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In the last 5 years or so, GPS tools have come a long way. With the release of Google Earth the ability to create GPS trails and upload them to a GPS became a simple task. If you buy a more expensive GPS unit they usually come with software programs that upload and download your data. Being a tightwad, I try to buy the cheapest stuff I can find and then try to find free software to do the things I need. This page will demonstrate how to upload and download GPS data to a bottom of the line Garmin GPS unit with free software.
The software that you need to install is Google Earth and DNR Garmin:
Google Earth is the coolest free program I have used to date. My hat is off to the Google company. After you download and install Google Earth, open it up and become familiar with the layout.
A very handy way to ride a trail off of atvidaho is to download the KML file for the ride. Most of the rides have a link for downloading the KML for the trail.
Clicking the KML link will open a file open/save dialog like the following (Assuming you have installed Google Earth).
You can save the file to your computer or open it right into Google Earth. This will allow you to view the ride in 3-D in the Google Earth program and see where the trail is located. Better yet, by saving the KML file to your computer, you can load it into any Garmin GPS unit with DNR Garmin.
To use DNR Garmin, you need any Garmin GPS unit that will plug into a computer. After you install DNR Garmin, plug in your Garmin to the computer and launch DNR Garmin. DNR Garmin will search for your GPS unit and will usually find it (your GPS must be turned on). If it doesn't, check the port settings:
Open a KML file into DNR Garmin through the File menu.
In the file open dialog, be sure to select file typ KML.
Browse to the KML file and select it. DNR Garmin will display a dialog box asking how you want to load the data into DNR Garmin: point, line, or polygons.
Most of the KML files are line files, so pick the line option and load the data. This will load the KML file data into the DNR Garmin program. To upload it into your connected GPS unit, use the track menu and choose upload.
Check your GPS to ensure the data has uploaded. You now have the trail in your GPS unit and can follow it as you ride with your Garmin mounted on your handle bar.
If you are riding a new trail and want to make a map to follow using Google Earth, this is also a snap. Open Google Earth and in the left task bar, create a new folder to hold your data.
To mark a point on the map, like a trailhead, highlight the new folder you created and click the point feature button.
The point feature dialog will open, along with a "pin" on the map. Use the dialog to give the location a name, and then move the pin on the map where you want it located and hit the OK button.
Notice that there is a new point feature in the folder you created.
To "trace" a trail is very similar. Highlight your folder and click the line feature in the toolbar.
With the line dialog open, start tracing your path by clicking along it. You may want to change the color and width to make it easier to see. All this is in the path dialog window.
When you are done, close the line dialog. To save this file as a KML, highlight the line feature and right mouse click on it. A right-mouse menu opens with the option to "Save Place As".
Select file type of KML.
Give it a name and save it to your computer. You can now use DNR Garmin to load it to your GPS. You can do the same thing for waypoints by right clicking the waypoints in Google Earth, Choosing "Save Place As", and saving them to a KML file. Then in DNR Garmin, instead of loading a track, you load waypoints.
That is it. Now you can enjoy riding with a nice interactive map. You can let your Garmin trace your tail and save it out to a KML file and look at where you rode in Google Earth. Once you experince this, you will probably never ride a different way.
