July 8, 2026

For hikers who want more from their maps, Outdoor Maps+ has become a go-to tool for route planning, terrain reading and having peace of mind when conditions change. Whether you’re navigating a local trail or in the backcountry, Outdoor Maps+ provides access to a wide variety of premium mapping across the globe.

What’s included in an Outdoor Maps+ plan?

Outdoor Maps+ layers premium content on top of high-detail topographic maps already preloaded on compatible fēnix® smartwatches and rugged handhelds such as the GPSMAP® 67i or Montana® handhelds. When you activate a plan on the Garmin Explore™ app, you unlock:

• Enhanced topographic maps with high-quality elevation mapping with premium contours and maximum detail
• High-definition relief shading that helps display elevations changes and terrain features
• High-resolution satellite imagery
• Garmin Trails, a curated and filterable collection of detailed trails with ratings, reviews and photos
• TrailMaps and detailed raster maps
• Content for winter and snow-related activities, including SkiView™ maps and SnowView™ maps
• Night Lights helps identify the best stargazing locations
• Points of interest, including campgrounds, shelters, scenic spots and more
• Hunting and fish features for multiuse adventurers, including land boundaries and public access data

Content updates regularly and delivers directly to your compatible Garmin device via Wi-Fi® connectivity. You can access these premium maps through the Garmin Explore app too, useful for planning before you ever leave your kitchen table. It can also be accessed through the Alpha® or Tread® apps.

What hikers actually use Outdoor Maps+ for

Planning a route is one thing. Using your maps in the field is another.

Alessandro Morolla¹, a full-time outdoor filmmaker and content creator, uses Outdoor Maps+ with his fēnix® 8 Pro and GPSMAP® 67i handheld across remote mountain terrain worldwide. For him, the value shows up before the hike even starts.

“The maps are detailed, reliable, and made route planning in the mountains much more precise,” Morolla said. “Knowing in advance what kind of terrain and challenges you’ll face makes any outdoor adventure, especially in the mountains, feel a little bit safer and more under control.”

That preparation paid off during a hiking trip in the Dolomites in northeastern Italy. When an unexpected thunderstorm rolled in, Morolla used Outdoor Maps+ to locate nearby shelter quickly.

“Having access to that kind of detailed map information in real time made a real difference in terms of safety and peace of mind,” said Morollo, who also enjoys the satellite imagery and trail overlays to scout filming locations, topographic lines to assess elevation gain and the best stargazing spots thanks to the Night Lights layer.

For Caziah Rashad Franklin, an adventurer and storyteller, Outdoor Maps+ came through during an expedition up Mt. Kilimanjaro.

“Although we had required guides along the route, Outdoor Maps+ provided additional information that helped us determine how to regulate our pace, diet, hydration and rest in correlation with elevation gain,” Franklin said.

His go-to layer? Enhanced topo maps, which provides high-detail elevation with premium contours and land boundaries.

“It provides a lot of key details that I really appreciate, especially elevation data,” said Franklin, who has plans to use Outdoor Maps+ on expeditions where detailed information adds a meaningful layer of confidence. “It’s extremely helpful for finding campsites and ensuring the land is public and available for resting.”

How to get started

Outdoor Maps+ works with compatible Garmin smartwatches, handhelds and navigators, and integrates with the Garmin Explore, Alpha and Tread apps. Once you activate a plan, map content automatically carries over to your compatible Garmin device, content syncs automatically so your maps are ready when you are.

If you’re serious about hiking, try it free today.

_{¹The individuals featured in this post are Garmin ambassadors and may receive compensation from Garmin through product and/or fees.}