Creating a detailed topographical trail map is an excellent way to help hikers, cyclists, and outdoor adventurers understand a route before they set foot on it. Google’s My Maps makes this process accessible and powerful, allowing you to combine terrain data, distances, photos, and points of interest into a single interactive map that can be embedded directly on Tripplanner.nz.
Begin by opening Google My Maps while logged into your Google account and clicking Create a new map. Start by naming your map clearly, including the trail name and region, and add a short description outlining the trail’s length, difficulty, and highlights. This information helps users quickly understand what the map represents.
To show elevation and landform detail, change the base map to Terrain. This topographical view displays contour lines and shading that indicate hills, valleys, and steep sections. While My Maps doesn’t generate elevation profiles automatically, the terrain layer provides essential visual context for understanding how demanding a trail may be.
Next, add the trail route itself. Use the Draw a Line tool and choose Add walking route (or cycling route where appropriate). Click along the trail path to trace it accurately. Google My Maps will automatically calculate the distance of the route as you draw, which is invaluable for planning daily stages, estimating time, and comparing alternative paths. You can rename the line, adjust its color, and change its thickness to make it stand out clearly against the terrain.
Once the route is in place, start adding points of interest using the Add Marker tool. These markers can represent trailheads, viewpoints, campsites, huts, water sources, river crossings, cafés, or hazards. Each marker supports a title, descriptive text, links, and—importantly—photos. You can upload images directly, link to images hosted elsewhere, or pull photos from Google Photos. Visuals help users recognize landmarks and set realistic expectations for scenery and conditions.
To keep the map easy to use, organize content into layers. For example, place the main trail in one layer, side tracks or variations in another, and points of interest in a third. Layers allow viewers to toggle information on and off, reducing clutter and improving clarity.
When your map is complete, click Share and adjust the visibility settings to Public or Unlisted, depending on how widely you want it accessible. Then select Embed on my site, which generates an iframe embed code.
Finally, log in to Tripplanner.nz and paste this embed code into the appropriate HTML or map embed field for your listing, article, or trail page. Once published, visitors can interact with the map directly—zooming in on terrain, checking distances, viewing photos, and exploring points of interest. This approach transforms a simple trail description into an engaging, practical planning tool that adds real value for Tripplanner.nz users.
