Preferences

• Units Choose how Outmap shows distance, speed and pressure.
  • Metric:  uses kilometres, km/h and kPa.
  • Imperial:  switches everything over to the imperial equivalents.
  It applies across the whole app, so distances, elevations and speeds all follow the same system. Best for: seeing numbers in the units you already think in, so a 12 km route or a 1,200 m climb means something at a glance.
• Coordinate format Choose how locations are written.
  • Decimal (the default):  a single pair of numbers, like 49.2827, -123.1207.
  • DMS:  splits each number into degrees, minutes and seconds.
  • MGRS:  a grid system that gives a position in metres across a map grid.
  • UTM:  another grid system that gives a position in metres across a map grid.
  Every format points to the exact same spot, and Outmap uses WGS84, the same standard as GPS and most apps, so your coordinates will match what your phone or watch shows. Best for: sharing a location with a rescue team, or following a guidebook that uses a specific format. Pick whichever the other person or the book expects.
• Bearing reference Choose between true north and magnetic north for your bearings.
  • True north:  points to the North Pole.
  • Magnetic north:  is where a compass needle points.
  The two can be several degrees apart depending on where you are. Best for: matching a physical compass. If you navigate with one, pick magnetic north so the bearings in Outmap line up with what your compass shows.
• Lock orientation Keeps the map pointing north in 2D view, so it doesn't rotate as you turn or move. Best for: always knowing which way is north at a glance, and matching the map to the terrain in front of you without it spinning.
• Waypoint clustering Groups nearby waypoints into a single marker when you're zoomed out, so the map doesn't fill up with pins. Zoom in and they spread back out. Best for: busy areas with lots of waypoints close together.
• Contour lines Shows terrain contour lines on top of satellite imagery. Each line joins points at the same elevation, so lines close together mean steep ground and lines far apart mean gentle ground. Best for: reading the shape of the terrain, like ridges, gullies and how steep a slope is, while you're on a satellite view.
• Keep screen awake Stops your phone's display from turning off while Outmap is open. Best for: navigating on the go, so the screen doesn't lock while you're checking the map. It does use more battery, so switch it off when you don't need it.

• Metric:  uses kilometres, km/h and kPa.
• Imperial:  switches everything over to the imperial equivalents.

• Decimal (the default):  a single pair of numbers, like 49.2827, -123.1207.
• DMS:  splits each number into degrees, minutes and seconds.
• MGRS:  a grid system that gives a position in metres across a map grid.
• UTM:  another grid system that gives a position in metres across a map grid.

• True north:  points to the North Pole.
• Magnetic north:  is where a compass needle points.

Tracking

• Stats in notifications Shows your live stats in a notification while you're tracking an activity. Best for: checking distance and time at a glance without opening the app.

Privacy

• Recorded activity privacy Choose whether your new recorded activities stay private, or can be used to build anonymous community heatmaps.
  • Private:  only you see your tracks.
  • Opted in:  your activity can be used to build anonymous community heatmaps.
  You can change this at any time.

• Private:  only you see your tracks.
• Opted in:  your activity can be used to build anonymous community heatmaps.

Tip:  play around with these settings to find what works best for you.

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Choosing your activities

• Open the activity selector On the map, tap the activity button at the top right (it shows a small number for how many activities are selected). A panel called Map content opens with the heading "Select the activities you want to see." Pick from Mountain Bike, Hike, Ski, Climb and Trail Running.
• Pick more than one You can select several activities at once. The number on the button updates to show how many are on, and tapping a selected activity again turns it off. Best for: trips that mix activities, like hiking in and skiing out.
• What it changes Your selection decides what shows up on the map, and what Outmap suggests when you start a new route or waypoint. Best for: keeping the map focused on the activity you're planning, so it isn't cluttered with things you don't need.

