GPX to STL: Turn Any Hiking Trail Into a 3D Printed Model

You just crushed that 15-mile loop through the Sierra Nevada. Your Garmin logged every switchback, every summit push, every ridge traverse. What if you could hold that exact trail in your hand — a 3D printed terrain model with your GPS track embedded right into the surface?

Converting GPX to STL transforms digital trail data into physical terrain models. Import your hiking, biking, or ski tracks, overlay them on real topography, and print a tangible memory of your adventure. This guide shows you exactly how to turn any GPX file into a print-ready 3D model.

Table of Contents

What You Need to Get Started

Before you convert your GPX trail to 3D print format, gather these items:

Required:

  • A GPX file from your GPS device or app (Garmin, Strava, AllTrails, Gaia GPS)
  • Access to TopoMeshLab (https://topomeshlab.com)
  • A 3D printer (Bambu Lab, Prusa, Creality, Ender series)
  • PLA or PETG filament in 2-3 colors

Optional but Recommended:

  • Multiple GPX files if you want to show several trips on one model
  • High-contrast filament colors (orange trail on gray terrain works great)
  • Textured build plate for better terrain detail adhesion

Most GPS watches and apps export GPX files natively. Strava users can download GPX files from any activity page. AllTrails lets you export both planned routes and completed hikes as GPX files. The process takes about 30 seconds per trail.

Understanding GPX Files and 3D Terrain Models

GPX (GPS Exchange Format) files contain coordinate pairs — latitude, longitude, and elevation — recorded at regular intervals during your outdoor activity. A 10-mile hike might contain 2,000-5,000 data points depending on your recording interval.

When you convert GPX to STL, you're doing two things:

  1. Building terrain geometry from elevation data (usually from NASA SRTM or similar sources)
  2. Projecting your trail onto that terrain surface as a raised or embossed feature

The result is a printable 3D model showing both the landscape topography and your exact path across it. Your GPS track appears as a physical feature you can feel with your fingertips.

Why STL and 3MF Matter

STL files contain mesh geometry (triangles) that 3D printers read. They work on any FDM printer but only support single colors. 3MF files add multi-material support — critical if you want your trail in orange and terrain in gray on a Bambu Lab printer with AMS.

For single-color prints, STL works fine. For multi-color trail maps, 3MF is essential. TopoMeshLab exports both formats depending on your layer configuration.

Step-by-Step: GPX to STL Conversion

Here's the complete process from trail data to print-ready file:

1. Export Your GPX File

From Strava:

  • Open your activity
  • Click the three-dot menu
  • Select "Export GPX"
  • Save the file (usually named something like "Morning_Hike.gpx")

From Garmin Connect:

  • Open your activity
  • Click the gear icon
  • Choose "Export to GPX"

From AllTrails:

  • Open your completed hike or saved trail
  • Click "Send to GPS" or "Export"
  • Select GPX format

2. Define Your Terrain Area

Go to TopoMeshLab and draw a polygon around your trail area. Make your boundary 10-20% larger than your actual trail to provide context. A 5-mile trail fits nicely in a 150mm x 150mm print area. Use the map tools to:

  • Zoom to your trailhead location
  • Click to place polygon corners
  • Adjust to capture peaks, valleys, and endpoints
  • Verify your area includes the full trail path

3. Import Your GPX File

Click "Import GPX" in the toolbar. TopoMeshLab supports up to 10 GPX files per model. This lets you show:

  • Multiple trips to the same location
  • Different routes up the same peak
  • A multi-day backpacking route split into daily segments

Your trail appears as a colored line on the preview map. Adjust the trail width (1.0-3.0mm works for most prints) and height (0.4-1.0mm extrusion above terrain).

4. Configure Your Layers

Add semantic layers to enhance your 3D print hiking trail model:

  • Water: Shows lakes and streams in blue
  • Vegetation: Indicates forest cover in green
  • Buildings: Marks trailheads or shelters
  • Roads: Displays access routes

Each layer adds 0.2-0.4mm to print time but dramatically improves readability. For a basic trail map 3D print, just terrain + GPX trail works great.

5. Add Labels

Embed text directly into your model. Common labels for trail prints:

  • Peak names and elevations ("Mt. Whitney 14,505ft")
  • Trail name ("John Muir Trail")
  • Date of your hike ("September 2024")
  • Distance ("22.4 miles")

Keep labels under 15 characters for readability at typical print sizes. Use a 2.0mm font depth and 8-10mm character height.

6. Export and Download

Click "Generate Model" and select your format:

  • STL: Single color, universal compatibility
  • 3MF: Multi-color with layer assignments (trail, terrain, water, etc.)

