how do i get basecamp to keep on a ahiking trail without including nearby roads etc

Its not a BaseCamp issue but a map issue. Which map are you using? Unless its data allows routing along the tracks/trails you want BaseCamp cannot route along it.

For hiking routes I always use Direct Activity since that allows you to route wherever you wish to go.

Or make a track, instead of a route.
It take some more time, give less trouble also when you send it to a gps.

SUSSAMB is right about the map. I use Garmin OS maps and they don't route on tracks or footpaths, only roads. I found that to create walking/hiking routes the best two options are:

1. Use the Direct profile which simply follows the course you plot, directly from one shaping point to the next. It doesn't try to divert you onto nearby roads.
2. Create a track as NHvZ suggests. Personally I find this better for hiking because the screen of the device isn't cluttered with lots of little blue pin icons and there are no irritating beeps and alerts as you pass the via points.

Hope that helps

Personally I like the beeps/alerts :D

If you don't like the blue pins do as I do, I've replaced them with small dots.

thanks

thanks for your answers. I am using the garmin topographic maps of Australia on an epix. I am wanting to hike the australian alpine walking track (aawt)which is approx. 650 km. so doing the whole lot using tracks or direct is slightly daunting. the maps are also out of date complicating things somewhat. near the beginning of the track because of bushfires in2003 the tracks have been rebuilt in different routes. some of the aawt is on firetrails and is probably routable but one needs to be able to switch back between say direct or say hiking or trekking (or bushwalking as we call it) I am not sure if that is possible???
also is it possible to get rid of the waypoint flags on a route imported into basecamp
many thanks

This thread may help with your blue pin problem but I have no idea of the capabilities of your Epix so not sure what is/isn't possible.

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?35618-GPSMAP-60CS-screen-cluttered-by-route-point-labels

Whether you use direct or a routing profile is up to you, but if you do use a routing profile then you will get the issue you're trying to avoid since no GPS can route along trails that it doesn't know are 'routeable'. I do a fair bit of long distance walking and wouldn't consider using any profile other than direct. Note though that with all devices there is a limit to the number of points you can have in a 'route'. On mine it's 250 which is ample for a days walk. If that isn't enough for you then you will either need to break the route into sections or, as mentioned above, use a track. Again on mine a track can have up to 10,000 points. This FAQ indicates your Epix is the same

https://support.garmin.com/faqSearch/en-GB/faq/content/3pcRrl17em7xueyltV6H8A

Popular trails often have a gpx track online. Try doing a web search on "australian alpine walking gpx". You may want or need to break the track into several smaller tracks using the scissors tool. If your device does not allow track navigation (this does away with lots of pins and beeps) then the track segments can be converted to Direct Routes. Make sure you use the filter option to reduce the number of points to the maximum your device allows for direct routes. You may have to ask Garmin or search Garmin's FAQ to find this value.

dividing tracks

thanks for your answer, do I need to rename each bit of the walking track or can I just divide the one track into smaller bits.
yesterday when I went out for a test of the route the map would not stay on the screen, it would just appear for a few seconds, it was running in the background but would only reload for a few seconds certainly not enough to navigate by. I wondered if this was because the file was to big.
thanks again
leon

You're now straying into device issues so ask the question about the display etc in the Epix forum. As for splitting the track in BaseCamp you'll end up with two unique tracks.