The Ski layer

• Resort skiing Every lift and run at your favourite resorts appears on the map. You can see how a resort is laid out, where the lifts go and which runs come off them, before you ever get there. Best for: working out which runs suit you and your group.
• Backcountry skiing Alongside the resorts you'll see a large range of backcountry ski touring routes. Browse the routes in your favourite areas to see what's already been mapped, then tap one for the details. Best for: finding a tour in an area you don't know yet.
• Steepness at any point Tap any marked run or route to see its gradient profile, which shows how steep it is at every point along the way. It takes the guesswork out of a run you haven't skied before. Best for: knowing how steep a pitch is before you drop in.
• Ski touring route details Tap a touring route to see its gradient, aspect, distance and estimated journey time. You also get a 36-hour mountain forecast for that exact location, not the nearest town. Best for: picking a tour that fits the day you have and the weather that's coming.
• 3D terrain Tilt the map into 3D to look at the terrain the way you'll see it on the mountain. You can inspect the slopes and know exactly what you're getting yourself into before you commit. Best for: checking the steep sections, and what sits above and below them, from your couch.

Using the layers together

• Combine with other layers Every activity layer works with the other layers on the map. Try it with Slope angle (Pro) to see how steep the terrain is, or with the Heatmap layers to see where people actually go. Best for: getting the full picture of an area before you choose a line.
• Plan your own route Whichever activity you choose, you can build your own route with the route planning tool. See Plotting a route.
• Details on tap On every activity layer you can tap a trail, run, route or crag to see its details, and each one comes with a 36-hour mountain forecast for that exact spot.

Tip:  you can change your activities at any time, so switch them as you plan different trips.

Important:  the activity layers show you where runs, routes, trails and crags are, not whether they are safe on the day. Conditions change, so check the Avalanche forecast and the weather before you go, and always rely on your own training and judgment, especially in the backcountry.

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Choosing your activities

• Open the activity selector On the map, tap the activity button at the top right (it shows a small number for how many activities are selected). A panel called Map content opens with the heading "Select the activities you want to see." Pick from Mountain Bike, Hike, Ski, Climb and Trail Running.
• Pick more than one You can select several activities at once. The number on the button updates to show how many are on, and tapping a selected activity again turns it off. Best for: trips that mix activities, like hiking in and skiing out.
• What it changes Your selection decides what shows up on the map, and what Outmap suggests when you start a new route or waypoint. Best for: keeping the map focused on the activity you're planning, so it isn't cluttered with things you don't need.

The Hike layer

• Trail network The hiking trails layer shows established routes, with details like distance and elevation profile. Tap a trail to see them. Best for: finding a proven route in an area you don't know.
• Going off trail If you see a peak with no marked trail, drop a waypoint on it, tap Create Route, then add points along the line you'd like to take. Popular apps mostly show routes thousands of people already follow, and this lets you build your own. Best for: escaping the crowds and finding routes nobody else is on.
• Snap or Straight While you plot, choose Snap to follow existing trails or Straight to draw straight lines between your points. Use the undo button if you make a mistake. Best for: mixing marked trails with off-trail sections on the same route.
• Staying within your limits Switch on the Slope angle layer (a Pro layer) alongside your route to see whether any part of it is steeper than you want to take on. Best for: making sure your line isn't steeper than your group is comfortable with.
• Full route stats Once your route is plotted you get the elevation profile, distance, estimated travel time and pace, and the aspects your route crosses. There's also a 36-hour forecast for the route's exact location. Best for: knowing how long the day will be, and what the weather will do, before you leave.

Using the layers together

• Combine with other layers Every activity layer works with the other layers on the map. Try it with Slope angle (Pro) to see how steep the terrain is, or with the Heatmap layers to see where people actually go. Best for: getting the full picture of an area before you choose a line.
• Plan your own route Whichever activity you choose, you can build your own route with the route planning tool. See Plotting a route.
• Details on tap On every activity layer you can tap a trail, run, route or crag to see its details, and each one comes with a 36-hour mountain forecast for that exact spot.

Tip:  you can change your activities at any time, so switch them as you plan different trips.

Important:  the activity layers show you where runs, routes, trails and crags are, not whether they are safe on the day. Conditions change, so check the Avalanche forecast and the weather before you go, and always rely on your own training and judgment, especially in the backcountry.

