Route planning, explained

Everything you need to build a great route card.

This guide shows how to add waypoints, fine tune timing, export files, and share routes with your team.

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Route Cards

Distance, ascent, timing, notes.

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Cloud Routing

Toggle routing on/off for quick straight lines.

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Weather

Forecast, wind, and precipitation at a waypoint.

Quickstart

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1. Click the map

Add your first waypoint by clicking anywhere on the map.

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2. Keep clicking

Each new point creates a new leg with distance and ascent.

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3. Save and share

Save locally and to the cloud, then copy a share link.

Waypoints

Waypoints define your route. You can rename them, reorder by drag-and-drop, add rest breaks, and toggle whether a leg should use routing or a straight line.

  • Click the map to add a waypoint.
  • Drag a waypoint in the list to reorder.
  • Use the insert button on a waypoint to add a point after it.
  • Notes stay with the waypoint and show in exports.

Tip: Rename as you go

Use the Route Name field in settings to keep exports and saves organized. You can rename at any time.

Cloud routing toggle

Tap the cloud icon to switch routing on or off. Off mode draws straight lines and skips backend routing calls.

Routing & Elevation

When cloud routing is on, RouteCard Maker fetches paths with elevation data. When it is off, the app uses straight lines and still asks the elevation service for each point.

  • Cloud routing gives realistic distance and ascent.
  • Straight-line mode is great for sketching ideas fast.
  • Elevation data feeds the chart and leg ascent totals.

Timing & Route Settings

Start time + date

Used to calculate arrival times, sunrise, and sunset.

Speed & climb rate

Adjust these to match your group and conditions.

Weather

The weather button opens a meteogram for a selected waypoint. It includes temperature, wind, and precipitation for as long as hourly data is available.

Pick a waypoint

Choose the location you care about most in the dropdown.

Plan for wind

Wind barbs show direction and strength in each hour.

Changing conditions

Re-open the weather modal after moving waypoints to refresh the forecast.

Hourly window

Hourly precipitation and symbols are shown only while the source provides them.

Save, Load, Share

Saving keeps a local copy and attempts a cloud save. The Open menu shows saved routes or lets you upload a GPX file. Share copies a link to your current cloud route.

  • Save prompts for a name if the route is Untitled.
  • Delete saves from the Load dialog.
  • Share link includes the route ID in the URL.
  • Upload GPX from the Open menu (folder icon).

Share workflow

Click Share, then paste the link to your team or group chat.

Export

Use the download menu in the toolbar to export:

GPX

For GPS devices and mapping apps.

CSV

Great for spreadsheets and analysis.

GeoJSON

Ideal for GIS and mapping tools.

Import GPX

Use the Open menu (folder icon) and choose “Upload GPX” to load an existing track.

Shortcuts & Tips

Undo / Redo

Use the toolbar buttons to quickly reverse changes.

Reorder with drag

Drag waypoints in the list to update the route order.

Need more help?

Review the safety guide, check backend status, then jump back to the app.