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Garmin 530 + Trailforks usage

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Garmin 530 + Trailforks usage

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flag mattandhisbike
Posted: Jan 9, 2021 at 18:21 Quote
Hey folks,

Just picked up an edge 530 today after being on a 500 for the past 6 years. In using trailforks on the 530 can I simply use as a map while I'm riding, or is the only way to use trailforks is to have a route downloaded onto my garmin?

Would love if I could just use it as a map, but can't seem to figure out how! Thanks y'all
flag ztbishop
O+
Posted: Jan 9, 2021 at 22:47 Quote
mattandhisbike wrote:
Hey folks,

Just picked up an edge 530 today after being on a 500 for the past 6 years. In using trailforks on the 530 can I simply use as a map while I'm riding, or is the only way to use trailforks is to have a route downloaded onto my garmin?

Would love if I could just use it as a map, but can't seem to figure out how! Thanks y'all

On the 530, log into the Trailforks app on your Garmin - it will then pop up on your phone to authorize, (I think). This will unlock the Trailforks basemap, which overlays on top of OSM. (Or you can disable the city maps if you only want the trails).
You can then go into the ride profile in navigation settings and make sure that Trailforks is enabled. It should be enabled by default in the MTB profile.
You still have the option of loading routes through the Trailforks app, but at that point it's an entirely different thing. The Trailforks basemap will no longer have anything to do with the CIQ app, which loads routes.
flag mattandhisbike
Posted: Jan 10, 2021 at 5:45 Quote
ztbishop wrote:
mattandhisbike wrote:
Hey folks,

Just picked up an edge 530 today after being on a 500 for the past 6 years. In using trailforks on the 530 can I simply use as a map while I'm riding, or is the only way to use trailforks is to have a route downloaded onto my garmin?

Would love if I could just use it as a map, but can't seem to figure out how! Thanks y'all

On the 530, log into the Trailforks app on your Garmin - it will then pop up on your phone to authorize, (I think). This will unlock the Trailforks basemap, which overlays on top of OSM. (Or you can disable the city maps if you only want the trails).
You can then go into the ride profile in navigation settings and make sure that Trailforks is enabled. It should be enabled by default in the MTB profile.
You still have the option of loading routes through the Trailforks app, but at that point it's an entirely different thing. The Trailforks basemap will no longer have anything to do with the CIQ app, which loads routes.


So I believe I did that correctly. Will I be able to see the trails while I'm riding them, because when I zoom in onto a local trail on thr nav screen I dont think I saw the trailforks map when I tried it
flag ztbishop
O+
Posted: Jan 10, 2021 at 14:37 Quote
Yeah - assuming you are using a mountain bike profile, and you made sure the trailforks map is enabled under the profile > navigation settings > maps.

If it's still not visible there, I would check the Trailforks website and make sure the maps exist and see if maybe it has a recent submitted date. I just made a post about this to try and figure out the timing, but it seems that it can take a long time for a trail submission to make it into the Trailforks garmin base maps.
flag ztbishop
O+
Posted: Jan 10, 2021 at 14:40 Quote
I would check other areas to see if the Trailforks maps are enabled. They would show up as thicker colored lines (much more visible than the openstreetmap trail lines). Does the Trailforks basemap show as enabled under the navigation - map settings?

Here is what I do if the trails aren't in the Garmin basemap yet.
-Download the GPX file for each trail from Trailforks (or another site if they aren't in trailforks).
-Save them to the Garmin.... I think there is a 'new' folder or something along those lines. I don't recall exactly how to do it without affecting your stats.
-Go to your courses on the garmin device, open each of the GPX files you saved and set 'always visible'.

It's not quite as nice because you can't change the line width - but I think you can at least change the color.
flag mattandhisbike
Posted: Jan 11, 2021 at 19:00 Quote
ztbishop wrote:
Yeah - assuming you are using a mountain bike profile, and you made sure the trailforks map is enabled under the profile > navigation settings > maps.

If it's still not visible there, I would check the Trailforks website and make sure the maps exist and see if maybe it has a recent submitted date. I just made a post about this to try and figure out the timing, but it seems that it can take a long time for a trail submission to make it into the Trailforks garmin base maps.

