How To Send AllTrails To Garmin | Route Sync Made Simple

You can move an AllTrails route to a Garmin by exporting a GPX file, importing it to Garmin Connect, then syncing to your device.

You found a trail on AllTrails, and you want it on your Garmin so you can follow it with turn cues, distance-to-next, and the reassuring little line on your screen. Good news: you don’t need a pile of apps or weird file tricks.

The cleanest path is simple: export the route file from AllTrails, import it into Garmin Connect as a course, then sync your watch or bike computer. Once you do it once, it becomes a two-minute habit.

What You Need Before You Start

Get these basics lined up and the transfer goes smoothly.

• An AllTrails account that can export route files (trail pages, saved routes, or custom routes, depending on what you’re exporting).
• A Garmin Connect account, signed in on the web and on your phone.
• Your Garmin device paired to the Garmin Connect app, with syncing working.
• A route file format that Garmin accepts for courses: GPX, TCX, or FIT.

If you’re choosing formats, GPX is the usual pick. It’s widely accepted, easy to move around, and works well for hiking tracks.

Why Routes Sometimes “Transfer” But Still Feel Wrong On Your Garmin

Two people can send the “same” route and end up with two totally different experiences on the device. That’s not user error. It’s file shape.

AllTrails exports can be a route or a track. A route is a set of points meant to be followed, often built from a mapped path. A track is the breadcrumb line of where the trail goes. For hiking, a track-style GPX is often the safest bet because it mirrors the trail line closely.

Garmin, on the other hand, displays navigation as a course. Courses work great, yet the cues you see can vary by device model, activity profile, and whether the file includes turn guidance data. If your Garmin shows a clean line to follow, you’re already in good shape.

How To Send AllTrails To Garmin

This section is the full, start-to-finish flow. Read it once, then treat it like a repeatable routine.

Step 1: Export The Route File From AllTrails

On a desktop or laptop, exporting is often faster because you can drop the file right into Garmin Connect.

1. Open the trail or route in AllTrails on the website.
2. Choose the export option for the route file.
3. Select a Garmin-friendly format. GPX Track is a solid default for hiking trails.
4. Save the file somewhere you can find quickly (Downloads works fine).

If you’re exporting from the AllTrails mobile app, export the route file, then save it to Files (iPhone) or your device storage (Android). From there, you can share it to your computer, or import it from the phone if your Garmin Connect setup makes that easy.

The exact export screens can differ by where the route lives (trail page, custom route, activity). AllTrails lays out the current export paths and file types in their help article. Downloading files from AllTrails is the most direct reference when you’re hunting for the export button.

Step 2: Import The File Into Garmin Connect As A Course

There are two common ways to import: Garmin Connect on the web, or Garmin Connect on your phone. The web route is usually more predictable.

Option A: Import On Garmin Connect Web

1. Sign in to Garmin Connect on a computer.
2. Go to the Courses area (often under Training or Planning sections).
3. Choose the import option, then select your GPX/TCX/FIT file.
4. Save the course when Garmin finishes processing it.

Garmin’s own instructions confirm the accepted file types and the “import third-party course” flow. Use this page when you want Garmin’s current wording on what works and where to click. Importing a Third-Party Course into Garmin Connect covers the formats and the import entry points.

Option B: Import From Your Phone

If the route file is already on your phone, you can often import by opening the GPX file and sharing it into Garmin Connect, or by using an import action inside Garmin Connect. The exact taps vary by phone and app version.

If you don’t see an import path on mobile, don’t fight it. Move the file to a computer and import on the web. It’s usually quicker than chasing menus.

Step 3: Send The Course To Your Garmin Device

Once the course exists in Garmin Connect, the rest is syncing.

1. Open Garmin Connect on your phone.
2. Sync your device (open the app and wait a moment, or trigger a sync from the device page).
3. On the device, open the activity profile you plan to use (Hike, Run, Bike).
4. Find Navigation or Courses, then pick the course you imported.

If the course name is hard to spot, rename it in Garmin Connect to something short and obvious like “Ridge Loop 8mi.” That little tweak saves time at the trailhead.

Choosing The Best Export Format For Garmin Courses

AllTrails offers a lot of file types. Garmin accepts only a few for course import. Your best bet is to pick the format that matches what you want your Garmin to do.

If you want a faithful line that matches the trail’s twists, GPX Track tends to behave well. If you want turn prompts, you may get better results by exporting a Garmin course format from AllTrails when it’s available, then importing that into Garmin Connect.

When in doubt, start with GPX Track. If Garmin shows odd shortcuts, try a TCX course export next.

