onX Backcountry
An app that shows 3D trail maps you can use without a signal.
What onX Backcountry does
onX Backcountry is a trail map app for hiking, mountain biking, climbing and backcountry skiing. It shows 3D maps you can download for offline use, with trail, climbing and ski route databases, hazard layers like wildfires and avalanche terrain, and a GPS tracker. Premium and Elite are paid yearly plans.
onX Backcountry is aimed at people who hike, bike, climb and ski. You switch into a mode for your sport, and the map shows the trails, climbing routes or ski lines that matter for it, in 3D.
You can build routes that snap to trails, drop waypoints and record trips with stats. Planning layers include slope angle and aspect, weather and wind forecasts, and hazards like wildfires and avalanche terrain. Premium covers offline 3D maps and public land data. Elite adds a private land layer and satellite imagery from the past two weeks.
Land ownership lines in any app are a guide, not a legal survey. Some Play reviews mention offline maps not loading in the field, so download and test your area before you go. For a mixed-sport adventurer in the US, it's a polished, visual choice.
Alternatives to onX Backcountry
Who it's for
Skip it if: Anyone looking for a fully free trail app.
Pricing
7-day free trialonX Backcountry Premium is $29.99 a year. Elite is $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year and adds private land and recent satellite imagery. New installs get a 7-day free Elite trial. An optional onX SOS rescue add-on is $49.99 a year.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Beautiful 3D maps
- Modes tuned for each sport
- Strong hazard and terrain layers
Watch out for
- Most features need a paid plan
- Some reviews report offline maps failing to load
- Land data is not a legal survey
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Questions people ask
Is onX Backcountry free?
You can download it free and try Elite for 7 days. Most features, including offline 3D maps, are in the paid Premium and Elite plans.
What is the difference between Premium and Elite?
Elite adds a private land layer and satellite imagery from the past two weeks on top of Premium.
Does onX Backcountry work offline?
Yes. Paid plans let you download 3D maps and navigate with GPS where there is no cell service.
Can I rely on the land boundaries?
Use them as a guide only. App maps are not a legal survey.