance, time and other stats are updated as you scrub through the track

High-Grade Segments

Steep or challenging terrain is automatically detected and highlighted with a distinct visual overlay.

Visual Indicators

Yellow dashed overlay on very steep portions
Indicates sections requiring extra caution
Based on grade analysis of the track
Visible on both map and elevation chart

Alert Points & Popups

Warning markers appear at critical locations. Tap any alert for detailed technical information about high-grade segments.

Alert Information

Difficulty level (Mostly Flat, Uphill, Steep, Very Steep, Scramble, Technical)
Section distance in meters
Elevation change with +/- indication
Peak angle in degrees
Estimated time to traverse the section

How to View

Tap on any ⚠️ alert marker on the track
Popup displays technical details about the high-grade segment
Information helps assess terrain challenges

Trail Report

Comprehensive terrain analysis with detailed tables, statistics, and section-by-section breakdown.

Report Sections

Route Description: Summary of trail characteristics
Terrain Summary: Breakdown of terrain types
Grade Profile Table: Distance by grade category
High-Grade Segments List: Each segment with details
Timing Estimates: Pace recommendations

How to Access

Load a GPX track
Tap Trail Report button in stats panel
Full-screen report opens
Scroll through all sections

Track Statistics

Essential metrics calculated automatically when you load any track.

Stat	Description
Distance	Total track length
Elevation Gain	Total meters/feet climbed
Elevation Loss	Total meters/feet descended
Estimated Time	Approximate hiking duration
Recorded Time	Actual time from GPX data
Terrain %	Flat, uphill, downhill percentages
Avg Angles	Average incline/decline angles

Track Settings

Customize how statistics are calculated based on expected terrain difficulty.

Setting	Effect
Terrain Complexity	Easy/Moderate/Difficult — adjusts time estimates
On-Track Distance	Threshold for "on track" vs "off track" detection

Track Filter

Filter the track view to show specific sections for detailed analysis.

Filter	Shows
No Filter	Entire track
To Max Altitude	From start to highest point
To Max Distance	From start to furthest point

Direction Toggle

From Start: Filter from track beginning
From End: Filter from track end (reversed)

Save, Share & Manage

Full track management: save to device, share with others, or manage your tracks.

Action	What It Does
Save	Save track as GPX file to device
Share	Send via email, messaging, cloud
Rename	Change track name (long press on track name)
Reverse	Flip direction — start becomes end
Delete	Remove track from app

Offline Maps Download

Download map tiles along your track for use without cell service. Navigate remote areas with confidence.

How to Download

Load/select a saved GPX track
Tap Offline Map button
Select map type: Outdoor and/or Satellite
Tap Download
Wait for completion — continues in background

Important Requirements

Track must be saved: Offline maps can only be downloaded for saved GPX tracks
Network connection: Initial download requires internet access
Storage space: Maps can be several MB per track

What Downloads

Tiles at multiple zoom levels
Covers the track corridor
Selected map types

How to Delete Offline Maps

Select the GPX track that has an offline map
Tap the Delete button in the track panel
In the deletion options, check "Delete associated offline map"
Tap Delete to confirm

Offline maps are stored with their associated GPX tracks. Deleting the offline map removes the downloaded tiles but keeps the GPX track data.

Height Map (Elevation Profile Chart) Auto-Download

For tracks created from OSM trails or Track Builder, elevation data downloads automatically from online services. No user action required.

When It Triggers

Convert an OSM trail to GPX
Exit Track Builder (saving path to GPX)
Download starts automatically in background
Elevation profile appears when complete

What Updates

Elevation chart and coloring
Statistics (gain, loss, min/max)
High-grade segments and alerts

GPX Track Navigation

Active Track Mode

Make any selected GPX track active to use it as your navigation guide. The app shows your real-time progress along the route.

Active Track Features

Progress tracking: Distance completed and remaining
Elevation stats: Gain/loss completed and ahead
Off-route alert: Visual indicator when you leave the track
Return guidance: Distance to nearest track point

How to Activate

Select any GPX track on the map
Tap the button
Track becomes your active navigation guide
Stats update as you move along the route

📊

Elevation Profile Position

Your GPS position syncs with the elevation chart in real-time. See exactly where you are on the elevation profile as you hike.

Position Sync Features

Live position marker: Indicator moves along the chart
Current elevation: Shows your actual altitude
Upcoming terrain: See what elevation changes lie ahead
Progress context: Visual sense of journey completion

OSM Trail Discovery & Search

Highlight all OpenStreetMap trails in the visible map area. Discover hiking paths, cycling routes, and nature trails anywhere in the world without knowing their names.

