Creating and Using Courses and Routes in the Garmin Explore App

The Garmin Explore™ app is made for off-the-grid adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. In the app, courses can be created to route you on a specific path and are ideal for hiking, mountain biking, ATV/off road driving, and other similar activities.

Courses can be synced from the Garmin Explore app to the Garmin Explore website or a compatible Garmin device.

Courses can also be created offline, while in the field, and synced to a compatible device. This allows for trip planning without an internet connection.

Synced courses can typically be found under Courses or Course Planner on Garmin devices. If your Garmin device does not have an option for courses, the course will automatically be converted to a track and can be found under Tracks or Track Manager on the device.

NOTE: The latest updates to the Garmin Explore app have replaced the Add Route function with Create Course. 

Creating a Course

1. Open the Garmin Explore app.

2. Select  Map.

3. Select an option:

   • Select > Create Course.

   • Select a point on the map that you would like the course to navigate to, then select > Create Course.

     This will begin creating a course from your current location to the selected map point. If needed, the starting point and ending point can be moved by holding and dragging on either point.

4. Use the following options to create the course:

   TIP: You can also select  in the app to view instructions and a tutorial.

   • Placing a Course Point: Tap the map to create a starting point.

   • Creating a Course: Tap a second location on the map to create a course line and continue adding points to the course as needed.

     • Circular courses can be created by placing the last point of the course on the map, then selecting and dragging the last point to the same location as the starting point. The beginning and end of the course will then be one point to allow for navigating the course in a complete circle.

     • Courses are limited to 250 points. Courses with more than 50 points cannot be recalculated during navigation. 
       

   • Deleting a Point: Tap on a point, then select Delete Point to remove it from the course.

   • Naming a Point: Tap on a point, then select Name Point to add a unique icon. 

   • Moving a Point: Hold and drag a point, then release.

   • Moving a Course: Hold and drag a course line, then release. A new point will be created where you release.

   •  Routing Options: Change the routing type and other settings.

     • Direct Routing: When toggled on, a straight line will be drawn between points. When toggle off, the other routing options will determine how to calculate the course to follow roads, streets, and trails.

     • Routing Type: Choose a routing type to calculate the course. These routing types will only work when Topo mapping is selected and is not intended for use with automobile or motorcycle driving. Topo mapping is based on OSM (OpenStreetMaps) that have not been verified as safe for automotive driving. Available routing types include:

       •  Road Cycling

       •  Mixed Surface Cycling

       •  Gravel Bike

       •  Mountain Biking

       •  Running & Walking

       •  Hiking

       •  Mountaineering

     • Popularity Routing: The course will be created using popularity data to generate a course based on popular routes, streets, trails, etc. used by other Garmin users.

     • Calculation Method: Sets the method used to calculate your route.

     • Avoidances: Sets the types of roads, terrain, and transportation methods to avoid while navigating.

   •  Direct Routing: When enabled, the tool will draw a straight line to the point you tapped. When disabled, the course will snap to roads and trails based on the routing type that has been selected.

5. Select Save.

6. Tap on the name or a line color to change them if desired, then select Done or Save.

   

The course can now be synced to a compatible Garmin device.

NOTE: When creating courses in the Garmin Explore app, a message will display if there are more than 50 points to indicate that the course cannot be recalculated during navigation.

Navigating With a Course, Route, or Track

NOTE: Navigation requires a connected Garmin device.

Courses, routes, and tracks can be selected in the Garmin Explore and used to navigate. If there is an activity you wish to navigate, it will need to be copied into another format first (see below).

1. Open the Garmin Explore app.

2. Select  Map or  Saved and locate the course, route, or track you wish to navigate with.

   • NOTE: From the   Saved tab you can sort and filter the lists under All Items by tapping , then choose from the following options:

     • SORT

       • Date Created

       • Distance

       • Name (A-Z)

       • Name (Z-A)

     • FILTER

       • All Items

       • Unorganized Items (includes all items not included in a Collection)

3. Select the course, route, or track.

   • If selecting the item from the map, select the name of the item after tapping on the map.

4. Select Navigate or Go.

   • If you have more than one connected Garmin device, follow the prompts to select the device(s) you wish to navigate with.

The selected course, route, or track will be shared with the connected Garmin device(s) and navigation will begin in both the app and on the connected device(s) once GPS has been acquired.

If you are using a Garmin watch, you may also be prompted to select an activity profile from the watch.

If you are using an inReach device, you may also be prompted with the option to enable location sharing (i.e. Tracking).

Navigation will end automatically once you have reached your destination, or you can end navigation by swiping up from the bottom of the app and selecting Stop.

Create a Copy of a Course, Route, Activity, or Track 

In some cases it may be helpful to create a copy of a course, route, activity, or track.

1. Open the Garmin Explore app.

2. Select  Map or  Saved and locate the desired route, course, activity, or track.

   • NOTE: From the   Saved tab you can sort and filter the lists under All Items by tapping , then choose from the following options:

     • SORT

       • Date Created

       • Distance

       • Name (A-Z)

       • Name (Z-A)

     • FILTER

       • All Items

       • Unorganized Items (includes all items not included in a Collection)

3. Select the activity, course, route, or track.

   • If selecting the item from the map, select the name of the desired item after tapping on the map.

4. Select .

5. Select an option based on whether a route, course, activity, or track is being copied:

   • For routes, activities, and tracks you can select Copy as Course.

   • For courses you can select Save a Copy.

6. Select Copy when prompted.

A copy of the course, route, activity, or track will be saved as a new course in the Saved section of the app.

NOTE: Routes created on the Garmin Explore website will show as direct, point-to-point navigation in the Garmin Explore app. Once synced over to a compatible Garmin device, the route will calculate based on the capabilities and routing settings of the device.