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Choosing your activities

• Open the activity selector On the map, tap the activity button at the top right (it shows a small number for how many activities are selected). A panel called Map content opens with the heading "Select the activities you want to see." Pick from Mountain Bike, Hike, Ski, Climb and Trail Running.
• Pick more than one You can select several activities at once. The number on the button updates to show how many are on, and tapping a selected activity again turns it off. Best for: trips that mix activities, like hiking in and skiing out.
• What it changes Your selection decides what shows up on the map, and what Outmap suggests when you start a new route or waypoint. Best for: keeping the map focused on the activity you're planning, so it isn't cluttered with things you don't need.

The Ski layer

• Resort skiing Every lift and run at your favourite resorts appears on the map. You can see how a resort is laid out, where the lifts go and which runs come off them, before you ever get there. Best for: working out which runs suit you and your group.
• Backcountry skiing Alongside the resorts you'll see a large range of backcountry ski touring routes. Browse the routes in your favourite areas to see what's already been mapped, then tap one for the details. Best for: finding a tour in an area you don't know yet.
• Steepness at any point Tap any marked run or route to see its gradient profile, which shows how steep it is at every point along the way. It takes the guesswork out of a run you haven't skied before. Best for: knowing how steep a pitch is before you drop in.
• Ski touring route details Tap a touring route to see its gradient, aspect, distance and estimated journey time. You also get a 36-hour mountain forecast for that exact location, not the nearest town. Best for: picking a tour that fits the day you have and the weather that's coming.
• 3D terrain Tilt the map into 3D to look at the terrain the way you'll see it on the mountain. You can inspect the slopes and know exactly what you're getting yourself into before you commit. Best for: checking the steep sections, and what sits above and below them, from your couch.

The Hike layer

• Trail network The hiking trails layer shows established routes, with details like distance and elevation profile. Tap a trail to see them. Best for: finding a proven route in an area you don't know.
• Going off trail If you see a peak with no marked trail, drop a waypoint on it, tap Create Route, then add points along the line you'd like to take. Popular apps mostly show routes thousands of people already follow, and this lets you build your own. Best for: escaping the crowds and finding routes nobody else is on.
• Snap or Straight While you plot, choose Snap to follow existing trails or Straight to draw straight lines between your points. Use the undo button if you make a mistake. Best for: mixing marked trails with off-trail sections on the same route.
• Staying within your limits Switch on the Slope angle layer (a Pro layer) alongside your route to see whether any part of it is steeper than you want to take on. Best for: making sure your line isn't steeper than your group is comfortable with.
• Full route stats Once your route is plotted you get the elevation profile, distance, estimated travel time and pace, and the aspects your route crosses. There's also a 36-hour forecast for the route's exact location. Best for: knowing how long the day will be, and what the weather will do, before you leave.

The Climb layer

• Crags across the map Hundreds of crags appear on the map with their names, giving you an instant overview of what's out there in any area. They range from accessible crags for beginners to harder lines for experienced climbers. Best for: finding new spots, whether you sport climb, trad climb or boulder.
• Crag details Tap any crag to see its info and description, plus the weather forecast for that exact location. Best for: checking the conditions at a specific crag, not just the nearest town.
• Plan the approach Tap Create Route to plot your walk in straight from the map. Your ascent, descent and distance update as you go, so you know how long the approach is. Best for: working out how to get to a crag you haven't been to before.
• 3D imagery Tilt into 3D to see the crag and the terrain around it before you leave the house. Best for: understanding what you're walking into on the approach.

The Mountain Bike layer

• Every trail in your area All the trails around you are color-coded by difficulty, from beginner-friendly routes through to the most technical lines. Best for: finding a trail at your level, or the next step up.
• Trail details Tap any trail to see its distance, elevation profile and gradient, so you know exactly what you're getting into before you leave the house.
• 3D terrain Use the 3D terrain layers to view a trail from above and spot the climbs, descents and technical sections before you get there. Best for: scoping out a new trail, or planning a big ride.
• Weather Check the forecast for the exact trail location for the next 36 hours.
• Offline maps Download an offline map of the area so you always have navigation, even without signal. Offline maps are a Pro feature in the mobile app. Best for: remote trails where you won't have any service.
• Trail runners The same layer works just as well if you run. Use it to find and plan your next trail run.