This worked perfectly! So stoked that I can see trail maps at places I ride now without picking up my phone!!!
flag luckylegz
O+
Posted: Jan 20, 2021 at 15:09 Quote
I just purchased a Garmin Edge 530 as well. As a Trailforks PRO user I expected to turn it on, log in to my Trailforks account, and kazzam, have all the same Trailforks data displayed as on my phone app. I was recalling looking forward to the "fork-sight" feature to show me upcoming trail junctions. But nada. The only options available are to download 1.)My Routes, 2.) Popular Routes near me, or 3.) worldwide famous routes (far away from me). I have stumbled opon some information on the trailforks website which instructs the user to download a Trailforks basemap for my region (as a gpx file) and then upload that to my Garmin device. I'm not sure how to do that exactly but will give it a go shortly. Nonetheless, I'm disappointed that it's not as "integrated" as advertised.
flag Pacman922
O+
Posted: Jan 20, 2021 at 17:11 Quote
If you are trying to navigate with the Garmin 530, i'd say just look elsewhere. Super janky UI plus not great GPS tracking (my icon was constantly spinning around) = a returned item. I bought a iphone SE (2016) and quadlock mount. Could not be happier, it is perfect
flag mattandhisbike
Posted: Jan 25, 2021 at 21:15 Quote
luckylegz wrote:
I just purchased a Garmin Edge 530 as well. As a Trailforks PRO user I expected to turn it on, log in to my Trailforks account, and kazzam, have all the same Trailforks data displayed as on my phone app. I was recalling looking forward to the "fork-sight" feature to show me upcoming trail junctions. But nada. The only options available are to download 1.)My Routes, 2.) Popular Routes near me, or 3.) worldwide famous routes (far away from me). I have stumbled opon some information on the trailforks website which instructs the user to download a Trailforks basemap for my region (as a gpx file) and then upload that to my Garmin device. I'm not sure how to do that exactly but will give it a go shortly. Nonetheless, I'm disappointed that it's not as "integrated" as advertised.


I had luck using the method that ztbishop shared! Not sure if you tried that. Was definitely challenging at first but, should be good now. Going to explore a new set of trails this week so it'll either be the garmin or the phone that shows me trails
flag jonen23
O+
Posted: Jun 15, 2021 at 12:58 Quote
After my Garmim 530 update today Trailforks wants an update in Garmim Connect as well - but it ”uninstalled” itself and Now I cannot reinstall it.
flag ztbishop
O+
Posted: Jun 24, 2021 at 13:57 Quote
jonen23 wrote:
After my Garmim 530 update today Trailforks wants an update in Garmim Connect as well - but it ”uninstalled” itself and Now I cannot reinstall it.
Yeah - Garmin introduced a bug in firmware 8.1
I'd recommend following their forums to see when they plan to patch it (lots of people over there complaining about this.)
flag canadaka
Mod O+ FL
Posted: Jul 13, 2021 at 13:59 Quote
Garmin firmware update should have fixed issue.
flag SHREDWORX
O+ FL
Posted: Mar 28, 2025 at 16:24 Quote
Is the Garmin Edge 530 still a decent GPS for MTB today? They've got some killer deals atm and I need something with accurate GPS tracking, instead of an iPhone or Apple Watch. Those put me on the wrong trail when the trails are too close together on Trailforks.
flag canadaka
Mod O+ FL
Posted: Apr 8, 2025 at 10:57 Quote
SHREDWORX wrote:
Is the Garmin Edge 530 still a decent GPS for MTB today? They've got some killer deals atm and I need something with accurate GPS tracking, instead of an iPhone or Apple Watch. Those put me on the wrong trail when the trails are too close together on Trailforks.

Yup, it's a solid device.
flag franroy
Posted: Jul 24, 2025 at 3:02 Quote
SHREDWORX wrote:
Is the Garmin Edge 530 still a decent GPS for MTB today? They've got some killer deals atm and I need something with accurate GPS tracking, instead of an iPhone or Apple Watch. Those put me on the wrong trail when the trails are too close together on Trailforks.

I use it with trailforks and garmin maps since long for enduro and it works great. Perfect size, play with zoom is easy to follow paths, accurate location ...
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