OnX Offroad and why I use it.

Growing up I remember my parents using Rand McNally Atlas to plan any trips we took, and I also remember the headache they had at times determining their current location or what to do when that accidental wrong turn happened. During my time in the military, navigation and exact locations were critical, and being a comms guy, we understood the importance of topography and elevation markings on the maps. Having a solid base knowledge of landnav, map reading skills and recalling the frustration I had seen growing up from paper maps, I knew I wanted maps that were easy to access, would allow me to save information but also provide that "old-school" touch of topography and basic map details.

Technology has come a very long way since the late 80's, and I can now have all the information on my phone when I need it, and thanks to the offline maps feature from OnX, I don't even need cell service to use the information and get real-time location data via GPS. OnX Offroad has been one of several major staples in my exploring and the primary source of landnav data and route planning. Not only can I preplan and save my trips, I can add waypoints to areas of interest, mark camping sites and add notes to any of my saved information. The color coded waypoint markers all make referencing locations, trails, campsites and other interests easy and quick and I can set the colors based on my preference.

In addition to being able to save my own information, routes and trail information, I can also sync the data between all of my devices from my desktop PC, to my phone and my tablet. I can share my data and trails with other OnX users as well, and if desired, coordinate an entire trail exploration run from a meeting point, fuel locations or stops, the trail itself and the route that will be taken. All the saved information also gives the total distance and can be broken down into legs which can make it easier to calculate fuel usage and the time. The trail information for featured trails also gives the total distance and approximate time to complete the trail, not to mention the difficulty and photos to help plan ahead.

Not only does OnX Offroad provide me with the information to plan and execute my trips, it also has features to keep the user safe with wildfire notifications, trail closures and even weather information. To further the features, Elite Members get access to private land data and when used in conjunction with OnX Hunt or Backcountry, you know exactly where you are and if permission from a land owner is granted for access, you know the precise boundaries of the land and can prevent accidental trespass.

OnX Offroad isn't just for offraod enthusiasts either, and now with their Snow Adventure layer, even winter activities such as snowmobiling can benefit from legal and clearly marked trails. It also provides some data for those that like to hike, and any landmarks along the routes making it great for those that like to explore even on foot. However, all of this is made even stronger in the data provided when utilized with the other OnX maps available such as OnX Backcountry which will provide more accurate and detailed information on hiking trails..but you still have to make the drive, and some of the best hiking paths are found off motorized trails well off the beaten path.

I have tried other apps similar to OnX Offroad, but found the interface rather boring, maps lacking detail and rather blad and scripted information. OnX information is gathered from different sources, one of them being Trail Guides, which to me gives a personal touch to the app and trail data. Guides actually traverse the trails, and during their adventure, take photographs and write a report based on their experience giving more of a first person perspective of what to expect.

Now some might say that because I am an OnX Offroad trail guide that I will give obvious bias to the app. Unfortunately this is not the case. I used OnX for several months after trying other apps and long before I had even considered applying to be a guide. This was my go to source of information and now that I am a part of the OnX family, I have enjoyed watching it grow and enjoy providing the information on trails for others to benefit from. While I haven't listed all of the features, I am always open to answering questions, so feel free to drop me a line. At this point I refuse to use any other maps for my offroad experiences with the exception of the USFS MVUM's which I use as a cross-reference to ensure the trails I am accessing to record are legal for public use.

Check out OnX Offroad, give the free trial a test drive and if you have any questions about the features or how to use them, get in contact with me and I will personally take the time to explain the app and its uses. Get out and explore, have fun and be sure to take care of the land you utilize.