Trail Companion Guide

⚙️ Settings

Tap the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner to open Settings. This is the first place to visit after installing — it tailors the entire experience to your ride.

📏 Start & End Points

Set where your ride begins and ends. This is the most important setting because it adjusts every mile marker throughout the app so mile 0 is your starting town. Direction (SOBO or NOBO) is determined automatically based on your start and end — you don't need to set it manually.

Common configurations: Banff → Antelope Wells (full SOBO), Roosville → Antelope Wells (US-only SOBO), Antelope Wells → Banff (full NOBO). If you're starting mid-route, choose the nearest town as your start point.

Alternate Routes

The GDMBR has several well-known alternate routes — the Flathead, Lander Cutoff, Teton detour, and others. In Settings, you can toggle each alternate on or off.

When an alternate is active, it shows as a solid line on the map and the main route section it replaces is dimmed. Each alternate lists its total distance and the main route miles it replaces, so you can see at a glance whether it's longer or shorter. GPS tracking automatically detects when you're on an active alternate.

Toggle alternates on before you reach the junction — the map and elevation profile update immediately.

📐 Units

Tap the MI / KM button to switch between miles/feet and kilometres/metres. This affects all distances, elevations, and the segment calculator throughout the app. The setting is saved on your device.

🎨 Theme

Toggle between Dark and Light themes. Dark is the default and recommended for outdoor use — it reduces screen glare and saves battery on OLED displays. Light works well for planning indoors or riding in bright conditions where a dark screen is harder to read.

Updates & Sync

The Trail Companion checks for data updates automatically whenever you're online. If resources have been added, updated, or corrected since your last visit, the fresh data downloads in the background.

In Settings, you can see the current data version and manually trigger a sync if you want to ensure you have the latest data before heading into a signal gap. The update banner also appears at the top of the companion when a newer version is available.

Settings are saved on your device and persist between sessions — you only need to configure once.

⚠️ Disclaimers & Technical

Always verify resource information. Hours, seasons, phone numbers, and services can change without notice. A business listed as open may have closed; a water source listed as reliable may be dry. Always verify critical information by calling ahead or asking locally.

Carry proper navigation. The GDMBR requires dedicated navigation: ACA paper maps or section maps, a GPS device with the official GPX track, or both. Mile markers are estimates derived from GPS snap-to-route calculations; they are approximate and may differ from ACA section maps.

GPS accuracy varies. Position accuracy depends on satellite visibility, terrain, tree cover, and your device. In canyons or dense forest, accuracy may drop to 30–100m. Never make safety decisions based solely on GPS position.

Offline has limits. While the Trail Companion caches trail data and previously viewed map tiles, it cannot guarantee full offline coverage. Map areas you haven't browsed while online will appear blank. Always carry paper maps as backup.

Your data stays on your device. The Trail Companion does not track your location or share your GPS data with us or anyone else. Position data is processed entirely on your device. The "Share position" feature only sends data when you explicitly choose to share.

Battery. GPS tracking and screen-on use consume battery. In remote sections where recharging isn't possible for days, manage your battery carefully. Consider flight mode with GPS enabled (where supported by your device) to reduce drain.

Technical Details

The Trail Companion is a Progressive Web App (PWA); a website that behaves like a native app when installed to your home screen. It uses Leaflet for maps (with OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap, and Esri satellite imagery), the Web Geolocation API for GPS, a service worker for offline caching, and HTML Canvas for the interactive elevation profile. Community features (ratings, reviews, verifications, and issue reports) are submitted via REST API and moderated before appearing.

It requires no app store download, no account, and no personal information. It works on any modern smartphone browser (Safari 15+, Chrome 90+, Firefox 90+).

📐 View Modes

The view bar sits just below the top bar and is always visible. It has three view buttons, a zone dropdown, and a search toggle:

Switching views preserves your current filters, search, GPS position, and scroll position.

📍 GPS & Position Tracking

When you first open the Trail Companion, it asks whether you'd like to enable GPS. We recommend saying yes; it transforms the experience from a static directory to a live, forward-looking dashboard.

With GPS active, a position banner shows your current mile marker, elevation, and state. The map zooms to a corridor view showing roughly 10 miles behind you and 50 miles ahead. Resources are sorted by distance, with the nearest at the top. Each card shows whether it's ahead or behind, and how far.

Auto-follow and manual browsing. The map follows your position as you ride. If you drag the map to explore elsewhere, auto-follow pauses. Tap the ⊕ button in the position banner to snap back to your location.

