Navigation

At this writing, 05/24/2026, the navigation tools I find useful plus provide a backup redundancy are a compass on my Garmin Instinct 3 watch and my iPhone. I use backup paper maps for trails like the CDT and the PCT or any small hikes.
Maps are available for free for the PCT and CDT.  Halfmile creates the PCT maps and has them available on the Pacific Crest Trail Association website along with some smaller pdf files made for phones. I used these maps thru my entire PCT thru hike. The CDT Coalition provides free comprehensive map sets using US Forest Service data. Additionally, CDT Coalition provides a KMZ files that can be loaded into apps such as Google Earth, Avensa, and TAC Aware.

HalfMile Maps

Jonathan Ley creates the CDT maps and annotates them with information plus illustrates all the alternative trails in purple.  Ley has created a fine product which he will provide you a link to download if you email him. Get all the map info from his website below.
For me to see the maps clearly I selected the larger size, which in the long run made them a bit bulky.  Eventually, I simply used my Guthook and Topo apps to navigate and carried sections of the paper maps for a backup.

Ley Website

I now primarily use two apps on my iPhone to navigate.

• FarOut
• TAC Aware

Both of these apps are completely functional without a cellular or wireless connection.  They both require the maps to be downloaded with a good connection, usually prior to the hike.  The GPS function for these apps can be set on my iPhone to turn off when not using the app, this feature will extend your phone battery.

 I have found FarOut's app to be very good in providing information about important points along the trail such as water, junctions, views and towns.  FarOut will get you back on the trail if you wander off.   One very nice feature is the elevation profile, this gives you an idea of the ascent and descent that will face ahead.  

I like to use the TAC Aware app to navigate a snow covered trails, create a customized route, or just return to the trail.  Since this app provides a The Topo app requires the user to import waypoints, then download the free topo maps that are associated with the trail waypoints.  This is a time consuming effort that requires the user to do the work prior to the hike, but I have always enjoyed it and found the end result very helpful on the trail. Once the maps are dowloaded you can access them in the app without the user of a cellular or wireless connection.  

For the PCT I import the Halfmile waypoints 

For the CDT I import the CDT Coalition waypoints 

For the TRT I import the waypoints from the TRT website

The common GPX files import nicely into the Topo app.  Sometimes data is in a different format and requires converting to GPX.  I have found conversion programs that are web based that do a very nice job converting data to various formats.

One convient website that converts data is https://kml2gpx.com.   A nice feature is to be able to take the GPX waypoints and convert them into KML waypoints to import into Google Earth, giving you a great overview of the trail. Another trick is to import the NOAA snow data into Google Earth then overlay the trail you are interested in.  Immediately you get a feel for the conditions that exist ahead.