Planning and Editing a Hiking Route in MAPEAK

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In this video, we will plan a hiking route in Map Peak, modify it on the map, add destinations, and review the route details before starting the trip.

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We are looking at the Mount Hood area on a detailed topographic map. The plan is to begin at this parking lot, travel through the trail network, and reach the campsites and points of interest shown farther along the route.

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To begin planning, select the pencil icon on the toolbar. This opens the editing tools and lets us build a route on the map.

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Before choosing points, select a profile matching your activity. Map Peak can calculate routes for hiking, cycling, and driving on unpaved roads. It also offers straight line navigation for areas where no mapped trail or road is available. This choice tells the application which paths suit the journey.

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For this example, we will use the hiking profile shown here. Click the parking lot to define the precise starting point for the route.

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Next, move to the first place we want to reach and select the campsite on the map. We do not need to trace every turn by hand. We only define the destination, and Map Peak uses the mapped trail network to connect it with our starting point. The application handles the detailed calculation while we focus on the intended destination.

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The application now calculates the complete route automatically. The blue line follows the available hiking trails between the parking lot and the selected campsite. As the map moves, we can review the full route, the direction of travel, and the terrain it crosses. We can zoom out for context, then zoom in to inspect specific connections.

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The first suggestion is only a starting point. By reading the contour lines, we can identify sections that may be steeper than we prefer. If we want a more suitable alternative, we can redirect the route through another trail while keeping the original start and destination. This matters when the shortest route is not the most comfortable choice for everyone involved.

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Simply press a point on the blue route and drag it toward the trail we prefer. Map Peak immediately recalculates the relevant section on screen.

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Now we can extend the trip beyond the first destination. Five miles may not be enough for the day, so we select Paradise Branch Falls as an additional point of interest. One more touch on the map adds the new section and updates the route as one continuous journey without restarting the plan. The map then expands to show how the added destination connects with our route.

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We can continue in the same way and add another campsite farther along the trail too. The route and its calculations update automatically after every new point.

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The completed plan is approximately nine and a quarter miles long. The summary also shows the accumulated elevation gain and descent. These figures help us understand the distance, the amount of climbing, and the overall effort required before deciding whether the route suits the day. The summary updates whenever any point in the plan is changed.

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For a closer look at the terrain, open the elevation panel. The graph shows how the route climbs and descends from beginning to end. Additional statistics appear beside it, giving us a clearer picture of the planned distance and elevation, so we can review the route carefully before heading out. This supports the final review.