File generation takes 15-60 seconds depending on model complexity. Download completes in 5-10 seconds for typical trail models (5-20MB).

Choosing the Right Product Type for Your Trail

TopoMeshLab offers seven product types. Pick the one that matches your use case:

Basic Model (Free)

Best for: First-time users, testing different areas, gifts

  • Full-featured terrain with all layers
  • Custom size (typically 100-200mm longest dimension)
  • Labels and GPX tracks included
  • Perfect for desktop display

Fridge Magnet ($19)

Best for: Short day hikes (3-8 miles), local trails

  • Compact 70mm x 50mm x 8mm
  • Embedded magnet slot (8mm x 3mm disc)
  • High terrain exaggeration shows elevation clearly
  • Great for collecting peaks you've summited

Keychain ($19)

Best for: Memorable summit pushes, personal keepsakes

  • Pocket-sized 40mm x 30mm
  • Integrated key ring attachment
  • Focus on the most dramatic section of your trail
  • Withstands daily carry (use PETG for durability)

Picture Frame ($19)

Best for: Long routes, multi-day trips, photo displays

  • Border shows terrain, center cutout for 4x6" photo
  • Trail wraps around photo opening
  • Displays both your GPS track and trip photo
  • Typical size 180mm x 130mm x 10mm

Coaster ($19)

Best for: Loop trails, local favorites, gift sets

  • 95mm diameter circle with raised rim
  • Trail forms decorative pattern
  • Functional drink coaster
  • Print sets of 4-6 for different trail systems

Hex Mosaic ($19)

Best for: Thru-hikes, trail systems, large installations

  • Interlocking hexagonal tiles (150mm flat-to-flat)
  • Split a 100-mile trail into 6-8 connected hexes
  • Wall-mount as terrain art
  • Each hex is a separate print (batch-print over several days)

For most single-trail prints, start with the Basic Model. It's free, fully featured, and helps you dial in size and orientation before committing to a specialized product.

Print Settings for Trail Models

These settings produce clean, detailed terrain prints on most FDM printers:

Layer Height: 0.2mm (0.16mm for fine detail, 0.28mm for speed)

Infill: 15-20% (gyroid or cubic)

Perimeters: 3-4 walls

Top/Bottom Layers: 4 layers each

Print Speed: 60mm/s (slow to 40mm/s for overhangs)

Supports: Usually not needed if terrain slope < 60°

Bed Adhesion: Brim (5mm) or textured PEI sheet

Filament: PLA for display pieces, PETG for functional items (coasters, keychains)

Terrain-Specific Settings

For steep, alpine terrain (>1000m elevation change):

  • Enable supports for overhangs >55°
  • Reduce print speed to 45mm/s
  • Increase perimeters to 4 walls
  • Use tree supports (organic supports in Bambu Studio)

For gentle, rolling terrain (<300m elevation change):

  • Supports usually not needed
  • Standard 60mm/s print speed
  • 3 perimeters sufficient
  • Consider larger print size since detail shows better at scale

Advanced: Multi-Color Trail Prints

Single-color trail prints work fine, but multi-color 3D printed trail maps stand out dramatically. The trail pops visually, lakes appear in blue, forests in green.

TopoMeshLab exports 3MF files with separate objects for each layer:

  • Terrain base (gray)
  • GPX trail (orange)
  • Water bodies (blue)
  • Vegetation (green)
  • Buildings (brown)
  • Roads (white or yellow)

Your slicer (Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer) assigns each object to a different filament slot. For Bambu Lab AMS users, this means automatic color changes — no manual intervention needed.

Color Combinations That Work

High Contrast (Recommended):

  • Gray terrain + orange trail + blue water
  • White terrain + red trail + dark blue water
  • Tan terrain + black trail + cyan water

Realistic:

  • Brown terrain + red trail + blue water + green vegetation
  • Gray terrain + yellow trail + blue water + dark green forest

Stylized:

  • Black terrain + white trail + cyan water
  • Navy terrain + gold trail + white water (inverted topography look)

For your first multi-color print, stick to 3 colors maximum: terrain base, trail, and water. This minimizes print time and filament waste during color changes.

Our Multi-Color 3MF Terrain: Bambu Lab AMS Print Guide covers AMS-specific settings, purge tower sizing, and color change optimization.

Best Practices for Different Trail Types

Day Hikes (5-15 miles)

Ideal Product: Basic Model or Fridge Magnet

Size: 120-150mm longest dimension

Focus: Capture the full loop or out-and-back route

Labels: Trail name, distance, elevation gain, date

Example: Half Dome trail (17 miles, 4800ft gain) prints beautifully at 150mm x 100mm x 25mm with 2.5x vertical exaggeration. The cables section shows clearly, and the trail switchbacks are visible.