Export File Type	Best Use On Garmin	Common Gotcha
GPX Track	Hiking routes where you want the trail line to match closely	May show fewer turn prompts on some devices
GPX Route	Simple paths with fewer points	Can snap to straighter segments if point density is low
TCX Course	Running or cycling where course structure helps	Some exports include fewer trail details than a track
FIT Course	When you want a Garmin-native style course file	Not every AllTrails export list includes FIT every time
Garmin Course TCX	Direct “course” style import for Garmin Connect	Still may need a rename or clean-up in Garmin Connect
KML/KMZ	Viewing on map tools outside Garmin	Not a course import format for Garmin Connect
CSV Track	Data work or plotting points	Not a Garmin Connect course import format
GeoJSON Track	GIS workflows	Needs conversion before Garmin will accept it

Making The Course Easy To Use On The Trail

Getting the course onto your Garmin is half the win. The other half is making it easy to run when you’re sweaty, cold, hungry, or all three.

Name It Like You’ll Read It Under Stress

Short names beat poetic ones. Put the loop name first, the distance second, then a short tag if needed. “Eagle Loop 6.5” is easier to spot than “Eagle Mountain Scenic Loop Trail.”

Pick The Right Activity Profile

Courses live inside activity profiles on many devices. If you imported a hike route and you’re trying to open it under Bike, you may not see it. Start the profile you plan to record with, then open courses inside that profile.

Set Your Map Screen Before You Need It

Before the trip, start an activity, open the course, and confirm you can reach the map page with one or two button presses. If your device lets you reorder pages, move the map closer to the front.

Common Problems And Fast Fixes

Most transfer hiccups come down to one of three things: the file didn’t import cleanly, the device didn’t sync, or you’re looking in the wrong spot on the device menus.

When Garmin Connect Refuses The File

If Garmin Connect rejects the file, try these quick checks:

• Confirm the file ends in .gpx, .tcx, or .fit.
• Re-export from AllTrails and choose GPX Track.
• Open the file on your computer and confirm it’s not a zero-byte download.

If the AllTrails export list is long and you’re unsure which one to pick, choose a Garmin course format when present, or GPX Track when you want the trail line to match closely.

When The Course Imports But Looks Wrong

Sometimes the line looks jagged, cuts corners, or misses switchbacks. That’s usually point density or route-vs-track behavior.

• Try GPX Track if you used GPX Route.
• Try TCX course if you want Garmin to treat it more like a planned course.
• Zoom in on the Garmin map preview in Connect. If it’s wrong there, it will be wrong on the device too.

When The Course Won’t Show Up On The Device

This one is annoying, yet it’s often a simple sync issue.

• Open Garmin Connect on your phone and wait for the sync icon to finish.
• Keep Bluetooth on, and keep the phone near the device during the sync.
• Restart the device, then open Garmin Connect again.
• Check that you’re browsing courses inside the activity profile you plan to use.

What You See	Likely Reason	Try This
Garmin Connect says “file not accepted”	Format not supported or export incomplete	Re-export as GPX Track, then import again
Course imports, map line cuts corners	Route points too sparse	Switch to GPX Track export
Course name shows in Connect, not on device	Device sync didn’t send courses	Open Connect, trigger a sync, then restart device
Course shows under Run, not under Hike	Profile-specific menu location	Open courses inside the profile you’ll record with
Map loads, yet you’re off-course instantly	Wrong start point or reversed direction	Start navigation closer to the trailhead, reverse course if device allows
No turn prompts	File lacks turn cue data for your device	Follow the line on the map, or try a TCX/FIT course export
Course disappears after a device reset	Course storage or sync setting issue	Resync courses from Garmin Connect, keep only the ones you need

A Clean Routine For Reusing AllTrails Routes On Garmin

If you hike often, you’ll end up repeating this flow a lot. Here’s the routine that stays quick and tidy.

1. Save the trail in AllTrails so you can find it again.
2. Export as GPX Track when you want the line to match the trail.
3. Import to Garmin Connect on the web when you want fewer surprises.
4. Rename the course with distance in the title.
5. Sync the night before, then open the course once to confirm it’s there.

Do that, and you’ll spend your trailhead time tightening laces instead of scrolling menus.

Small Details That Save You From Mid-Hike Frustration

These are the little things people learn after a couple of messy transfers.

Keep A “Routes” Folder On Your Phone Or Computer

Put exported files in one place. Name them with a simple pattern like “ParkName-TrailName.gpx.” Then you can re-import fast if something goes sideways.

Trim Old Courses

Garmin course lists get crowded fast. Clean out old courses every so often so the one you need is easy to spot.

Test Map Visibility In Sunlight

On the couch, every map looks fine. In hard sun, some map screens are tough. Try the course map outside once, bump brightness if needed, and confirm the line is easy to see.

References & Sources