OnX Offroad is on a mission to “awaken the adventurer inside everyone,” and provides a suite of navigation apps (including OnX Hunt, OnX Offroad, and OnX Backcountry) designed to unlock confidence exploring the outdoors. The company prides itself on products “built by adventurers, for adventurers” and additionally invests in land access initiatives to expand and protect open spaces. Eric Siegfried founded the company in 2009 with the aim of helping explorers see public land boundaries while in the field. Siegfried has worked hard with his team to fund a number of land access projects and completed an extensive map-based analysis of our nation’s “landlocked” lands. In 2018, he travelled to Washington, D.C. with representatives of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership to encourage senior land agency officials to reconsider how they look at public access. One year later, the acting secretary of the interior signed a secretarial order requiring the Bureau of Land Management to formally consider the public access on all future parcels identified for sale. It’s clear that the company is genuinely passionate about public lands, and it’s great to see that their mapping development goes hand-in-hand with conservation initiatives and funding (OnX is also a Leave No Trace partner, LNT.org).
Today we’re taking a closer look at some of the new trails and features introduced to the OnX Offroad navigation app. This impressive mapping software provides over 550,000 miles of off-road trails and is engineered to be a one-stop shop for all your off-roading needs. Features include finding open trails near you, the ability to track trips and add custom waypoints, download maps for offline use, interactive maps (tap on the map for more detailed info, such as trail open/closure dates, public land management, private land, and recreation point details), locate campsites and non-ethanol fuel stations, access to 3D and satellite maps, and can be used across devices. If that wasn’t enough, there are some exciting new features and updates that build on this already impressive toolset:
Another 15,000 miles of off-road trails added – The OnX mapping team has added new trails in California, Arizona, Texas, Utah, Tennessee, and many more. The updated trails include campsites, trailheads, scenic overlooks, and other points of interest.
“Navigation is Here” – This means you can now tap anywhere on your Offroad map, such as trailheads and waypoints, and pull up directions on how to get there. Moreover, you can send waypoints to friends, so nobody gets lost on the way to camp.
Improved Tracker – With Go and Track, the map follows you. Track your trips and easily view speed, direction, and elevation on the go.
I’ve always been a lover of paper maps, but there comes a point when the benefits and practicalities of new technology become undeniable. However, this isn’t a bad thing, and the digital navigation available from companies such as OnX is truly mind-blowing. Unlike a paper map, these mapping apps are in a constant state of development, meaning you’re always presented with the most up-to-date version whilst benefiting from regular updates and new tools. If you’re venturing into the backcountry, it’s important to be prepared, and the mapping services provided by OnX will both keep you safe and enrich your experience.
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