Summit Pushes (3-8 miles)

Ideal Product: Keychain or Fridge Magnet

Size: 50-80mm for keychain, 70mm x 50mm for magnet

Focus: Just the final approach and summit area

Labels: Peak name and elevation

Example: A 5-mile summit of Mt. Baldy (San Gabriel Mountains) fits perfectly on a 60mm keychain. The final ridge and summit plateau are clearly defined.

Multi-Day Backpacking (30-100 miles)

Ideal Product: Hex Mosaic or Picture Frame

Size: 6-8 hexes at 150mm each, or 200mm x 150mm frame

Focus: Show the full route across multiple connected tiles

Labels: Campsite locations, daily mileage markers

Example: The John Muir Trail (211 miles) splits nicely into 10 hex tiles, each showing 20-25 miles. Print one hex per week and assemble into a wall installation.

Mountain Biking/Gravel Routes

Ideal Product: Coaster or Basic Model

Size: 95mm diameter coaster or 150mm x 150mm model

Focus: Show the full loop with singletrack detail

Labels: Trail name, total elevation

Trail Width: Use 2.0-2.5mm width (wider than hiking trails)

Example: A 25-mile mountain bike loop with 3000ft elevation gain prints well at 140mm x 140mm. The trail network shows clearly at this scale.

Ski Touring/Backcountry Skiing

Ideal Product: Basic Model

Size: 150-200mm to show approach and descent lines

Focus: Capture both the skin track up and ski line down

Layers: Enable Snow layer (white terrain above treeline)

Labels: Aspect, elevation, date (for avalanche context)

Example: A ski tour of Castle Peak, Colorado shows the skin track to 14,265ft and powder descent. The National Avalanche Center provides terrain data that helps identify slope angles on your model.

Thru-Hiking Sections

Ideal Product: Hex Mosaic

Size: Multiple 150mm hexes

Focus: Break long trails into daily sections

Labels: Mile markers, resupply towns, water sources

Example: The Colorado Trail (486 miles) becomes 24 hex tiles. Each tile shows 20 miles and fits standard 8x8" frames for display.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate are GPX to STL conversions?

The terrain elevation data comes from NASA SRTM, which has 30-meter horizontal resolution and ~10-meter vertical accuracy. Your GPX trail is projected onto this terrain with sub-meter precision. The result accurately represents your route within the limitations of the elevation dataset. Real-world features smaller than 30 meters (like small ridges or gullies) may be smoothed out, but the overall shape and profile match reality closely.

Can I combine multiple GPX files on one model?

Yes, TopoMeshLab supports up to 10 GPX files per model. This lets you show different trips to the same mountain, compare routes up a peak, or display a week-long backpacking trip split into daily segments. Each trail appears as a separate raised line on the terrain. Use different colors in your 3MF export to distinguish between trails.

What's the best way to convert Strava to 3D print?

Export your Strava activity as a GPX file (three-dot menu → Export GPX), then import it into TopoMeshLab when defining your terrain model. The GPX trail 3D model will show your exact recorded route with all elevation changes. For best results, choose Strava activities with clean GPS data (avoid urban areas with tall buildings where GPS accuracy suffers). Trail runs, road cycling, and hiking activities convert beautifully.

How long does a typical trail map 3D print take?

A 120mm x 100mm x 20mm basic terrain model with one GPX trail takes 6-8 hours at 0.2mm layer height with 20% infill. Multi-color prints with AMS add 1-2 hours for filament changes and purge tower. Hex Mosaic tiles (150mm) take 10-12 hours each. Keychains and magnets print in 2-3 hours. Use a 0.28mm layer height and 15% infill to cut print time by 30% with minimal quality loss.

Do I need supports for terrain models?

Most terrain prints don't need supports if the steepest slopes are under 60 degrees. Alpine terrain with cliffs or steep valleys may require supports for overhangs. Enable tree supports (organic supports) in Bambu Studio or PrusaSlicer — they touch the model at fewer points and leave better surface finish than standard supports. Preview your sliced model to check for red (unprintable) areas before starting the print.

Turn Your Trails Into Physical Memories

Every hike, every summit, every mile on singletrack deserves more than a digital record. Converting GPX to STL transforms your outdoor adventures into tangible terrain models you can display, share, and gift.

Start with a trail that matters to you. Import your GPX file. Print your first terrain model. Feel the ridgelines and valleys you actually climbed.

Ready to turn your trails into 3D printed models? Head to TopoMeshLab and create your first terrain print in the next 10 minutes. Your GPS data is waiting to become something you can hold in your hand.