No matter where you live or what place you plan to visit.
There are several great tools out there on the great internet, that will help you discover and plan your own microadventures.
Some of the tools are filled with easy to copy routes that other people have already done before.
Some of the tools offer a great way to visually get an idea of what you will be experiencing in a given place.
Some tools are great for figuring out what path or trail to walk.
I will list and then walk through how I use these tools on my microadventures.
- Komoot
- RidewithGPS
- AllTrails
- Google Earth
- Local Facebook groups
- Open street map
- Old fashioned maps
Websites with GPS tracks to copy
Komoot.com, RidewithGPS.com and AllTrails.com are all three websites whare users have uploaded their routes for you to find inspiration for your next adventure.
You can copy the GPS file to your own device or use the app to guide you along the trails. Or you can look at the route and do your own editing for it to fit your own needs before you use your new fast produced route.
Which one to use?
Personally, I have been using RidewithGPS the most. Can’t really remember why I started with that one. But then I learned how it works and kept using it. Often in the free version, sometimes, when in need of features in the app on the go, I have had some month where I have paid for the Pro version.
Suppose you are new to this way of planning and finding routes and need both hiking and biking routes. I do think that I would use Komoot.
The design is really userfriendly. Just take a look at this landing page, where you can find a quick path to the type of information and routes that you are looking for:
https://www.komoot.com/discover
Find online inspiration
If you want to plan your own route, but needs some inspiration, there are two quite different places I go to.
The first one is Google Earth Pro. Not Google maps, but Google Earth Pro, which is an app for your computer.
With this programme, you can zoom in to a local area and you will find pictures taken by users who have visited the same area. This way you will get an ide about what you can expect, and then go to your favourite tool for planning the route and make sure you walk or bike past a stunning view or whatever you have seen from photos that excite you.
You can get a quick look at how I use the tool right here:
https://www.facebook.com/683432342/videos/10157295123212343/
Another way to find great inspiration is to search for local Facebook groups. Search for groups with names like:
- Bikepacking in xx
- Hiking in xx
- Gravelbiking in xx
- Walking in
Often these Facebook groups are filled with inspiration and often you can find GPS files uploaded to the group as well.
When you just need a map
Well truth is, that sometimes, all I need is a map with the right amount of details.
On a recent microadventure on the bike, we had maps for biking on the roads with us. As a map for the big picture and overview. We just biked and relied on our intuition. Should we turn left or right?
But on some occasions, we needed a map with details to help us decide. We could have brought a more detailed printed map. But on this occasion, we opted for a quick view on Open Street Map in the browser.
Open Street Map is a website with maps edited and kept up to date by the users. It is simple and often very accurate.
So all I have to say now is: Happy exploring on your next microadventure.
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