Nstride is a free trail running route finder and planner. Preview any trail in a 3D flyover and break it into segments so you know the climbs, descents, and terrain before you run it. Our database includes over 100,000 routes worldwide with elevation profiles, segment breakdowns, climb structure, surface type, runnable percentage, and difficulty analysis. Whether you're training for an ultra marathon, exploring new trail running destinations, or planning a hiking adventure, Nstride helps you get a feel for the trail before you arrive. Each route shows you the terrain character and elevation changes section by section.
Nstride analyzes GPX files and route coordinates to show you what the trail is like before you go. Our algorithms identify climbs, descents, and flat sections, calculate difficulty scores, determine runnable percentages, and break the route into segments. You can explore routes by location, distance, or elevation gain, view interactive elevation profiles with color-coded terrain character, and preview any trail in a 3D flyover that follows the actual route path.
Every route on Nstride includes a 3D flyover preview, an interactive elevation profile with color-coded grades, a segment-by-segment terrain breakdown, and a downloadable GPX file. You can compare any two routes side by side to see how their distance, elevation gain, climb structure, segments, and difficulty stack up. You can also export a flyover animation video of any route, complete with an elevation strip and annotated aid stations and waypoints, ready to share with training partners, teammates, or race participants. Waypoint annotations cover aid stations, water sources, peaks, mountain passes, viewpoints, stream crossings, and trail markers, and they appear on the map, on the elevation profile, and in the flyover.
Nstride gives race directors a free way to host an interactive course preview that answers runners' questions before they ask. Upload your course GPX and Nstride generates a course page with a 3D flyover, an elevation profile, a segment breakdown with climb and descent analysis, and a downloadable GPX file your participants can load onto their watches. Annotate the course with aid stations, water sources, and key waypoints so runners can plan fueling and pacing around exactly where support will be, and add your race date and registration link so the course page sends runners straight to sign-up. Export a flyover animation video of the course with aid stations and waypoints called out, and use it on your race website, in participant emails, or on social media. Runners can also compare your course side by side with routes they already know, which helps them understand what they're signing up for.
Nstride is a free trail running route finder and planner for runners and hikers. We analyze terrain, elevation, and difficulty for over 100,000 routes worldwide, providing 3D flyover previews, segment breakdowns, and elevation profiles to help you get a feel for the trail before you run it.
Yes, Nstride is completely free. Access route discovery, 3D flyover previews, elevation profiles, segment breakdowns, terrain stats, and all route information at no cost.
Each route is processed through algorithms that identify climbs, descents, and flat sections based on elevation data. We calculate difficulty scores, runnable percentages, longest climbs, elevation gain per mile, grade percentages, and terrain character. The 3D flyover preview and segment breakdown help you understand what to expect on the trail before you go.
Absolutely. While Nstride is built for trail runners, the terrain analysis, elevation profiles, and difficulty ratings are equally valuable for hikers planning trail adventures. Routes with singletrack, dirt, and gravel surfaces are popular among both trail runners and hikers.
Nstride includes trail running races (ultras, marathons, half marathons, 10Ks, 5Ks), training routes, hiking trails, and point-to-point courses. Routes span all distances from 5K to 200+ miles and cover locations worldwide, with a focus on trail and mixed-surface routes.
Use the interactive map on the homepage to explore routes by location, or browse by state and distance using our route directory. You can filter by distance categories (5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, 50K, 50 mile, 100K, 100 mile) and view routes sorted by popularity and difficulty.
The 3D flyover preview is an interactive visualization that follows the actual route path over a 3D terrain model. It lets you see the climbs, descents, and surrounding landscape from a runner's perspective, giving you a feel for the trail before you arrive. Combined with the segment breakdown and elevation profile, it turns GPS coordinates into something you can read and understand.
Yes. Nstride's side-by-side comparison shows any two routes together: distance, elevation gain, climb structure, segment breakdowns, terrain character, and difficulty. Use it to weigh two race options, compare a new race course against a route you already know, or pick between training routes.
Yes. Every route on Nstride has a downloadable GPX file, so you can load the route onto your GPS watch or into other apps. The GPX exports the route as you're viewing it, including any changes to direction or start point.
Yes. Nstride can export a flyover animation video of any route — the camera follows the route path over 3D terrain with an elevation strip and annotated aid stations and waypoints. Race directors use these videos on race websites and social media; runners use them to share and study routes.
Race directors can host their race course on Nstride to give participants an interactive course preview: a 3D flyover, elevation profile, segment breakdown, annotated aid stations and waypoints, a downloadable GPX file, and a link to race registration. It answers course questions before runners ask them and gives your race a shareable course page and flyover video at no cost.
Yes. Courses can be annotated with aid stations, water sources, peaks, mountain passes, viewpoints, stream crossings, and trail markers. Annotations appear on the interactive map, on the elevation profile, and in the flyover video, so runners can see exactly where support is relative to the climbs and descents.