SOBO / NOBO. Direction is set automatically based on your start and end points in Settings. The direction badge in the top bar shows SOBO or NOBO. This affects the meaning of "ahead" and "behind", resource sort order, and the corridor view on the map.

Alternate route tracking. If GPS detects you are on an active alternate route rather than the main GDMBR, the position banner updates to show which alternate you're on and your progress along it.

Accuracy. The position banner shows a ± accuracy figure in metres. In open terrain with clear sky, expect 3–10m. In canyons or dense forest, accuracy may drop to 30–100m. Mile marker estimates are derived from snapping your GPS position to the nearest point on the route polyline; they are approximate, not surveyed.

🗺️ The Map

The map shows the full GDMBR route as a coloured polyline; each state has its own colour so you can see borders at a glance. Resource markers use emoji icons based on their primary service.

Map controls (top right): the GPS button starts or stops position tracking; the layer button cycles between Street, Topo, and Satellite views; the 📷 button toggles trail photo markers on and off.

Trail photos. When enabled, photo markers appear along the route. Tap one to see a fullscreen lightbox with the photo, title, and mile marker. Tap anywhere or the ✕ to dismiss.

Alternate routes. Alternate routes appear as colour-coded dashed lines. Tap any alternate line to see its name, distance, and which section of the main route it replaces. Active alternates (toggled on in Settings) show as solid lines, and the main route section they replace is dimmed.

Where markers overlap (common in small towns with multiple resources), they're automatically fanned out in a small circle so you can tap each one individually.

🔍 Zone, Search & Filters

Zone dropdown. The zone dropdown sits in the view bar, between the view buttons and the search toggle. It lets you jump directly to a state or ACA map section. Select a zone to pan the map and filter the resource list to that area. This is useful for planning: you can review all the resources in Wyoming or on ACA map GD 4 before you get there. When GPS is active, the dropdown resets to "Entire route" since the list is already sorted by distance.

Town search. The search bar has a hidden superpower: type any town name on the route (Banff, Whitefish, Pie Town, etc.) and the Trail Companion recognises it as a town. The map instantly zooms and centres on that town, and the resource cards filter to show only resources near it — the same as tapping a town marker on the map. A town pill appears below the search bar showing which town is active; tap the ✕ on the pill to clear it and return to the full route view. This is the fastest way to scope out a specific town before you arrive.

Text search. For anything that isn't a town name, typing filters the resource list in real time by name, category, state, or rider tip. Tap the 🔍 magnifying glass to open the search bar, and tap ✕ or 🔍 again to close and clear it.

Category filters. The filter pills narrow resources by service type: All, Camping, Meals, Water, Lodging, Grocery, Bike Shop, and Shuttle. Tap a filter to activate it; tap it again to deactivate and return to All. Filters apply to both the resource list and the map markers. Filters work alongside the town pill — so you can show only Camping near Whitefish, for example.

⛰️ Elevation Profile

The elevation profile shows the full route's altitude in a compact strip chart. Each state is shaded in its own colour, and tiny dots along the bottom edge mark resource locations.

Interactive. Tap or drag your finger across the profile to see the mile, elevation, and state at any point. Tapping also pans the map to that location; useful for scouting climbs or planning where to stop. When GPS is active, an amber marker line shows your current position.

Pinch to zoom. Pinch the elevation profile to zoom into a section. The map stays synchronised; as you zoom the elevation profile, the map view adjusts to show the same section of trail, and vice versa.

Segment Calculator

The elevation profile doubles as a climbing calculator. Tap once to set Point A, then tap again to set Point B. A highlighted segment appears between the two points, and a stats bar slides in showing the distance, total ascent ↑, and total descent ↓ along the route between them. This is cumulative climbing; not just the elevation difference, but every foot of up and down along the way.

This is especially useful for planning daily distances. Tap the ✕ to clear the segment, or tap a third time to reset. Resource dots along the bottom of the profile help you target specific locations.

📋 Resources & Detail Sheet

Each resource card shows a thumbnail (if available), name, category, service icons, distance (miles ahead ▼ or behind ▲ when GPS is active, or mile marker otherwise), and rider tip.

Tap any card to open the detail sheet, which slides up from the bottom. The detail view shows the full description, stats grid (mile, elevation, state, off-route distance, season, hours, distance from you), rider tip, service labels, action buttons, and community reviews.

+ button. At the left end of the filter bar, there's a teal + button. Tap it to add a new stop — the Add a Stop form slides up without leaving the Trail Companion. Fill in the name, category, and location (using GPS, Plus Code, or lat/lng), add any notes, and submit. See the Community tab for more on how contributions work.

