Quick start
Get from zero to a planned trip with a GPX route in under five minutes.
This guide walks you through the fastest path to a working trip plan. It assumes you have a GPX file ready. If you do not have one yet, export from Gaia GPS, Komoot, AllTrails, or your GPS device — all produce standard .gpx files.
1. Create an account
Go to trailkeep.com/testing and sign up. During the open beta, all accounts receive lifetime Pioneer status (equivalent to Pro) at no cost — no credit card required.
If you just want to try the planner without signing up first, skip to step 2 and use guest mode.
2. Create a new trip
From the dashboard, click New trip. Give your trip a name and set the start and end dates.
3. Upload your GPX file
Inside your trip, find the GPX button and upload your file. Trailkeep accepts any standard .gpx file up to 10 MB. The route appears on the map immediately.
Files with unusual names (like route (1).gpx from Android) upload correctly. Trailkeep identifies GPX files by their .gpx extension, not the MIME type — which varies across devices and apps.
4. Add waypoints
Open the Waypoints tab to add key points along your route — campsites, water sources, resupply towns. Each waypoint can be tagged as a water source or resupply point, which keeps the map clean and lets you filter by type during planning.
5. Set up your safety contacts
Go to Account settings (user menu, top right) → Emergency tab. Add at least one emergency contact with their name, email, and phone number.
Once contacts are set, return to the dashboard and open the Safety section to generate your Safety QR code.
Free accounts receive a basic overdue alert when the trip end date passes without being completed. Pioneer and Pro accounts get the auto-timer — a smarter system that resets each time you complete a day on trail, not just at the end date.
6. Share or collaborate
To share a read-only view of your trip, open the Share button in the dashboard header and copy the link. Anyone with the link can view your itinerary, route, and gear list.
To invite someone to co-edit your trip in real time, copy the Edit link from the Share menu. Collaborators can make changes without an account.
That covers the core flow. Use the sidebar to go deeper on any feature — GPX upload, waypoints, the safety system, gear management, and collaborative editing all have dedicated sections.