Import and view gpx files in Google Maps

gpx files, or the ‘GPS Exchange Format’ to give it its proper name, seems to have emerged as an interoperable data format for sharing geolocation data. Apps such as Strava can serve-up your recorded runs/cycles/space hopper marathons as gpx files that you can further examine in whatever platform you prefer. I’ve previously written about exporting gpx files from Strava and plotting this data on a map using R (see https://medium.com/@mark.reuter/reclaim-your-strava-gpx-data-6d9d5a2fb7cc).

My experience of being a pilgrim in Spain, on the Camino de Santiago, taught me the value of being able to open an App and see your position on a map (i.e. how lost am I, where is the next watering hole…). Happily, many organized trails offer their routes as gpx downloads.

Until the start of this week, I had assumed I needed a special App to view these on my phone. I hastily downloaded a free app, but the need to register (yet another login to remember and worry about) got me thinking “surely I can do this on Google Maps…”.

The answer is yes, but this feature is somewhat hidden away (in my opinion). The key is don’t go to Google Maps! Instead go to https://mymaps.google.com/.

Let’s load a route into mymaps and see the route on Google Maps. I’ll demonstrate using a long distance path close to me, the Wherryman’s Way (1), a walk from Norwich to Great Yarmouth roughly following the River Yare.

Click ‘CREATE A NEW MAP’ to upload a gpx file

From the mymaps page, click ‘CREATE A NEW MAP’. This first shows a popup that informs you that the maps title, thumbnail and metadata is saved to Gdrive. Rename the map so it’s easy to find later.

Create a name for your new map

Renaming my map prior to uploading gpx file

For the first layer, click the ‘Import’ link, which opens a file explorer. Select a gpx file and Google Maps quickly plots the data. It’s possible to add more layers as needed. The next time you check Google Drive, you should see a new file for the new map you’ve just created.

Loading the Wherryman’s way into Google Maps

Check you can access the map on your phone/tablet. Open Maps, then the ‘You’ tab. Scroll down to Maps, and tap. Any maps you’ve created should be listed. Open any map and enjoy your walk/cycle/space hopper marathon!

The Wherryman’s Way on my Android phone.

Mark, March 2026

From https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2014/4/mass-participation-monday-off-to-the-races-to-commemorate-the-boston-marathon-56855

Appendix

1. https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/42979/Wherrymans-Way-Norwich-to-Great-Yarmouth
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_hopper
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_Exchange_Format
4. Someone has attempted a marathon on a space-hopper… https://www.bigissue.com/news/a-big-issue-vendor-is-doing-a-marathon-on-a-space-hopper-after-missing-out-on-london-marathon-slot/