Creating Routes on the Fenix 6x.

You can use Garmin Explore, I am testing it with my phone in Airplane Mode with bluetooth turned on, seems to work offline.

Hi Darrin. I hadn't thought about using Explore. Thank you.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to create routes that follows the trail using Garmin Explore (iOS). It's not really feasible to use the Explore app to create a 10-20 mile windy route by hand. Am I missing something?

I know that I can make routes that fallow the trail in Garmin Connect, but that requires an internet connection.

I believe that you can essentially do what you're asking for. I hadn't tried it before until just now, but I think I just figured out how to do it.

During the activity, press+hold the menu button, and select "Navigate". It gives you a variety of choices to pick from (coordinates, places of interest, courses, previous activities, sight n go, etc). Select "Use Map" at the bottom of that list. Then you can pan/zoom around the map until the cursor is where you want to navigate to, then press+hold Start. It'll calculate the route, and then navigate you to it.

What I'm not 100% sure about, is if you can do that while a course is already loaded into the activity.

Thank you C.sco! That's exactly what I was looking for. Just to verify, does it look like it creates a straight line course, or does it make a course that follows the trail?

C.sco said:

What I'm not 100% sure about, is if you can do that while a course is already loaded into the activity.

Hmm, I know on my Fenix 5 I'll loaded a few courses and while in an activity I will start a course, stop a course, and then select a new course all without ending the activity. I'm assuming I'll be able to on the 6x as well. The ability improvise routes during a trip is the goal.

I'm not on or near any trails at the moment, but I just started a Hike activity at my desk here at work, and then used the map to select the neighborhood Denny's restaurant and navigate to it, and it calculated a course that follows the roads correctly (not just a straight line). I'm sure it works the same for trails.

I922sParkCir said:

Hmm, I know on my Fenix 5 I'll loaded a few courses and while in an activity I will start a course, stop a course, and then select a new course all without ending the activity. I'm assuming I'll be able to on the 6x as well. The ability improvise routes during a trip is the goal.

I'm sure you can do that on the 6 as well, I just haven't tried yet.

Awesome, thank you! Now I'll have to buy this watch.

Garmin Explore app is pretty bad; it’s difficult to use and it doesn’t follow trails. I see no point of using it.

Try Komoot app instead. They have Garmin integration which works really well plus planning routes in mobile/desktop is easy. I like to play with their maps while planning routes as there’s lots of places etc marked on map.

I think the app is free but you need to pay for the offline maps (I bought the whole world). They also just launched a premium service with monthly payments but haven’t look at it yet. I guess every company wants to get their recurring access into our pockets nowadays.

I’m not associated with Komoot anyway but think that their service is top notch. It’s shame that Garmin hasn’t been able to offer better route planning, especially when it should be in their core 

Also, not sure if you could use navigation feature of your watch I’ll rest it soon and report back here.