BackCountry Navigator GPS PRO

Play in the outdoors with Android as your Handheld GPS and offline topo maps!

BackCountry Navigator GPS PRO

App stats

Version: 7.5.9 (Last updated: 2024-01-31)
Creation date: 2010-06-23
Price: 14.99
Permissions
Location:
  • approximate location (network-based)
  • precise location (GPS and network-based)
  • access extra location provider commands
Phone: read phone status and identity
Photos/Media/Files: read the contents of your USB storage, modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Storage: read the contents of your USB storage, modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Camera: take pictures and videos
Microphone: record audio
Wi-Fi connection information: view Wi-Fi connections
Device ID & call information: read phone status and identity
Other:
  • receive data from Internet
  • view network connections
  • pair with Bluetooth devices
  • access Bluetooth settings
  • full network access
  • run at startup
  • prevent device from sleeping
  • read Google service configuration

Other platforms

Not available on Chrome
Not available on Firefox
Not available on Edge
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App summary

Download topo maps for an offline outdoor navigator! Use your phone or tablet as an offroad topo mapping handheld GPS with the bestselling outdoor navigation app for Android! Explore beyond cell coverage for hiking and other recreation.

Download topo maps for the US and many other countries in advance, so you won't need cell coverage for navigation. Use storage memory for maps.

New: Android Wear support to see navigation at a glance on wrist

Use GPS waypoints from GPX or KML files, or enter your own coordinates using longitude/latitude, UTM, MGRS, or grid reference. Using GOTO makes a waypoint a locus for navigation.

This uses many publicly available map sources as free downloads. Some additional content available as an in app purchase:
-Accuterra Topo Map Source for $19.99/year. This can be purchased and used with or in instead of the free sources.
-Thunderforest Map Sources - worldwide for $11.99 per year.
- Boundary maps for 12 western states from the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) Overlay for topo maps valued by hunters.
-GMU boundaries in some states
-Lake Contours in several states.
-Content from US TrailMaps including:
-ATV, Whitewater, and Equestrian Trail Maps

See the menu under More-> "Purchasing AddOns". They can be shown on top of topo maps.

You may try the DEMO version to make sure you like the maps in your country.

About topo (topographic) maps: Topo maps show terrain through color and contours, and are useful for navigation offroad. Topo maps and GPS can be used for hiking, hunting, kayaking, snowshoeing, & backpacker trails.
You can create your own maps with Mobile Atlas Creator, or specify a custom tile server. Built in sources include:
OpenStreetMaps from MapQuest
OpenCycleMaps showing terrain worldwide
US Topo Maps from Caltopo and the USGS
USTopo: Aerial Photography with markup.
Canada Topo Maps from Toporama
Marine maps: NOAA RNC Nautical Charts (coastal)
USGS Color Aerial photography
Topographic Maps of Spain and Italy
Topo maps of New Zealand
Japan GSI maps.
Many of the above sources are generally free to use.

Use offline topo maps and GPS on hiking trails without cell service. The GPS in your Android phone can get its position from GPS satellites, and you don’t have to rely on your data plan to get maps. Have more fun and safe GPS navigation in the backcountry.

Use as a geocaching navigator by getting a pocket query as GPX.

Besides geocaching, use GPS for recording tracks and GPS waypoints on your trip, all the while tracking your GPS quest on topographic maps. It may replace your Garmin handheld GPS.

Here are some of the outdoor GPS activities BackCountry Navigator has been used for:
As a hiking GPS both on hiking trails and off trail.
Camping trips to find that perfect camping site or the way back to camp with GPS.
Hunting trips for hunting wild game in rugged areas.
Doing recon for a hunt or as your hunting GPS
Fishing: make it your fishing GPS.
Search and Rescue (SAR).
Trekking the Pacific Crest trail or other long term hiking.
Kayak and canoe treks on inland lakes and streams or marine, coastal waters.
Backpacker trips: using topo maps of wilderness areas and national forests for navigation on trails with the GPS in your rucksack or backpack.

Find your own ways to have fun in the outdoors. Be a maverick by venturing beyond cell service boundaries with your GPS. Become a pro at navigation with GPS for the outdoors.

BackCountry Navigator has been on WM devices and preloaded on the Trimble Nomad outdoor rugged device. This Android version is more flexible, featured, and fun. Create a memory with maps.

For a one time fee, this a great addition to the outdoor gear you bought at Cabelas, REI, or another outdoor store. Many have found the Android GPS in a phone or tablet to substitute for a Garmin GPS or Magellan GPS, such as the Garmin GPS units Montana, Etrex, or Oregon. Android can be your handheld GPS.

User reviews

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Google Play Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Works well for tracking on backcountry trails and outdoor activities.
  • Offers a variety of useful features like tracking statistics and map overlays.
  • Offline functionality allows for use without cell service.
  • Responsive and user-friendly once the learning curve is overcome.
Cons
  • Recent updates have caused functional issues with tracking and GPS accuracy.
  • Customer support is reportedly unresponsive.
  • App can be cumbersome and not intuitive, requiring extensive instructions.
  • Issues with map downloads and functionality after updates.
Most mentioned
  • Problems with GPS tracking and accuracy.
  • Inconsistent or unresponsive customer support.
  • Difficulties with recent updates causing app dysfunction.
  • Learning curve for app usability.
User reviews
Great app! I happily paid $10 for the Pro version. I've taken 6-7 hour canoe trips and recorded my track the entire way, sampling every minute. No battery issues. C'mon Crittermaps, get a real outdoorsperson to completely overhaul the waypoint icons. There are way too many icons for urban places like "butcher" and "theater", and the icons for REAL usable outdoor places are poorly done. And you should add a Google Drive backup feature for people who don't use DropBox.
by Todd Silimperi, 2024-11-27

When I try to save my data to Google drive I get a message from Google saying the app is blocked because it is trying to access my data. Sounds kinda ridiculous but I want to update across a couple devices and that is stopping me. I have reached out to customer service with no response. I will change back to five stars when my issue is fixed.
by Shaun Bryan, 2022-07-15

Works well when it works...But since the last Android update, BCN doesn't seem to play well with the power saving features. Had alot of headache trying to get it to work properly tweaking multiple power saving settings. I'm sure Android is partially at fault here, but from the user's perspective, I would expect app/OS updates shouldn't have to be so difficult.
by Gus Lee, 2022-07-08
View all user reviews

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