How to Discover

Navigate/zoom to an area you want to explore
Tap button in control panel
All OSM trails in view highlight on the map
Tap any highlighted trail to see its name and info

What You Can Do

View trail info: Name (if available) and length
Use with Ruler: Measure along the selected trail
Convert to GPX: One tap to create full GPX track
Auto height map: Elevation chart downloads automatically after conversion

Trails on Outdoor Map

Trails on Satellite Map

Trail Info

Convert to GPX

Trail Search by Name

Search for trails by name to find specific routes within the currently viewable map area. Pan or zoom the map to search other areas worldwide. Perfect for finding famous trails like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or local favorites.

How to Search

Expand control panel
Tap button in control panel
Type trail name (full or partial)
Navigate to the area you want to search in
Tap button to search
Select a trail in the results list and tap Navigate to zoom to the trail location

Search Tips

Try partial names if the full name is unknown or no results are found
Results show trail name
Tap to set max search radius. Up to 600 km (373 miles)

After Finding

Tap Convert to GPX for full track features
Height map downloads automatically
All GPX analysis features become available

Route Planning

Track Builder — Drawing

Create custom routes by drawing directly on the map. Freehand drawing with real-time distance tracking, undo/redo, and precision controls.

How to Draw

Expand control panel, tap
Touch map where you want to start
A green arrow will appear at the touch point
Drag finger to draw the desired route
Tap on the arrow to switch into erasing mode, arrow becomes a circle
Drag the circle back along the route to erase part of it
Use Undo/Redo buttons to correct mistakes

Drawing Tips

Zoom in for precise drawing and better control
Make mistakes? Use Undo liberally — it's easy to redraw

Builder Widget Controls

Distance: Real-time total path length (meters/feet)
Undo (): Remove last drawn segment
Redo (): Restore recently undone segment
Fit (): Zoom and center map on entire drawn path

Undo & Redo

Undo: Tap to remove the last drawn segment
Redo: Tap to restore a recently undone segment
Multiple levels: Can undo multiple segments in sequence
History reset: Drawing a new segment clears the redo history

Track Builder — Trail Merge

Merge existing OSM trails into your custom route. One of Track Builder's most powerful features — combine official trails with your custom paths for perfect routes.

How to Merge Trails

Load OSM trails or GPX tracks
Tap on a trail you'd like to merge to select it
Move track builder tip close to the selected trail
When within ~15 meters, trail highlights pink with arrows at both ends
A circle marker appears at the nearest intersection point
Adjust arrow positions along the selected trail as needed
Tap an arrow to append that trail segment in the direction of the arrow
You can merge multiple trails for complex route building

Complete Visual Indicators

Indicator	Meaning	What It Shows
Pink trail	Selected trail ready to merge	Trail is active and can be appended
Directional arrows	Append points at trail ends	Tap to extend route from intersection to this end
Circle marker	Intersection point	Where your path meets the selected trail
Start/end markers	Route orientation	Circle = start, diamond = end of merged segment

Merge Examples

Trail approach: Draw from parking lot to merge with official trail start
Trail detour: Draw around a closed section and reconnect
Complex routes: Combine multiple trails with custom connectors
Trail continuation: Extend beyond trail end to your destination

Save as GPX

Exit Track Builder to save your drawn path as a full GPX track with automatic elevation data. Transforms your custom route into a complete track with all analysis features.

How to Save

Tap button in control panel to exit Track Builder mode
Choose Yes to save the track, No to discard it, or Continue to keep building
Track is converted to GPX and saved to your device
Long press on the track name to rename it

After Saving — Full GPX Features

Elevation coloring: Green/flat, orange/climb, blue/descent, yellow/steep
Elevation chart: Interactive profile with distance scrubbing
High-grade segments: Yellow overlays on steep terrain
Trail report: Comprehensive analysis with tables and stats
Statistics: Distance, gain/loss, estimated time, terrain percentages
Offline maps: Download tiles along your custom route

Use Cases & Route Types

Custom day hikes: Combine multiple trails with your own connectors
Approach routes: Draw from parking to official trailheads
Alternative paths: Create detours around closed sections
Exploration routes: Plan paths through unmapped terrain
Hybrid adventures: Mix official trails with off-trail sections

Waypoints

Mark important locations on the map for navigation, reference, and planning your outdoor adventures.

How to Create

Long-press on map location
Tap Create Waypoint
Enter waypoint name
Waypoint appears at that location

Edit & Manage

Tap any waypoint to view details
Edit name and description
Delete waypoints when no longer needed

Weather

Temperature Overlay

See temperature distribution across the map with color-coded areas and numeric labels.

