Create Custom Strava Heatmaps in Minutes: A Simple Guide

Turn your running routes, cycling adventures, and outdoor activities into personalized Strava posters, heatmaps and wall art. Whether you're creating a gift for a runner without needing their Strava login, or designing something for yourself, this tool makes it fast and straightforward.

This guide shows you how to use every feature. The entire process takes about 5-10 minutes, and you'll see your design update instantly as you make changes.

What You Need Before Starting

Option 1: Activity Files (Great for Gifts!)

Just the GPX or TCX file from any fitness tracker (Garmin, Apple Watch, Wahoo, etc.)
No account needed, no login required
Perfect when creating a surprise gift

Option 2: Strava (Fastest for Your Own Activities)

Your Strava account
1 minute to authorize the connection
Instant access to all your activities with full data

That's it! No design experience needed.

Step 1: Import Your Activities

Upload Activity Files (Recommended for Gifts)

Click "Upload Files" and drag your GPX or TCX activity file into the upload zone. The tool automatically extracts everything it needs: the route, elevation data, and timing information.

💡 Why this is great for gifting: You can create a custom heatmap or specific posters for someone's marathon, century ride, or special hike without needing access to their Strava account. Download the GPX or TCX files and you have everything you need to create a custom heatmap or poster. See Gifts for more information.

Pro tip: Upload multiple GPX or TCX files at once to create a heatmap showing all their training routes or a year's worth of adventures.

Connect Your Strava Account

For your own activities, click the button below to authorize access. You'll see all your activities appear instantly with complete data.

The tool automatically fetches:

Route coordinates with high precision
Elevation data for gradient coloring
Heart rate, power, and velocity metrics (when available)
Activity details (distance, time, title, kudos, date)

Step 2: Select Your Activities

Browse Your Activities

Once connected, your activities appear in a filterable list. You can see the sport type, dates, and distances at a glance.

Use the date range selector or activity type chips to quickly find the specific runs or rides you want to map.

Use the filters to find specific activities:

Date Range: Select activities from a specific period
Activity Type: Filter by Run, Ride, Hike, Walk, or other sports
All On/Off Buttons: Toggle entire groups with one click

Or use the Trophy Case (Automatic Highlights)

Click the "Trophy Case" tab to instantly see your best performances. The tool automatically finds achievements like:

Longest run or ride
Largest elevation gain
Fastest 5K, 10K, half marathon, or marathon
Most recent century ride
Last 12 months heatmap

No searching needed: Just click any trophy to load that activity.

📸 SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: The Trophy Case interface displaying cards for different achievements with preview maps, metrics, and "Select This Activity" buttons.

Image filename: guide_trophy_case.png

Single Activity vs. Multiple Activities

Single Activity: Select one activity to unlock automatic features:

Elevation profile graphs (auto-enabled for activities with 100m+ elevation)
Gradient coloring based on your data (altitude, grade, velocity, heart rate, power)
Smart automatic text suggestions with your activity stats

Multiple Activities (Heatmap): Check multiple activities to create an overlay showing training patterns or favorite routes.

Step 3: Choose Your Background Style

Select Your Look

Select from 11 map styles. Each preview shows exactly what you'll get. The map updates instantly when you click a new style it directly updates.

Available Styles

Color: Clean, modern street maps
Terrain: Topographic detail with landscape features
Colorful: Vibrant streets and landmarks
Relief: 3D-style elevation shading
Light: Minimalist grayscale
WaterColor: Artistic, hand-painted look
Cartoon: Playful and bold
TopoGraphy: Classic topographic lines
Dark: Black background for high contrast
Satellite: Real satellite imagery

Add a Photo Border

Enable "Border" to add a white photo mat around your map for a framed look. This gives your poster a gallery-ready appearance.

Upload Your own Photos

Add race photos, summit selfies, or logos by clicking "Upload Image." You can position and resize them on your map to add a personal touch.

Step 4: Color your routes

Line Styling & Customization

Choose "OneColor" and pick any color using the color picker. You can also adjust the Line Width and Opacity to create the perfect heatmap effect, especially when combining multiple activities.

📸 SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Color picker interface open with a purple route displayed on a light background map.

Image filename: guide_color_picker.png

Dynamic Gradients

Select "Simple Gradient" for a smooth color transition. Use the rotation slider to change the gradient direction to create diagonal, horizontal, or vertical flows.

Automatic Data-Based Coloring

This is where the tool really shines. It automatically detects what data you have and offers smart coloring options:

Altitude: Hill tops in red, valleys in blue.
Grade: Automatically detects steep sections. Flat areas stay neutral, climbs show in warm colors.
Velocity: To visualize your pace.
Heart Rate: Show your heart rate in color.
Power: Shows where you pushed hardest.

Elevation Profile Graph

For activities with significant elevation (100m+), the tool automatically enables and displays an elevation profile graph below your map. The graph uses the same coloring as your route.

You can toggle it on or off for any activity, even flat ones.

Step 5: Add Text (Automatic Suggestions)

Smart Text Suggestions

Click any text field and you'll see smart suggestions based on your activity data. Just drag and drop:

Activity Name
Distance (e.g., "42 km")
Elevation Gain (e.g., "1,250 m")
Time (automatically formatted)
Date Range
Coordinates

The tool calculates everything from your activity data and gives automatic smart suggestions.

Customize Your Text

You have four text fields:

Map Title: Large, bold text
Bottom Text 1, 2, 3: Three lines for stats or custom messages

Leave fields blank for a minimal look, or fill them all for detailed information.

Done!

Export Your Masterpiece (TODO)

Click "Download as PNG" or "Download as PDF."

PNG: For digital sharing (social media, online)
PDF: For printing (maintains quality at any size)

Your file downloads instantly.

📹 GIF PLACEHOLDER: User clicking the "Download" button, a brief loading animation, then the browser's download notification appearing with the finished file.

Image filename: guide_download.gif

Quick Tips

🎁 For Gifting Without Strava Access

Ask for the GPX file export from their fitness tracker or download it from Strava (you can do that if you follow them, see gift for more). You can create the entire map without needing their account login. This makes surprise gifts easy.

🏆 Use the Trophy Case

Instead of scrolling through hundreds of activities, let the tool automatically find the best ones. Click "Trophy Case" and pick from the highlights.

⚡ Let Auto-Detection Work

For activities with elevation, the tool automatically selects Grade coloring and shows the profile graph. You can change it, but the defaults usually work great.

🔥 Try the Year Heatmap

Select all activities from the past year to see training patterns. The tool handles multiple activities smoothly: just click the button and it creates the heatmap.

Start Creating Your Adventure Map

You now know how to use every feature. The tool handles most decisions automatically (grade detection, profile graphs, text suggestions), so you can focus on the creative choices that matter.

Questions? Send us an email at pieter@myadventuresmap.com, we're here to help!

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