Gaia GPS Web Route Elevation Chart

WHAT IT DOES

Gaia GPS Web Route Elevation Chart automatically scans Gaia GPS route pages and extracts elevation profile data including elevation gain, loss, minimum and maximum elevations, and distance markers. The tool displays a floating panel with a clear, visual elevation chart showing elevation changes along the entire route. The chart highlights steep sections where the grade is significant, flat sections for easy terrain, and marks the highest and lowest points along the route. A comprehensive statistics section displays total ascent, total descent, route distance, average grade, and maximum grade. You can toggle between imperial (feet, miles) and metric (meters, kilometers) units, and your preferred unit system is remembered across sessions. This provides a quick, at-a-glance understanding of route difficulty and terrain profile without needing to interpret complex mapping data or scroll through technical specifications.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension operates exclusively on gaiagps.com domain pages that contain route content—specifically pages with "/route/" or "/map/" in the URL path, or pages that display route details and elevation profiles. It works alongside the free BotGentz companion extension, which provides the necessary DOM access and page interaction capabilities. The elevation chart overlay runs entirely within your local browser instance and does not communicate with any external servers or APIs. All elevation data extraction, chart rendering, and unit conversion occurs on your machine, ensuring your route data and browsing activity remain private. It supports all modern Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera) and Firefox when paired with the BotGentz bridge.

HOW TO USE

After installing both BotGentz and this elevation chart, simply navigate to any Gaia GPS route page. Within 1-2 seconds, a panel appears in the bottom-right corner displaying an elevation chart for the route. The chart shows the elevation profile as a line with a filled area underneath, with green markers for the lowest point and red markers for the highest point. The "Statistics" section shows key metrics including min/max elevation, total ascent, total descent, distance, average grade, and max grade. Use the "Use metric units" toggle to switch between imperial and metric units—all values and the chart scale update accordingly. Your unit preference is saved automatically. The panel includes a toggle to automatically show the chart on route pages, which is enabled by default but can be disabled if you prefer to access it manually.

ELEVATION DATA EXTRACTION AND CHART RENDERING

The elevation chart overlay uses a multi-strategy extraction system to locate and parse elevation data from Gaia GPS route pages. It first attempts to find structured elevation profile elements using selectors based on the site's typical class naming patterns, looking for "elevation-profile," "profile-chart," and "elevation-chart" elements. When these selectors fail due to site updates, the tool falls back to text-based parsing, scanning the page for elevation-related metrics using pattern matching for terms like "gain," "ascent," "loss," "descent," "min elevation," and "max elevation." For the chart rendering, the tool extracts elevation data points from SVG path elements when available, or generates a synthetic profile using the extracted min and max elevation values with a realistic curve variation. The chart is rendered using inline SVG with a viewport-relative layout, displaying the elevation profile as a continuous line with a semi-transparent fill, with grid lines and axis ticks for reference. Steep sections are identified by analyzing the grade between consecutive points, and flat sections are identified by minimal elevation changes.

THE PANEL

The elevation chart panel is a compact, functional overlay that integrates into the Gaia GPS route page. It can be dragged by clicking and holding the title bar, positioning the panel anywhere on the screen for optimal visibility while you review route data. The panel includes a built-in snap feature that automatically aligns to the nearest screen edge when released within 48 pixels, keeping your workspace organized. Click the collapse arrow in the top-right corner to minimize the panel to a small icon bubble showing a gear emoji, preserving screen space while keeping the tool accessible. The panel is not resizable in this version, maintaining a consistent compact size that works on all screen resolutions. Press the Escape key to instantly hide the panel; press Escape again to restore it. All position, collapse state, unit preferences, and auto-show settings are saved locally using GM_setValue and persist across browsing sessions.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz extension to function—the elevation chart does not work standalone. Gaia GPS occasionally updates its page layouts and route presentation formats, which may temporarily affect elevation data extraction accuracy. The tool extracts elevation data from the visible page content; if route data is loaded dynamically after page load, you may need to wait a moment or refresh the page for the panel to populate. The generated chart is a visual representation of extracted data and may not perfectly match the official elevation profile shown in Gaia GPS. Grade calculations are estimates based on extracted elevation and distance data. The tool does not store or transmit any data; all elevation data extraction, chart rendering, and settings are processed and saved entirely within your browser. This tool is designed for personal trip planning assistance and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Gaia GPS or its parent company. Always verify route details on the official Gaia GPS platform before planning any outdoor activities.