OkMap Tutorial - Preparing a Hiking Track

Published on April 15, 2026 - 7 minute read

OkMap tutorial for preparing a hiking track using DEM elevation data, elevation analysis and detailed statistics.
In this video from the OkMap Tutorial series, we show how to plan a route before heading out by using OkMap as a GPS route planner, analyzing elevation profile, distance, elevation gain, estimated travel time and difficulty.
The result is a complete GPX track ready to be used on GPS devices or smartphones such as OkMap Mobile.
OkMap allows you to work with hiking maps and topographic maps, helping you evaluate route difficulty, travel time and terrain characteristics in advance.

Procedure:

• Open a georeferenced raster map or a web map
• Adjust zoom to the area of interest
• Download elevation data (DEM)
• Draw the track or use autorouting (if available)
• Calculate travel times
• Analyze distance, elevation gain and statistics
• Check slope graphs and fatigue index
• Export the track in GPX format
• Use the GPX file on GPS or OkMap Mobile

Tips:

• Use high-resolution topographic maps for accurate route planning
• Always check the elevation profile before hiking
• Compare multiple route alternatives to evaluate difficulty and timing
• Always verify consistency between track and elevation model

Common errors:

• Not correctly considering actual elevation gain of the route
• Using low-quality maps for planning
• Underestimating the real length of the route
• Ignoring the elevation profile when estimating time