Trackbook is a web app where you can create, store, and manage your tracks and waypoints, and sync them directly with GPX Viewer or GPX Viewer PRO on your phone. Once you create a track on Trackbook, you can download it as a GPX file and send it to your outdoor companions. In this post, we are excited to introduce another feature worth exploring on Trackbook: public tracks created and shared by other users.
What are public tracks
Public tracks are tracks that other Trackbook users have added and chosen to make visible to everyone. Any user can mark their track as public, and once they do, it appears on the map for anyone to see and explore.
To view public tracks, activate the PUB button in the right menu. Multiple tracks will appear on the map, showing you what other users have explored. This way you can discover new hiking trails, cycling routes, and more, from all over the world.
Saving a public track
When you find a public track you like, simply click on it. From there, you can adjust the track, rename it and save it as your own private track to your Trackbook account and after synchronizing with GPX Viewer or GPX Viewer PRO, the track will be available in your smartphone. You can also export a public track directly as a GPX file if you want to use it elsewhere.
Found a public track you think a friend would love? You can share it as a link, just click on the track and then click Copy a link to track button in the upper menu. Your hiking or cycling buddies open the link, see the track on the map on Trackbook, and can save it directly to their own Trackbook account, no need to deal with file attachments or manual uploads of GPX files.
This makes it easy to plan trips together. Spot a great route, send the link, and your hiking or cycling companion has everything they need in just a few taps.
Make your track public
Of course, a community map is only as rich as the people contributing to it. Every Trackbook user can contribute to public tracks list. No public tracks in your region yet? Be the first one to add a public track and contribute to the Trackbook community inspiring other outdoor enthusiasts.
Leading an outdoor event? Let public tracks handle the route sharing. If you are organizing an outdoor activity for the local community, cycling group, or running meetup, public tracks make event logistics simple. Create your route on Trackbook, mark it as a public track, and paste the direct link right into your event page. Fellow outdoor enthusiasts will be able to view and download the track even if they are not logged in to Trackbook.
Making your track public takes just a few steps. First, create and save your track on Trackbook. Then click the Edit track button, mark the option Public (share this track with the other users) and save your changes. Your track will now appear as public for other users to discover, save, and explore.
Use public tracks as inspiration
Public tracks are a great source of ideas for your next adventure. If you are planning a trip to an area you have never visited before, browsing public tracks on Trackbook gives you an idea about local outdoor adventures and what routes are possible in this area, not just what a guidebook suggests, but what actual people have done. You might discover a lesser-known trail through a national park, a scenic cycling loop around a lake, or a classic ridge walk you had not heard of before.
Looking for inspiration? Here is what we found while browsing public tracks on Trackbook.
Planning a trip to the UK? Get inspired by public tracks in the Lake District in northwest England. The Lake District is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the UK and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its glacial lakes, deep valleys, and fells that offer routes for hikers and cyclists of all levels. How about a hike along Ullswater, the second largest lake in England?
View it on Trackbook
Planning a bike trip in France? Get inspired by a public track along the coast of Brittany. The Gulf of Morbihan is a picturesque coastal region celebrated for its sheltered inland sea, tranquil inlets, and historic Breton towns. How about a 20-kilometer cycling trip along the Véloroute V45, starting near the peaceful marshes of Le Hézo and riding all the way into the medieval port city of Vannes?
View it on Trackbook
The best trails are often the ones recommended by other fellow travelers. Turn on showing public tracks on Trackbook, and start exploring routes created by people who love the outdoors just as much as you do. Maybe your next favorite ride or hike is just few clicks away.
