GPX is the standard file format for hiking routes and GPS tracks. You can bring a GPX route into HiiKER to edit and follow it, and download any hike as a GPX file to use somewhere else.

In this article: Import a GPX route · Import several files at once · Export a hike as GPX · Why won’t my GPX file open?

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How to import a GPX route into the HiiKER app

1. Open the Map tab.
2. Tap Options.
3. Under Navigation, tap Import GPX.
4. On iPhone, choose the file. On Android, tap import GPX at the top right of the Import screen, then choose the file.
5. The route opens in the Hike Planner. Change it if you like, then tap Save to add it to your hikes.

• You need to be signed in to import a file.
• Shortcut: type import into the app’s search bar.
• Already in the planner? Tap Hike Days > Import hike > Import GPX. See Plan a hike.

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How to import several GPX files at once

To bring in a batch of routes without opening each one in the planner:

1. From the Home page, open My Planned Hikes.
2. Tap + at the top right and choose Import hike.
3. Tap Choose Files (on Android: Choose GPX files) and select one or more GPX files.
4. Tap Import Files. Each file is saved as a new hike.

Got GPX tracks of walks you’ve already done? Import them as recordings instead: open My Recordings, tap + and choose Import recording.

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How to export a hike as a GPX file

1. Open the hike you want to export.
2. On its overview page, tap More.
3. Tap Export GPX, then choose GPX, GPX (Garmin Compatible), KML (Google Earth) or GeoJSON.

Step-by-step with pictures: Download a hike as a GPX file.

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Why won’t my GPX file open?

If an import fails, the app tells you why. Here’s what each message means and what to do:

• “This isn’t a GPX file. Please choose a file that ends in .gpx.” The file needs to end in .gpx (route.gpx, not route.txt). Some apps and downloads save it with the wrong extension. If it’s really a KML, KMZ or FIT file, convert it to GPX first.
• “This GPX file is damaged or incomplete and couldn’t be read.” The download may have been interrupted, or the file was edited by hand or exported by a tool that doesn’t follow the GPX standard. Download or export it again.
• “This file is empty — there’s nothing to import.” The file has no content. Download it again.
• “This GPX file doesn’t contain a route or track to import.” It may only hold waypoints. Import those from Options > Waypoints > Import Waypoints GPX (on Android: Import GPX Waypoints).
• “This file has a route, not a recorded track. Import it as a hike instead.” You tried to import a planned route as a recording. Use one of the hike imports above.
• The file is very large. Files with many thousands of points can take a long time to process. On Android, files over 32 MB can’t be imported (“This file is too large to import. Please choose a GPX file under 32 MB.”).

On the HiiKER website? See Importing routes on the HiiKER website and Exporting and downloading routes from the HiiKER website.