Using the layers together

• Combine with other layers Every activity layer works with the other layers on the map. Try it with Slope angle (Pro) to see how steep the terrain is, or with the Heatmap layers to see where people actually go. Best for: getting the full picture of an area before you choose a line.
• Plan your own route Whichever activity you choose, you can build your own route with the route planning tool. See Plotting a route.
• Details on tap On every activity layer you can tap a trail, run, route or crag to see its details, and each one comes with a 36-hour mountain forecast for that exact spot.

Tip: you can change your activities at any time, so switch them as you plan different trips.

Important: the activity layers show you where runs, routes, trails and crags are, not whether they are safe on the day. Conditions change, so check the Avalanche forecast and the weather before you go, and always rely on your own training and judgment, especially in the backcountry.

Choosing your activities

• Open the activity selector On the map, tap the activity button at the top right (it shows a small number for how many activities are selected). A panel called Map content opens with the heading "Select the activities you want to see." Pick from Mountain Bike, Hike, Ski, Climb and Trail Running.
• Pick more than one You can select several activities at once. The number on the button updates to show how many are on, and tapping a selected activity again turns it off. Best for: trips that mix activities, like hiking in and skiing out.
• What it changes Your selection decides what shows up on the map, and what Outmap suggests when you start a new route or waypoint. Best for: keeping the map focused on the activity you're planning, so it isn't cluttered with things you don't need.

The Mountain Bike layer

• Every trail in your area All the trails around you are color-coded by difficulty, from beginner-friendly routes through to the most technical lines. Best for: finding a trail at your level, or the next step up.
• Trail details Tap any trail to see its distance, elevation profile and gradient, so you know exactly what you're getting into before you leave the house.
• 3D terrain Use the 3D terrain layers to view a trail from above and spot the climbs, descents and technical sections before you get there. Best for: scoping out a new trail, or planning a big ride.
• Weather Check the forecast for the exact trail location for the next 36 hours.
• Offline maps Download an offline map of the area so you always have navigation, even without signal. Offline maps are a Pro feature in the mobile app. Best for: remote trails where you won't have any service.
• Trail runners The same layer works just as well if you run. Use it to find and plan your next trail run.

Using the layers together

• Combine with other layers Every activity layer works with the other layers on the map. Try it with Slope angle (Pro) to see how steep the terrain is, or with the Heatmap layers to see where people actually go. Best for: getting the full picture of an area before you choose a line.
• Plan your own route Whichever activity you choose, you can build your own route with the route planning tool. See Plotting a route.
• Details on tap On every activity layer you can tap a trail, run, route or crag to see its details, and each one comes with a 36-hour mountain forecast for that exact spot.

Tip:  you can change your activities at any time, so switch them as you plan different trips.

Important:  the activity layers show you where runs, routes, trails and crags are, not whether they are safe on the day. Conditions change, so check the Avalanche forecast and the weather before you go, and always rely on your own training and judgment, especially in the backcountry.

Basemap style

• Terrain The topographic map view, drawn like a traditional paper map. Best for: reading trails, roads and place names, and getting a feel for the lay of the land.
• Satellite Satellite imagery of the ground. Best for: seeing what's actually out there, like snow cover, trees, rock and cliffs.
• Adaptive Switches between the topographic map and satellite imagery for you. Tilt from 2D into 3D and it switches from topo to satellite, and in 2D it also switches to satellite once you zoom in far enough. See the short Adaptive video for a full breakdown.

Satellite imagery

• Low resolution satellite Free satellite imagery with reduced detail. This is the satellite option on Basic, and a good way to get a feel for the terrain before you upgrade.
• Maxar High-resolution satellite imagery. Pro.
• Mapbox Balanced clarity and performance. Pro. Try Maxar and Mapbox side by side and see which you prefer for your area.
• Winter Beta Seasonal, snow-focused imagery where available, still in beta. Pro.
• Recent Imagery Imagery from the last 30 days, refreshed daily. Pro.

Contour lines

• Contour lines Turn this on to display contour lines over satellite imagery. Each line joins points at the same elevation, so lines close together mean steep ground and lines far apart mean gentle ground. Best for: reading the shape of the terrain, like ridges and gullies, when you're on a satellite view.

