What is a GPX file

A GPX file can be identified by its .gpx extension. An example of a GPX file can look like this: adventure-route.gpx

A simple way to describe a GPX file, is that a GPX file contains information about GPS coordinates.

Another way to describe a GPX file, is that a GPX file contains longitude and latitude data, in a format that a GPS device can understand, and use.

Most commonly, a GPX file is used with a GPS for navigation purposes.

As an example of a GPX file in use, let’s say you are an adventure rider, you have a GPS device mounted to your adventure bike, and you want to use your GPS to navigate to Wilberforce Valley Track (one of my favourite High Country tracks). By downloading the GPX file to your GPS device, then selecting “navigate“, the GPS device will accurately guide you up the Wilberforce Valley Track. Brilliant!

In this article I refer to using GPX files with a "GPS device". This includes dedicated GPS devices such as a Garmin GPS, and also smartphone devices with map navigation apps installed.

What types of GPX files are there?

While all GPX files will have a .gpx extension and essentially look the same on the surface, a GPX file can contain either a waypoint, a route, or a track. The differences are described below:

What is a Waypoint?

A waypoint contains GPS coordinates of a single point (a single location on a map). Waypoints are typically used to mark the location of a campsite, a hut, an iconic lookout, etc. That’s it – a waypoint is simply the map coordinates of a single location.

Most GPS devices offer the ability for you to “mark a waypoint” by pressing a button. This action will “create” a waypoint at your current location. This is handy when you are out exploring, and you find a cool place that you want to mark for returning to later.

Let’s say you find a great campsite, and you “mark a waypoint” on your GPS device. Your GPS device will then create a GPX file that stores the coordinates of that location. You can use this GPX file to return to this great campsite later, plus you can share the GPX file with others, so they can visit it too.

A real-life example of a waypoint is the Adventure Token map below. This map features waypoints at locations that are interesting to visit, such as epic lookouts, iconic rivers, historic places, or weird and wacky landmarks. Each Adventure Token is a waypoint. Each Adventure Token can be downloaded as a GPX file, and loaded to a GPS to navigate to.

What is a Route File?

A route file is best thought of as a collection of waypoints, that make up a “path” that you can follow.

A route is manually created, typically in map editing software. After you create a route in map editing software, you export the route as a GPX file to your GPS device. This route file can be used on your own GPS device to navigate, or you can share it with others.

When viewing a route file on a GPS device for example, the route file may appear coarse (eg looks like it has jaggered lines). This is mainly due to the fact that route files are limited to just 250 waypoints. Generally, the waypoints in a route file are intentionally placed at key points/intersections. This will allow you to follow the correct path at intersections, or places where there is more than one option to head. It is worth noting that the coarse line of a route file will often cut corners when you view the route file on a map, or a GPS device – this is normal. As long as the route file waypoints are placed at key intersections (so it is clear which way you should go), route files are perfectly adequate for navigation. Many people prefer route files due to the good compatibility across a range of GPS navigation devices.  

Additionally, you can create routes directly on a GPS device, however small screens can make this a fiddly task. When it comes to planning short routes, this can be ok, however for planning routes over large areas or over multiple days/weeks, it is much easier to create a route on a device with a larger screen such as a PC, laptop, or tablet. Once you have created your route, you then export it to your GPS device.

There are increasingly more phone apps that allow you to create routes on-the-fly. While many of these apps are becoming more advanced, creating a route on a mobile phone's small screen is never as nice as creating a route on a large screen. A PC or laptop with a mouse makes route creation far faster, much easier, and more enjoyable.

What is a Track File?

A track file contains a series waypoints and can be thought of like breadcrumbs. On your GPS device, you can turn on “track recording”. This recording feature means, when your GPS device is turned on, it will automatically record a breadcrumb trail as a track. Most GPS devices will allow you to change the frequency that each track point (breadcrumb) is recorded. Common track point recording times are between 2 and 10 minutes.  

Tracks are automatically saved on your GPS device, and can be used later for navigation, or sharing. A very common use for tracks is the “track back” feature. This allows you to follow the track you just travelled, in reverse. This is a very efficient way to retrace your steps, and is handy in many situations, both on foot, or in vehicles. Your tracks can also be shared with others.

The example above is a track file of Sawpit Road. This track file was automatically recorded on my GPS after I rode it. Notice how much more detail the track file has when compared to the route file example further up the page.

What is the difference between a route and a track?

This question comes up a lot, as there are many similarities between routes and tracks. Because of these similarities, it creates quite a bit of confusion. Here are some of the key differences and shared similarities between routes and tracks:

• route files are manually created, for the navigation of a route, that you intend to follow
• track files are automatically created (logged) by your GPS, from a track that you have already followed
• both routes and tracks can be used for navigation on a GPS device
• both routes and tracks can be shared with others so they can use them too
• routes generally have a low number of points, as each point in the route is manually created. As a result, when viewed on a map, the line of a route can look coarse and jagged
• tracks generally have a high number of points (hundreds and sometimes thousands) as track points are automatically created at set intervals when your GPS is turned on. As a result, when viewed on a map, the line of a track has very smooth, accurate contours

Even though routes are not as detailed as tracks, for activities such as adventure riding or four wheel driving for example, navigating to routes is perfectly fine. As long as the route file contains accurate points located at all the key intersections/turning points, route files are perfectly acceptable for this type of activity. When it comes to foot activities such as walking, hiking, hunting etc, using track files can be nicer as they provide more accuracy. This is especially important when taking a wrong turn on foot can potentially lead to life-threatening situations.

A recent hunting trip of mine up into the High Country is an example of the benefit of tracks. Late in the afternoon, there was plenty of sunlight that allowed me to make my way up a spur, to the tops, for an evening hunt. The path I took led through matagouri bushes that were so well-established and dense, they were almost impassable. I had to weave around the matagouri bushes in an almost maze-like fashion. At some points, I had to crawl through small gaps on my hands and knees.

After a successful evening shoot, the return trip was in the dark with the assistance of a head torch. By following my GPS using the “track back” feature, I was able to retrace my steps (follow my track back) with great accuracy. I found my way back to camp with ease, and in good time. If, however, I didn’t have the high level of accuracy that tracks provided, and I was just following a coarsely created route at home on a PC, it would have been a long evening battling spiky matagouri bushes, trying to find a clear path back down to camp.

It is worth noting that while tracks are normally automatically generated from your GPS when it is turned on, you can also manually create tracks in some map editing software. This means, both routes and tracks can be manually created, and then used for navigation.

Additionally, both routes and tracks can be taken into map editing software and modified. This includes adding points, removing points, and shifting points.

Some map editing software will also allow you to join routes together, or join tracks together. This is very handy if for example you have a number of short routes, and you want to create just one long route. You can’t join a track to a route, or a route to a track, however you can convert a route to a track (and vice versa) which will allow you to get the outcome you are looking for. The topic of editing routes and tracks in map editing in software gets a little in-depth, so it is better addressed in a separate article.

Hopefully this article has shed some clarity on what a GPX file is, and the three different types of GPX files you can use on your GPS device.

I'll sign off here by leaving some photos of Wilberforce Valley Track, which was used as an example in this GPX help article. If it interests you, you can view the info here: Wilberforce Valley Track

Happy trails – Josh from Adventure Guide