Fun and Games with Google Maps and GPX Files

I recently learned a cool Google Maps trick from the kind folks over at Warm Showers: Google Maps has the ability to directly load GPX files (the data format used by many GPS devices and mapping applications), if the GPX file is URL-accessible.

Here's how.

1. Open Google Maps.
2. Enter a GPX file URL into the "Search" box.
3. Click the "Search Maps" button.
4. If desired, click "Link" to generate a link to to the current map view with the GPS data overlayed

Done.

For example, this GPX file contains a few points of interest for the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance Duthie Hill Trail area. By following the procedure above, one can easily create a Google Maps view with the GPS data overlayed. Very cool.

The example above is rather simplistic; the GPX file contains only a few waypoints. GPX files containing actual routes display as expected.