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Adaptive switches between the topographic map and satellite imagery automatically. Tilt from 2D into 3D and it switches from topo to satellite, and in 2D it also switches to satellite once you zoom in far enough. This short video shows how it works and when to use it.

Moving around in 3D

• 3D button Tap the 3D button to tilt the map into 3D. Best for: a quick way into 3D without any gestures.
• Tilt Swipe up or down with two fingers to tilt the map up and down. Best for: seeing how steep a slope really is, which is hard to judge from straight above.
• Rotate Twist with two fingers, moving one up and the other down, as if you're spinning the map. Best for: looking at a slope from every side.
• Zoom Pinch to zoom out, and spread your fingers to zoom in.
• North button Tap the compass button above the 3D button to bring the map back to north. Handy after you've rotated the map and lost track of which way is which.
• Centre on me Tap the location button once to centre the map on your location. Double tap it and the map turns to match the direction your phone is pointing, with the little blue arrow showing the way you're facing. Best for: working out which way to head when you're standing on the mountain.

There are three ways in: tap an objective on the map, search for it, or drop your own waypoint. Whichever you choose, a panel slides up from the bottom with everything about that spot. Drag it up to see more.

The header

• Name, type and elevation The name, its height above sea level, and a label for what it is when it has one, such as Alpine Hut.
• To you How it compares to where you are right now: the height difference, the distance, and the bearing to get there. The T next to the bearing means true north. Best for: a quick sense of how far and how high an objective is from where you're standing.

Details tab

• Location The exact coordinates, with the datum shown underneath. Tap the copy icon to copy them in one tap. Best for: sending a precise location to a friend, or pasting it into another app.
• Local time, timezone and elevation The time there, its timezone and its height. Handy when you're planning a trip somewhere in a different timezone.
• Nearby The closest town or area, so you know roughly where the spot is.
• Open in mapping application Opens the location in another maps app on your phone, which is handy for getting driving directions to the trailhead.
• Sun & Moon Sunrise and sunset, first light (dawn) and last light (dusk), plus the moon's illumination and direction, and moonrise and moonset. Sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset also show the compass direction they happen in. Best for: timing a dawn start, knowing how much daylight you really have, and judging how bright the night will be.

Description tab

• AI-generated description A written overview of the objective: what it is, who looks after it, what's there, and any rules or reservations that apply. For a hut, for example, it covers things like capacity, amenities and whether you need to book. Best for: getting the practical details before you dig into maps and forecasts. Available on marked objectives, not on waypoints you drop yourself. AI descriptions are part of Outmap Pro.

Weather tab

• Right now The current conditions: temperature, snow or rain, and wind. The forecast is provided by AlpineConditions, and the info icon tells you more about the source.
• Daily forecast A card for each day showing the high and low temperature, expected rain or snowfall, and wind with its direction and gusts. Swipe sideways to see more days, up to 16 days ahead.
• Coming up (next 36h) An hour-by-hour look at the next day and a half. Swipe sideways to scroll through the hours. Best for: picking the best window to be up high.
• The charts Scroll down for charts of precipitation (rain in millimetres and snow in centimetres), snow depth, temperature, wind and gusts, freezing level, visibility, cloud cover, and lightning probability. The freezing level chart shows a line for the objective's own elevation, so you can see when it's below freezing. The charts can also show recent historical conditions alongside the forecast, so you can see what the weather has been doing as well as what's coming.

Actions

• Save Saves it to your library so you can find it again later. Because everything syncs, it shows up in both the web app and the mobile app.
• Share Lets you send it to someone else, so they can see exactly the spot you're looking at.
• Create Route Opens the route planner so you can go straight from "that looks good" to plotting a line. Choose Snap to follow existing trails or Straight to draw straight lines, and use the undo button if you make a mistake. Your ascent, descent, steepness and distance update as you go. Tap Save when you're happy, or Cancel to start over.

