What waypoints are for

Waypoints are named locations independent from the track line. They are useful for water stops, summits, parking areas, trail junctions, hazards, checkpoints, or places where a user must make a decision.

Keep names short. A bike computer or GPS watch may show only a few characters, so “N Gate Water” is usually more helpful than a long sentence.

How to place waypoints

  1. Open the route on the map.
  2. Choose the waypoint tool.
  3. Click the exact location, not just the nearest track line.
  4. Enter a concise name.
  5. Confirm that the marker aligns with the route distance and elevation profile.

When elevation needs attention

Elevation data can be missing, flat, noisy, or inconsistent between files. A phone GPS, a barometric watch, and a terrain service can all produce different numbers for the same route.

Use elevation filling when the file has no useful height values. Then inspect the profile for impossible spikes. A sudden climb may be caused by a misplaced coordinate rather than real terrain.

Why elevation gain differs by app

Elevation gain is not just the sum of raw point-to-point changes. Apps often smooth small variations, correct with terrain models, ignore short noise, or combine barometer and map data. That is why Strava, Garmin, and GPX tools can show different totals.

Best practice: Compare the shape of the profile and the major climbs. Do not expect every service to report the same gain to the meter.

Before exporting

  • Remove unnecessary waypoints.
  • Rename duplicate locations.
  • Check that private addresses are not marked.
  • Review large elevation jumps.
  • Import the saved GPX into the target device for a quick test.