How to create a GPX file for your Stark VARG ride

What you need

A computer (or tablet) with a browser and about five minutes. That’s it. The tool we recommend is free and works without an account.

Option A: gpx.studio (recommended)

gpx.studio is a free, browser-based route editor. No account, no installation. Open the site, draw your route on the map, and export it as a GPX file.

Creating a route

1. Open gpx.studio in your browser.
2. Click the route tool (the pencil icon or “New” button) to start drawing.
3. Click points on the map to draw your route. The tool snaps to known trails and roads automatically. Click each turn and junction along the way.
4. Add waypoints if you want to mark specific spots — parking, water crossings, tricky intersections, or bailout points.
5. Export as GPX. Click the download or export button and save the file to your computer.

Creating a multi-route GPX file

Sometimes you want multiple trail options in one file — an A route and a B route, or a main loop with a shortcut. Head North shows each route in its own color, so you can see all your options at a glance.

The trick is to open multiple GPX files in gpx.studio at the same time:

1. Open gpx.studio and load your first GPX file (or draw your first route).
2. Open additional GPX files by dragging them into the browser window or using the import button. Each file appears as a separate route on the map.
3. Export everything as a single GPX file. When you download, gpx.studio saves all loaded routes into one file. That’s your multi-route GPX.

Load that file in Head North and every route appears on the map, each in its own color. Useful for seeing route options and choosing your line while you ride.

Option B: onX, GAIA, or Komoot

If you already use a planning app like onX Offroad, GAIA GPS, or Komoot, you can plan your route there and export it as GPX. These tools have trail databases, difficulty ratings, and map layers that gpx.studio doesn’t — so they’re better for discovering new trails.

For details on each app and how to export, see our GPX trails guide.

Getting the file onto your Stark phone

Once you have a GPX file, you need to get it onto the Stark phone (the Arkenstone). Google Drive is the easiest method.

Google Drive (recommended)

1. Save the GPX file to Google Drive from your computer. Drag it into a folder or use the upload button.
2. Open Google Drive on the Stark phone. It’s usually pre-installed. Sign in with the same Google account.
3. Download the GPX file. Find it in your Drive, tap the three-dot menu, and tap “Download.” It saves to the phone’s Downloads folder.

Shared folder for riding groups

If you ride with a group, set up a shared Google Drive folder. Drop the GPX files there before each ride, and everyone on the Stark phone can download the same routes. No passing files around, no “did you get the GPX?” texts.

Other methods

You can also download GPX files directly from trail sites (Wikiloc, AllTrails, Komoot) in the Stark phone’s browser, transfer via Nearby Share from another Android device, or connect via USB. For the full list, see our GPX trails guide.

Opening the GPX in Head North

1. Open Head North on the Stark phone.
2. Tap the import button (the file icon on the screen).
3. Select your GPX file. The route appears on the map immediately. If it’s a multi-route file, each route shows in its own color.

That’s it. Shrink to the floating window and ride with your route visible on the dashboard.

Tips

• Keep your GPX files organized. Create a “Rides” folder on Google Drive (or on the phone itself) so you can find them quickly before a ride.
• Test the file before you ride. Load it in Head North at home and make sure the route looks right. Easier to fix on a couch than on a trailhead.
• Zoom in on tricky sections. Before you leave, open the map in the area you plan to ride and zoom in. This caches the map tiles for offline use.
• Share the GPX with your group. A shared Google Drive folder means everyone has the same routes. Makes regrouping much easier if you get separated.