onX Backcountry: Trail GPS App icon
onX Backcountry Trail GPS App: Comprehensive Outdoor Navigation Tool

by onXmaps, Inc.

4.7
IOSNavigation
Professional GPS navigation app for hikers, climbers, and mountain bikers offering offline topographic maps, hazard alerts, and detailed trail data. Designed for backcountry exploration with reliable route planning capabilities.

Detailed Review

onX Backcountry represents a specialized GPS navigation solution targeting outdoor enthusiasts who require robust mapping capabilities beyond standard consumer applications. Developed by onXmaps, Inc., the application leverages the company's established expertise in outdoor mapping to deliver professional-grade navigation tools for backcountry activities. The application's core functionality centers around detailed topographic maps with multiple layer options, including real-time hazard data for wildfires and avalanches. GPS tracking maintains accuracy even in offline mode, crucial for remote areas without cellular service. Trail reports provide updated conditions, while route planning tools allow users to scout terrain beforehand. The mapping data integrates both public land boundaries and private property lines, addressing a critical need for legal access awareness during outdoor excursions. User experience demonstrates thoughtful design with intuitive map manipulation and clear trail marking systems. The interface prioritizes readability in various lighting conditions, with customizable display options for different activity types. Real-world usage patterns show particular strength during multi-day hikes where offline functionality becomes essential, and during emergency situations where hazard layers provide potentially life-saving information. User feedback consistently highlights reliability and comprehensive feature sets, with reviewer Bigtrucker45 (August 29, 2025) noting compatibility with other onX products, while Mjhoo97 (August 24, 2025) emphasizes accurate routing and trail information. Multiple reviews reference the application's role in safety scenarios, with Stag365 (August 31, 2025) specifically mentioning its value in emergency situations. The 4.7-star rating reflects strong satisfaction with functionality despite being a paid application. The application demonstrates particular strength in offline mapping reliability and hazard awareness features, though requires subscription access for full functionality. Battery consumption during continuous GPS tracking presents considerations for extended trips. Ideal for serious outdoor recreationalists who regularly venture into unfamiliar backcountry terrain and require professional-grade navigation tools with safety features.

Key Features

  • Offline topographic maps with downloadable regions for navigation without cellular service in remote areas
  • Real-time hazard layers displaying active wildfires and avalanche conditions for safety planning
  • GPS tracking with breadcrumb trails and waypoint marking for reliable navigation and route retracing
  • Detailed trail reports including difficulty ratings, elevation profiles, and current condition updates
  • Public/private land boundary mapping with ownership information to ensure legal access compliance
  • Multi-activity support with optimized maps and routing for hiking, mountain biking, and climbing

Why Users Love It

Comprehensive offline functionality
Real-time hazard awareness

Perfect for: Serious backcountry hikers, climbers, and mountain bikers requiring professional navigation

Ranking History

Track onX Backcountry: Trail GPS App's performance in Navigation over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#44

+4 from last week

Best Rank

#39

All-time high

Average Rank

#45

30-day average

User Reviews

SaucerX17
Sep 1, 2025

User friendly and easy to use … great app …. saw someone on YouTube talking about it and tried it. Great app User friendly and easy to use … great app …. saw someone on YouTube talking about it and tried it.

Vicariousadventures
Jul 4, 2025

I absolutely love this app and as a beginning nature YouTuber it makes it a breeze Satisfied I absolutely love this app and as a beginning nature YouTuber it makes it a breeze

Bonefixer123
Jul 5, 2025

So far, so good! Just getting started but worth the money so far. Will be using this week in Wyoming. Beginner user So far, so good! Just getting started but worth the money so far. Will be using this week in Wyoming.

Lyzzi Mcguire
Jul 5, 2025

Fantastic for finding climbing areas, not so much hiking. Easy to use and very smooth interface. This app has more climbing routes than others but it’s missing a LARGE amount of hiking trailheads. You have to zoom in and click on some lesser used/known trails, but some trails aren’t there at all or they’re there but not specified/just shows their coordinates when you click on them. This is a navigating app, not a shopping app, and it’s a good one. It’s just unmarked. Find a road and a trail, marked or not, pick a place to start, and head out. The 3D feature (better quality than any other app I’ve tried) and highlighted private property sections is really useful. I recommend switching back and forth with Alltrails. Climbing++ Fantastic for finding climbing areas, not so much hiking. Easy to use and very smooth interface. This app has more climbing routes than others but it’s missing a LARGE amount of hiking trailheads. You have to zoom in and click on some lesser used/known trails, but some trails aren’t there at all or they’re there but not specified/just shows their coordinates when you click on them. This is a navigating app, not a shopping app, and it’s a good one. It’s just unmarked. Find a road and a trail, marked or not, pick a place to start, and head out. The 3D feature (better quality than any other app I’ve tried) and highlighted private property sections is really useful. I recommend switching back and forth with Alltrails.

Edge5527
Jul 13, 2025

A lot easier and not as clunky as some of the other apps l Easy to use A lot easier and not as clunky as some of the other apps l

App Details

Developer

onXmaps, Inc.

Platform

ios

Rating

4.7

Last Updated

10/7/2025