Detail Map Toggle

In the top-right corner of the detail sheet, next to the close button, there's a map toggle (🗺 icon). Tap it to switch from the card view to a fullscreen map zoomed in on that resource, showing a pin marker, the route line, and a floating label with the resource name and mile. Tap the toggle again (it switches to a list icon) to return to the card view.

Actions & Contact

The phone number is shown most prominently; this is usually the most useful action on the trail. Tap to dial directly. You can also get turn-by-turn directions via Google Maps, or open the resource's website.

Navigation Between Resources

Navigation buttons at the bottom of the detail sheet let you step through resources in order without closing the sheet; handy for comparing options in a town.

📤 Share Your Position

When GPS is active, a 📤 button appears in the position banner. Tap it to share your current location with riding partners, family, or support crew. The shared message includes your mile marker, state, elevation, and a Google Maps link to your coordinates.

🏕️ Tips for Using on the Trail

Before you leave town

Open the Trail Companion on WiFi and let it load fully. Browse and zoom into the next 2–3 days of route to cache map tiles. Set your start and end points in Settings. Toggle on any alternate routes you plan to ride. Check the resource list for your upcoming section; note phone numbers for places you might need.

While riding

Launch from your home screen; it opens instantly. Enable GPS to see what's nearby. The list is sorted by distance, so the most relevant resources are always at the top. Tap the phone number on a resource detail to call ahead; many remote businesses appreciate advance notice. Use the Map view when navigating and the List view when comparing options. Disable GPS when you don't need it to save battery.

In camp

Use the elevation profile to scout tomorrow's climbs. Use the segment calculator to see exactly how much climbing is between you and your next target. Use the zone dropdown to review resources on the next ACA map section. Browse the map at the zoom level you'll use tomorrow to cache tiles for the day ahead. Rate and review the places you stopped at today — your input helps the next rider through.

⭐ Help Build the Trail Companion

The Trail Companion is a community project. Every rating, review, verification, and correction makes the data better for the next rider through. You don't need an account — just tap and contribute.

👍 Confirm "Still here"

Tap 👍 Still here to confirm a resource still exists and is operational. This is the simplest and most valuable contribution you can make — one tap, done.

Verification counts and dates are shown on every detail sheet: "Verified by 4 riders, last confirmed 3 days ago" tells the next person they can trust the data. A resource that hasn't been verified in two years is a gamble — your tap fixes that.

⭐ Rate a Resource

At the bottom of every resource detail sheet, tap ⭐ Rate to open the rating overlay. Give a star rating out of five, and tag the resource with descriptors that help other riders know what to expect: "Recommended", "Must stop", "Worth detour", "Welcoming", "Meh", and more (tags vary by category).

Tap 💬 Want to write more? to expand a text review and email field. Reviews appear on the detail sheet so the next rider can read exactly what you experienced. The best reviews are specific and practical — think about what you'd have wanted to know before you arrived.

Ratings appear as a star average on the detail sheet, so future riders can see at a glance whether a place is well-regarded. Tags surface the most common descriptors — if ten riders tag a campground as "no shade", that's useful intel.

⚠️ Report an Issue

Spotted incorrect data? Tap ⚠️ Fix data on any detail sheet. You can report common issues with a single tap:

Every report includes an optional comment field. For location issues, you can provide a Plus Code or tap 📍 Use my location. Reports are reviewed and actioned quickly — your correction could prevent someone from riding 20 extra miles to a place that no longer exists.

📍 Add a Stop

Found a great stop that isn't in the database? A friendly café, a reliable water source, a free campspot, a bike-friendly motel? Tap the teal + button at the left end of the filter bar (just above the resource cards) to open the Add a Stop form.

You can add the resource name, select a category, and pin the location using one of three methods: tap 📍 Use my location to use your GPS position, enter a Google Plus Code, or type latitude and longitude coordinates directly. Add any notes about what makes it useful for GDMBR riders and tap Submit.

Stops are reviewed and added to the database for all riders — often within hours. The best submissions include: what it is, why it matters to GDMBR riders, and how to find it if it's not obvious from the road.

🏕️ When to Contribute

The easiest time to contribute is in camp at the end of the day, when you're on WiFi (or have signal) and the day's stops are fresh in your mind. Rate the places you used, expand "Want to write more?" if anything stood out, and tap "Still here" on anything you confirmed with your own eyes.

Even small contributions compound. If every rider through a town taps "Still Here" on the three places they used, every resource in that town gets fresh verification within a week of the season opening. That's the power of community data.