The way to discover and test elevation on Google Maps

Key Takeaways

• Google Maps lets you simply test elevation metrics, making it simpler to plan hikes and walks.
• You’ll find elevation knowledge on Google Maps by looking for a location and deciding on the Terrain view, adopted by zooming in on a map till the markers seem.
• For extra correct and detailed elevation data, use Google Earth as an alternative of Google Maps. It would not solely present markers for sure elevation thresholds, but in addition precise elevation for the chosen space.

As soon as, when planning a street journey, a trek, and even trying out precisely the place your vacation spot was, you had to make use of these pesky, non-interactive maps – happily, not anymore. On-line maps – and particularly Google Maps – got here round and adjusted the panorama fully, making navigation a lot simpler and extra handy, and enabling tons of nice options that bodily maps have been merely incapable of offering – equivalent to Avenue View.

Google Maps is beneficial not solely in your on a regular basis commute – it’s additionally an excellent instrument when roaming round within the wilderness, or planning your longer hikes. Some of the necessary components when trying out the path in your stroll is how excessive you may be climbing – it’s necessary to have correct gear and coaching, and modifications in elevation are probably the most difficult elements of each hike.

Luckily, Google Maps lets you simply try these elevation metrics, making such plans that a lot simpler. After all, you’ll be able to test elevation not solely on the mountain path – you too can simply get curious and go searching your neighborhood, your childhood house or your favourite retailer, simply to sate your curiosity. Right here’s how you can discover elevation knowledge on Google Maps – whether or not you’re utilizing a cell or a desktop model.

The way to discover elevation on Google Maps on a desktop

When planning your hikes and strolling journeys, you’d in all probability be utilizing a desktop – the display screen is larger, and it’s a lot simpler to make use of whenever you want exact controls and also you’re coping with detailed maps. Luckily, Google Maps – together with its many options, equivalent to elevation markers – are simply accessible on a desktop, so that you don’t want to fret about getting misplaced in a labyrinth of settings. Right here’s how you can discover elevation in your desktop – be it a Mac, PC, Chromebook or anything.

1. Go to the Google Maps web site.
2. Seek for the situation that you simply need to try within the search bar or simply merely drag the map to the place you need to test the elevation.
3. As soon as within the common neighborhood, hover your mouse over the Layers menu within the backside left nook.
4. Within the pop-up menu, select Terrain view. If it doesn’t seem within the pop-up, it’s important to click on on Extra and select Terrain there.
5. When you click on Terrain, the map ought to change to indicate the outlines of mountains, plains and so forth.
6. On the backside of the web page, guarantee that the toggle for View topography and elevation is turned on.
7. Now it’s important to enlarge the view till you see elevation markers. You possibly can zoom out and in by scrolling together with your mouse wheel or utilizing the + and – within the decrease proper nook. The markers will seem solely in a restricted zoom vary, so that you would possibly need to be slightly gradual when zooming in or out on the map. These markers are the standard strains that mark the peak that you simply’ll see on paper maps – contours of heights and elevation strains.

The way to discover elevation on Google Maps on Android and iOS

Although detailed route planning is kind of much more handy in your desktop, utilizing your cell to try this – or simply shortly test the elevation of a specific place – is normally a lot sooner. It’s at all times in your hand or someplace close to, so shortly trying up the peak of the place when navigation is working in your cellphone anyway is fast, simple and handy.

Luckily, it’s additionally simply as simple to search for elevation markers in your cellphone as it’s on the desktop. Right here’s how you can do it on each Android and iOS:

1. Open the Google Maps app on Android or iOS.
2. As earlier than, seek for the situation that you simply need to try within the search bar or simply scroll to it utilizing maps.
3. Faucet on the Layers icon on the best, below the search bar.
4. Now, select Terrain as your Map sort
5. Shut the menu by tapping the X within the prime proper nook of the pop-up menu.
6. Now, when utilizing maps, elevation markers will seem if you end up zoomed in shut sufficient. Sadly, they is likely to be a bit arduous to learn, and zooming in additional makes them disappear, so that you would possibly want a little bit of endurance to learn them – or you’ll be able to test them out on the desktop, the place they’re much extra readable.

Do all areas on Google Maps have elevation markers?

Google Maps is a good and simple approach to take a look at the elevation of specific locations, however the instrument sadly has its limitations. Basically, it’s not as correct as specialised elevation instruments, and it additionally doesn’t offer you elevation in all places – Google has opted to stay to areas which are visibly hilly, and forego plains and different flatter areas.

This isn’t a lot of a problem whenever you’re planning a hike, however should you’re simply curious, you would possibly need to try one thing a bit completely different. Luckily, you don’t really want to look far – Google has its personal instrument that can enable you to be rather more correct and thorough – Google Earth.

On Google Earth, you’re simply capable of see the elevation in all places, right down to the minute element – and accomplish that with out the elevation strains. It merely reveals up within the decrease proper nook of the display screen, indicating the precise altitude. So, should you want rather more granular data, Google Earth is a good useful resource.