View a GPX file in your browser
This tool loads a GPX file — the standard format exported by Garmin, Strava, Komoot and most GPS apps — and plots the route as a scaled track map with an elevation profile and summary stats. It is built for hikers, cyclists and runners who want a quick look at a recorded route without signing into a fitness platform.
How it works
The GPX file is XML, so the tool parses it with the browser’s built-in
DOMParser. It collects every trkpt (track point) across all trkseg segments and
all trk tracks, reading the lat and lon attributes and the optional ele
(elevation) child. The latitude/longitude pairs define a bounding box; the path is
then projected into that box and drawn as an SVG polyline so the shape stays accurate
at any size. Total distance is the running sum of Haversine great-circle distances
between consecutive points, and the elevation values are charted as a profile beneath
the map.
What the track view shows you
The route is drawn as a scaled SVG polyline, which means the shape — including turns, switchbacks, and out-and-back sections — is preserved accurately without needing external map tiles. The start and end points are marked so you can immediately see whether the route is a loop, an out-and-back, or a point-to-point. The bounding box of all track points is used as the canvas, so the track fills the view at whatever aspect ratio your route has.
Waypoints (if your GPX file includes wpt elements) are shown alongside the track. Many GPS devices and route-planning apps embed waypoints as named locations — trailheads, summits, or photo spots — and these appear as labelled markers over the track.
The elevation profile beneath the map shows altitude against track progress (distance from start), not time. This lets you see at a glance where the climb sections occur relative to the overall route.
Why no map tiles
Showing your GPS track overlaid on map tiles (satellite imagery or a street map) is the most visually intuitive format, but it requires either an API key (Google Maps, Mapbox) or sending your coordinates to a tile server. To protect your location privacy and work without any API keys or network access, this viewer draws only the track itself — a clean SVG line — inside its geographic bounds.
The shape and relative scale of your route are preserved perfectly in this form. For comparison against real-world features, the exported track can be viewed in Google Earth, QGIS, or any mapping application.
Common sources of GPX files
- Garmin devices: export via Garmin Express, Garmin Connect web interface (Activities → Export), or by copying files directly from the device storage at
GARMIN/ACTIVITY/ - Strava: export from the activity page via the three-dot menu → Export GPX; only available for your own activities
- Komoot: download from a tour in the web app; exports both planned routes and completed recordings
- AllTrails: download route GPX from the trail page (requires AllTrails account); these are planned routes, not recorded tracks
- Suunto App / Polar Flow / Wahoo: export GPX from individual workout details
- OpenStreetMap and Wikiloc: route GPX files available for public download directly from the web
Notes
Everything runs locally — your track is never uploaded. The view is deliberately key-free and tile-free so it works offline and keeps your location data private. For ascent/descent totals and pace with a smoothed elevation profile, see the GPX Elevation and Distance Stats tool. To convert the track to another format, see the GPX to KML and GPX to FIT converters.