Map Color	Temperature Range
	Very Cold (-40°C to -30°C)
	Cold (-30°C to -20°C)
	Cold (-20°C to -10°C)
	Freezing (-10°C to 0°C)
	Cool (0°C to 10°C)
	Mild (10°C to 20°C)
	Warm (20°C to 25°C)
	Warm (25°C to 30°C)
	Hot (30°C to 35°C)
	Very Hot (35°C+)

Radar / Precipitation

Current and forecasted precipitation with intensity coloring and nowcast labels.

Map Color	Intensity (mm/h)
	Very light drizzle (0.1-0.5)
	Light drizzle (0.5-1.0)
	Drizzle (1.0-2.0)
	Light rain (2.0-4.0)
	Moderate rain (4.0-8.0)
	Rain (8.0-16.0)
	Heavy rain (16.0-25.0)
	Very heavy rain (25.0-40.0)
	Intense rain (40.0-60.0)
	Extreme storms (60.0+)

Weather Animation

Weather data animates through time to show how conditions change. Watch precipitation systems move across the map and temperature patterns shift throughout the day.

How Animation Works

Automatic Playback: Weather animates continuously when enabled, cycling through time frames every 1.5 seconds
Time Range: Shows past conditions (up to 3 hours ago) and future forecasts (up to 5 hours ahead)
Time Display: Shows "in 01:30" for future forecasts or "2:00 ago" for past data
What It Shows: Precipitation movement, storm development, temperature changes over time

Controls

Tap in weather widget to pause animation
Tap to resume automatic playback
Time display updates to show current animation frame

Weather at Specific Location

Get comprehensive weather information for any point on the map. Check current conditions, forecasts, and detailed weather data at your exact destination.

How to Check

Long-press on any map location
Tap Show Weather in context menu
Detailed weather popup appears with current conditions and forecast

What You See

Current Temperature: Current temp with min/max range
Weather Conditions: Description (sunny, cloudy, rain, etc.)
Wind: Speed and direction (compass points)
Precipitation: Current and forecasted amounts
Forecast: Next 1, 6, and 12 hour conditions
Location: GPS coordinates of the queried point

Use For

Check summit weather vs. trailhead temperatures
Compare weather conditions at different elevations
Verify weather at campsite or destination locations
Plan timing around forecasted weather changes

📊

Data Sources & Limitations

Weather data requires internet connection.

Important Notes

Requires internet connection for all weather features
Weather forecasts are predictions, not guarantees
Mountain areas may have different microclimates
Plan ahead and check weather before losing signal

⚙️ Settings & UI

🎨

Theme Selection

Choose light or dark theme, or let the app follow your device's system setting.

Theme	Best For
Light	Bright outdoor conditions, sunlight readability
Dark	Night use, OLED battery savings
System	Automatic switching with device schedule

How to Change

Expand control panel, tap Settings (⚙️)
Select theme: Light, Dark, or System
Theme applies immediately

📏

Unit Systems

Choose between Metric or Imperial measurement systems for all distances, elevations, speeds, and temperatures.

System	Distance	Elevation	Speed	Temperature
Metric	meters, km	meters	km/h	°C
Imperial	feet, miles	feet	mph	°F

How to Change

Expand control panel, tap Settings (⚙️)
Select unit system: Metric or Imperial
Changes apply immediately to all displays

What Gets Converted

Altitude readings in info panel and weather
Distance measurements in ruler and tracks
Speed displays in GPS info
Elevation data in track statistics
Temperature in weather overlays
Precipitation amounts in weather data

Your Complete Outdoor Adventures GPS Companion

Map & Navigation

Map Selection

Map Gestures

Follow Location

Rotate with Device

Compass

Context Menu

Info Panel

OSM Trail Discovery & Search

OSM Trail Highlight

Trail Search by Name

Measurement

Ruler — Free Mode

Ruler — Track Mode

GPX Track Analysis

Load GPX files

Elevation Coloring

Elevation Chart

High-Grade Segments

Alert Points

Trail Report

Statistics

Track Settings

Track Filter

Save & Share

Offline Maps

Height Map

GPX Track Navigation

Active Track Mode

Elevation Profile Position

Route Planning

Track Builder

Trail Merge

Save as GPX

Track Recording

Start/Stop Recording

Recording Widget

Pause & Resume

Background Recording

Waypoints

Waypoints

Share & Import

Weather

Temperature

Radar / Precipitation

Weather Animation

Weather at Point

Settings & UI

Theme

Units

Control Panel

Map & Navigation

Map Selection

How to Change

Map Gestures

Follow Location

Behavior

How to Enable

Rotate with Device

Behavior

How to Enable

Compass

Compass Features

Context Menu

How to Use

Info Panel

Accuracy Guide

📏 Measurement

Ruler — Free Mode

How to Use

Ruler - Track-Bound Mode

What Happens

How to Use

Track Recording

Start & Stop Recording

Before Starting

How to Record

Recording Widget

Widget Features