Dropping your own waypoint

• Add a waypoint Tap the plus button on the map and choose Add a waypoint to place a pin anywhere, not just on marked objectives.
• What you get A panel titled with the nearest town, with a Details tab and a Weather tab for that exact spot, plus Save, Share and Create Route. Best for: checking the weather for a col, a campsite or a line that isn't marked on the map.

Tip:  descriptions are AI-generated, so treat them as a starting point and double-check important details like reservations and rules with the official source before you go. The forecast is for that exact spot, not the nearest town, so it can be very different from what you see in a valley forecast.

Turning it on

• Open the layers menu Tap the layers button on the map, go to the Terrain tab and tap Slope angle. To turn it off, tap it again. A small number on the Terrain tab shows how many terrain layers are switched on.

Reading the colors

• The scale A legend card appears on the map with a scale running from 10° to 60° and over. Match any patch of color on the map to the scale to read its steepness.
• From green to purple The gentlest slopes are green, then the colors warm up through yellow and orange, into red and pink as the terrain gets steep. Purple marks the steepest ground on the map, 60° and over, such as cliffs and rock faces.
• Slope angle vs Avalanche risk Slope angle shows steepness in small steps, so you can read the angle of any slope. Avalanche risk groups the same angles into a few key bands, so you can see the important range at a glance.

Controls

• Opacity slider The slider is located at the top of the Terrain layers menu. Drag it down to fade the colors so you can see the satellite imagery or topo map underneath, or up to make the angles stand out.

What it's good for

• Choosing a line See where the steep pitches are and where the terrain eases off, so you can pick a line that suits your group and the day.
• Planning the approach Find the gentler ground to travel on, and spot where your route has to cross steeper slopes.
• Pairing with other layers Use it with Slope aspect, Avalanche risk and the Avalanche forecast overlay to build a fuller picture of any slope before you go.

Turning it on

• Open the layers menu Tap the layers button on the map, go to the Terrain tab and tap Slope aspect. To turn it off, tap it again.

Reading the colors

• The compass legend A compass appears in the bottom corner of the map. Each direction has its own color, for example blue means a slope faces north. Match any slope to the compass to see which way it faces.
• Sun and shade In the northern hemisphere, north-facing slopes get the least sun, so the snow often stays colder and drier for longer. South-facing slopes get the most sun and warm up faster, which can have big implications for avalanche safety. The colors blend between directions, so a slope facing between two directions shows a color in between.

Opacity

• Opacity slider The slider is located at the top of the Terrain layers menu. Drag it down to fade the colors so you can see the terrain underneath.

Tip: avalanche forecasts normally tell you which aspects to watch out for. Pair Slope aspect with the Avalanche forecast overlay and you can see exactly where those aspects are on the map. Knowing exactly what aspect you're skiing is an essential tool for finding the best snow on the mountain, and for checking it's safe.

Turning it on

• Open the layers menu Tap the layers button on the map to open the menu, then go to the Terrain tab and tap Avalanche risk. The map is shaded straight away, and a legend card appears at the bottom of the screen. Open the layers menu again and tap Avalanche risk to switch it off.

Reading the colors

• Green and yellow, 20° to 34° Green is gentler ground, below the angles where avalanches usually start. Yellow, from 30°, is getting steeper, and avalanches become possible here when conditions are very unstable.
• Red, 34° to 45° The key band to watch. These are the angles where avalanches most commonly happen, often called prime avalanche terrain. A warning triangle on the legend marks this range.
• Orange and purple, 45° and over Very steep ground, up to the steepest terrain on the map. Snow on slopes this steep tends to shed in smaller slabs and sluffs.

The info icon

• What the colors mean Tap the info icon on the legend card for an explanation of how the layer works, plus a diagram of what happens at each slope angle and a link to an article that goes deeper.

Opacity

• Opacity slider The slider is located at the top of the Terrain layers menu. Drag it down to fade the colors so you can see the satellite imagery or topo map underneath, or up to make the angles stand out.

Important: this layer only highlights the slope angles that avalanches typically form on. Real avalanche danger also depends on the snowpack, the weather and how the slope is triggered. It's for planning only and should never be relied on for critical safety decisions, so use it together with the Avalanche forecast overlay, and always rely on your own training and judgment.