GoKawiilAfter the cold winter months, spring has arrived. You might be thinking about planning some outdoor activities for yourself and others to enjoy, and a hike is great way to get outside and explore. When Apple released iOS 18 in September, it made some improvements in your iPhone's Maps app. You can now plan a hiking -- or walking and running -- route before you step outside.
Creating a custom route can keep you on track so you don't get lost outdoors. This feature can also tell you the distance of a route, as well as what your elevation is while you're on the trail. If you're in Denver, I imagine it just says, "Up there."
Here's how to create your own custom route in Apple Maps on your iPhone.
Make a custom route on Apple Maps
1. Open Maps.
2. Either tap the blue icon marking your current location or long-press near where you want to start your route to drop a pin.
3. Tap the three dots (...) across the bottom of your screen.
4. Tap Create a Custom Route.
From here you have to plot your route by tapping around your map. You can tap intersections and landmarks — like restaurants and shops — and the app will start mapping your route. You can also tap intersections and unmarked locations on your map for a more granular approach to creating your route.
You don't have to tap a location near your last route point, either. After you tap Create a Custom Route, you can tap a location miles away and Maps will create a route for you. It's important to note that if you tap a location miles away from where you start your route, Maps will find a path that doesn't involve busting through walls like the Kool-Aid man. In that regard, creating a route is just like getting driving directions on Maps.
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