How to Make a Hiking Trail Map Poster (Free)

Updated July 2026 · 6 min read

A hiking trail poster turns a hike you're proud of — a summit, a long-distance trail, a favourite loop — into terrain wall art with the route drawn across it. Here's how to make one for free: bring in your track, style the mountains, show the distance and elevation, and download a print-ready image.

Whether it's a bucket-list trek like the Laugavegur or a Sunday hike in the hills, PrintMap lets you feature the exact trail on a beautiful terrain map — no design skills or account needed.

Step 1 — Bring in your trail

You have two ways to get the trail onto the map:

Import a file — upload the GPX, KML or GeoJSON exported from Strava, Komoot, Garmin, AllTrails or your GPS watch. See how to print a GPS route map for the export steps.
Draw or plan it — trace the trail by hand, or use the route planner to snap a path along real trails and roads.

Step 2 — Choose a terrain style

For hikes, the landscape is the star. Pick a Nature or terrain style so ridgelines, forests and water read clearly, and turn on 3D terrain to give the mountains real relief. You can also recolor the map to match your décor while keeping the trail bright and legible.

💡 Style the track in a bold accent colour and bump up its width so the route stands out against the terrain from across the room.

Step 3 — Show the distance and elevation

When your track has elevation data, PrintMap shows an elevation profile with total distance, elevation gain and high/low points. Add these to the poster's title block — a trail name, the date, and "24 km · 1,850 m ascent" make it personal and give the piece context.

Step 4 — Frame and download

Set your poster size (A4–A1 or custom) so the frame fits the whole route with a little breathing room, then export a high-resolution PNG. It's free, with no watermark.

Turn your hike into art

Import a trail and design your poster now — free, in your browser.

Create a trail poster →

Want it in 3D?

You can also turn the same terrain into a physical object: see how to 3D print a relief map to download a free STL of the mountains with your route raised along the surface.

Frequently asked questions

What file formats can I import?

GPX, KML and GeoJSON — the standard exports from Strava, Komoot, Garmin, AllTrails and most GPS apps.

Is it free?

Yes. Designing and downloading a high-resolution hiking map poster is completely free, with no account and no watermark.

Can I show the elevation profile?

Yes — when your track includes elevation, PrintMap displays distance, gain and high/low points you can add to the title.