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Shoot in the riding direction
When we look through route photos, we build a mental picture of the ride. Photos facing forward help that sequence feel natural, like you’re virtually riding along.
You can save and come back at any point. Half-finished routes live under Drafts in your profile.
Wizard preview
A glimpse of the upload flow
We do most of the heavy lifting in the background: surface analysis, map matching, elevation. If any of it takes a moment longer than expected, you can publish anyway and we’ll fill in the rest.
Pick the format.
One-day ride, or a multi-day adventure? Multi-day routes can be a single big GPX or split stage-by-stage.
Drop your GPX file.
GPX, TCX, FIT, and KML all work. No GPX? Import directly from Strava instead, and we’ll pull the activity right into the wizard.
Trim it (optional).
Drag the handles to trim the start or end. Live map preview as you go.
Route basics.
A title (we’ll suggest one), the shape (loop, point-to-point, out-and-back), and where it starts and ends. We’ll geocode the locations for you.
Character & detail.
How hard is it? What’s the surface like? This is what helps riders decide if it’s their kind of ride.
Insights.
The local knowledge: best season, water stops, the café you wouldn’t shut up about. As much or as little as you’ve got.
Photos.
At least 5 photos for a one-day route, or 3 per stage for multi-day. You’ll also pick two preview shots for the route card.
They decide whether someone clicks on your route or scrolls past it.
Each one-day route needs at least 5 photos. Multi-day routes need at least 3 per stage. There’s no upper limit, but quality beats quantity. You’ll pick two as previews for the route card.
Worth uploading
Gravel path ahead, rider in the distance, nice light
Shows the route, the surface, and the vibe. You can feel what riding there is like.
Skip it
Blurry close-up of a bike, no route context
Doesn’t tell you anything about the route. Could be anywhere.
When we look through route photos, we build a mental picture of the ride. Photos facing forward help that sequence feel natural, like you’re virtually riding along.
Riders on the route give scale and energy. A selfie at a viewpoint is great too, so keep it fun. Just make sure you also shoot the route itself and the surroundings.
Gravel, dirt, hardpack, singletrack: riders want to know what their tyres are getting into. A clear shot of the terrain tells more than any description.
Sunshine makes everything look better. If you can, save the photo session for a nice day. But if the weather is what it is, that’s real too.
Photo descriptions are optional but helpful. If there’s something worth noting (a tricky junction, the name of a café, what season it was taken), add a short caption. It helps future riders.
Think of it as the briefing you’d give a friend before they ride it for the first time. Tell them why you love this route and what to expect, and be as detailed as you like.
A description in progress
The voice, before the polish
The essentials
Terrain, surface type, best season, and any hazards. The stuff someone needs to know before they go.
Why this route?
What makes it worth riding? The views, the flow, the challenge? What’s not great? Be honest. It helps people find the right route.
The local details
A restaurant you liked, the accommodation you stayed at, the train you took. These turn a route into a full day out.
Water and resupply deserve a special mention. On remote routes, knowing where to fill bottles or grab food can make or break a ride. Be specific about locations if you can.
Small upload features that save you time without making a big deal of themselves.
Step 2 of the wizard has a Strava tab. Pick any activity and we’ll handle the conversion. Strava classified your gravel ride as something else? Flip the “Show all” toggle and it’ll show up.
Every step has a Save as draft button. Your drafts live under your profile so you can finish that 200km bikepacking write-up over a few evenings.
If you try to upload a GPX you’ve already published (or one that’s sitting in another draft), we’ll catch it and link you back to the existing version.
Pick somewhere a rider can realistically get to: a car park, train station, or well-known trailhead. Don’t start from your front door unless your house is a useful landmark.
For loops, start and finish at the same spot. For point-to-point routes, mention how riders can get back.
If you rode an organised event, ask the organisers before uploading their route. Some are happy to share, others rely on exclusivity. Respect that.
Your own variation of an event route is fine. Just don’t present the full original as your creation. Credit the source and link to the event.
Event organisers: Want your routes on Gravel Atlas? Get in touch and we’ll make sure they’re presented properly and linked back to your event.
Within your first month, complete 3 routes yourself and get 3 completions on your uploaded routes from other riders, and we’ll give you 6 months of premium, free.
Track your progress under Levels in your profile.
You’ve got the photos. You’ve got the words.