Our Custom Routes feature helps you transform your vision for adventure into the perfect route. Create a new route from scratch by drawing your own, customise one of AllTrails' 450,000+ verified routes, combine existing trails, or let AllTrails do the work for you.
- Route to the best spots — Build a trail to your favourite waterfall, a mountain peak viewpoint you've been wanting to see, or any of the 500,000+ points of interest on AllTrails. Simply select any point of interest and immediately generate a route to get you there.
- Let us help — There are multiple ways to get to any destination. Custom Routes takes the guesswork out of choosing a path. You can use smart routing options to make the route shorter, reduce elevation gain, or take you on the most scenic path — all along existing OpenStreetMap paths with confirmed foot traffic.
- See yourself on the trail as you build it — Get an immersive 3D trail preview and see community photos along the route. Trail Preview and Photo Tour are dynamically updated as you modify your route, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.
- Easily access your custom route details — Once you're done creating your route, you can access all the details you'll need, including a trail map, key stats (length, estimated time, elevation gain), and anything else you’ve added (like a route name and description).
All AllTrails members are able to create their own routes on AllTrails.com. The Peak plan gives you the ability to create and edit routes on the go in the mobile app.
Creating a new route on AllTrails.com
Step 1: Access Custom Routes
There are four ways to access Custom Routes:
- Under ‘Explore’, click 'Build custom route'
- Under ‘Saved’, click 'Custom routes & maps', then ‘Build custom route’ in the lower left
- Click the ‘Customise route’ button on trail pages (you’ll find it in the upper right, above the photos)
- Open any trail map, then click the 'Customise route' button in the lower right
Step 2: Start creating your route!
- Click anywhere on the map to set a starting point
- Continue clicking on the map to add to your route
- Click ‘Options’ in the toolbar at the bottom of the map to access smart routing options
- Options include some or all of the following, depending on your route: Reverse direction, Double back, Close circular, Make shorter, Reduce elevation gain, and Take the scenic route
- Clicking points along the route also brings up available options to edit your route
- Find route visualisation features like trail preview and photo tour in the side panel
- Click on the default 'Custom route' title to change the title and add a description. From there, you can also update the privacy setting for your route.
Step 3: Save your route
- Click ‘Save’ to finalise your route
- You can adjust the privacy level for all your routes in your global privacy settings
- You can also change the privacy setting for a route that’s set to private when you share it with someone else
- You can always access your custom routes by clicking 'Custom routes & maps' under ‘Saved’
Creating a new route using the iOS and Android apps (Peak feature)
Step 1: Access Custom Routes
There are three ways to access Custom Routes in the mobile app:
- From the ‘Saved’ tab, tap ‘Custom routes & maps’, then ‘Build custom route’
- From any trail page, tap 'Customise route'
- From any trail map, tap 'Customise'
Step 2: Start creating your route!
- Tap anywhere on the map to set a starting point
- Continue tapping on the map to add to your route
- Tap the button in the lower-right corner of the map to access smart routing options. Options include some or all of the following, depending on your route: Reverse direction, Double back, Close loop, Make shorter, Reduce elevation gain, and Take the scenic route
- Tapping points on the route also brings up available options to edit your route
- Drag any point along the path to alter your route
- Swipe up from the bottom of your screen, then pull all the way up to see route visualisation features like trail preview and photo tour
- Tap the default 'Custom route' title to change the title and add a description
Step 3: Save your route
- Tap ‘Save’ to finalise your route
- You can adjust the privacy level for all of your routes in your global privacy settings
- You can also change the privacy setting for a route that’s set to private when you share it with someone else
- You can always access your custom routes in 'Custom routes & maps' in the Saved tab
Tools and tips for creating a route on AllTrails.com
Snap to paths:
When you begin editing a route, 'Snap to paths' will be toggled on by default. Snap to paths is the easiest way to create a route. Click a starting point, then click where you want to go — your route will snap to existing OpenStreetMap (OSM) paths and roads.
You can turn off 'Snap to paths' by clicking the toggle in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Clicking on the map will then create a straight-line path that does not snap to OSM paths and roads.
To draw, hold Shift and drag on the map to add to your route. Drawing mode can only extend a trail forward.
Activities:
You can change your activity in the dropdown at the top of the side panel. The following activities are available for routing:
- Hiking: When this is selected, the routing preference will be hiking trails and walking paths that support pedestrian access; you shouldn’t be routed anywhere where pedestrians are not allowed.
- Road biking: When this is selected, the routing preference will be on paved roads and paths that support bicycle access; you shouldn't be routed on any trails, walking paths, or roads where bikes aren't allowed.
- Mountain biking: When this is selected, the routing preference will be multi-surface trails that support bicycle access; you shouldn’t be routed on any trails, walking paths, or roads where bikes aren't allowed.
- Scenic driving: When this is selected, the routing preference will be paved roads.
- Off-road driving: When this is selected, the routing preference will be on multi-surface roads and trails that support motorised "adventure" riding; you shouldn't be routed on any trails or walking paths where motorised vehicles aren't allowed.
Note: When routing for road biking, mountain biking, scenic driving, or off-road driving, or if there is a one-way street, trail, or path, routing will follow the direction of the pathway. If you're trying to route on a specific path and you're being rerouted, you can hold Shift to manually draw along that path.
Routing and customisation:
- To create an out-and-back route (one that returns the same way you came, click the 'Double back' icon in the toolbar
- To complete a loop or return to the start of the trail, click the 'Close circular' icon in the toolbar
- To reverse the direction of your route, click the 'Reverse Direction' icon in the toolbar
- To add a segment to your route, click the 'Add' icon next to Segments in the side panel
- To change the colour of a segment, select a colour from the dropdown in the side panel
- If you make a mistake, click the 'Undo' arrow icon in the toolbar
- You can click the 'Redo' arrow icon to reapply your last action if you change your mind
Keyboard shortcuts:
- Command-Z / Control-Z = Undo
- Command-Y / Control-Y / Command-Shift-Z / Control-Shift-Z = Redo
- Delete / Backspace = Deletes a selected point along your route
- Hold Shift = Allows you to drag on the map to add to your route
Edit and save:
When finished editing, click 'Save' to save your route.
- To edit a saved route:
- Open your route, then click the pencil icon ('Edit route') in the bottom toolbar
- To delete a route:
- Open your route, then click the trash icon ('Delete route') icon in the bottom toolbar
- From your Custom routes & maps list, click the pencil icon to edit the list, then click the trash icon
- To edit points in your route:
- Click a point to bring up available options or press Delete to remove a selected point
- Drag points to another area on the map to reroute
Waypoints:
Add waypoints by clicking 'Mark points of interest' in the side panel. Position your waypoint on the map by clicking and dragging, or enter coordinates in the side panel. You can also add a title, optional description, and choose whether to show the waypoint title on the map. More about waypoints
Route description:
You have the option to provide a brief description of your route to easily remember what the route covers and why you created it. This may be useful to people who you share the route with. Add a description by clicking on the title of your route while in editing mode.
Elevation Profile:
Hover and drag your mouse along the elevation profile in the side panel to see the corresponding points along your route.
Sharing:
Share your custom route by copying the URL at the top of your browser, or click the arrow icon ('Share') in the bottom toolbar for more sharing options. More on sharing routes.