How To Use Trekka

Master every feature with step-by-step guides.

Getting Started

Trekka Outdoors is designed to be intuitive, but here's everything you need to know to get the most out of your activities.

First Launch

  1. Download Trekka Outdoors from the App Store on your iPhone
  2. Open the app — it will prompt for the following permissions:
    • Location: Required for GPS tracking. Select "While Using the App" or "Always" for background tracking
    • HealthKit: Optional. Allows reading/writing workout data, heart rate, and health metrics
    • Motion: Optional. Enhances step counting and motion detection
    • Notifications: Optional. Enables check-in reminders, alerts, and milestone notifications
    • Bluetooth: Required if you want to use BLE heart rate monitors, power meters, or cadence sensors
  3. Install the Watch App: If you have an Apple Watch, the companion app installs automatically via the Watch app on your iPhone

iPhone App Guide

Home Screen Overview

The iPhone app has five main tabs:

Recording an Activity

Start an Activity

  1. Tap the Activities tab
  2. Tap Start Activity or the + button
  3. Choose an activity type from the categorized list (139 types available). Use the search bar to find activities quickly
  4. (Optional) Set a goal — distance, time, or calories
  5. Tap Start — a countdown may appear if configured
  6. Your activity is now recording

During the Activity

End the Activity

  1. Tap Pause, then tap End
  2. Review the activity summary (distance, time, pace, elevation, calories)
  3. The activity is saved automatically
  4. If the Watch app is paired, the activity syncs to iPhone

Maps & Routes

Importing Routes

  1. Tap the + button → Import Route
  2. Select GPX or KML file from Files app
  3. Route imports with elevation data (if included in GPX)
  4. Route appears in Routes list with elevation information
  5. View route details to see elevation gain/loss

Sending Routes to Watch

  1. Open Routes & Maps tab
  2. Tap Send All Routes to Apple Watch button
  3. Ensure Apple Watch is nearby and connected
  4. Routes sync automatically to watch
  5. Verify routes appear when starting activity on watch

Activity History

  1. Tap the Activities tab
  2. Scroll to view all recorded activities
  3. Tap any activity to see:
    • Detailed statistics
    • Distance, duration, elevation
    • Heart rate data
    • Map with GPS track
    • Elevation profile

Apple Watch App Guide

Starting an Activity

  1. Open Trekka on Apple Watch
  2. Tap "Start Activity"
  3. Select activity type: Hiking, Trail Running, Cycling, Walking, and 135+ more
  4. (Optional) Select Route for Navigation: Tap "Select Route" to choose from your imported routes
  5. Tap Start to begin tracking
  6. Activity begins tracking immediately

During Activity on Watch

Customizing Watch Screens

All Apple Watch settings are configured from the iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings → Watch Settings
  2. Tap Customize Watch Layouts
  3. Select an activity type (e.g., Hiking)
  4. Enable/disable screens:
    • Data Fields
    • Map
    • Summary
    • Elevation
    • Heart Rate
    • Pace
  5. Reorder screens by dragging
  6. Tap a screen to customize which metrics display
  7. Save changes — they sync to the watch automatically

Route Navigation on Watch

  1. Ensure your route is imported on iPhone
  2. Send routes to watch using the "Send All Routes" button
  3. Start an activity on Apple Watch
  4. When prompted, select the route you want to navigate
  5. Tap Start to begin
  6. The route appears in blue on the map screen
  7. A progress bar at the bottom shows route completion

Watch Connectivity & Syncing

Auto-Sync

  1. When you finish an activity on Apple Watch, it automatically syncs to iPhone
  2. Syncing typically takes 10-30 seconds
  3. You'll receive a notification when sync is complete
  4. Activities appear in your iPhone history automatically

Manual Sync

  1. Tap the menu icon (three dots) in the top-right corner
  2. Select Sync from Apple Watch
  3. Wait for sync to complete — only new activities are synced (no duplicates)
  4. Success message shows number of new activities synced

Settings & Customization

Configure iPhone Settings

  1. Tap Settings tab at the bottom
  2. General Settings:
    • Appearance (Light/Dark/Auto)
    • Notifications toggle
    • Units (km/mi for distance, m/ft for elevation)
  3. Watch Settings: Customize watch layouts, screens, and metrics
  4. BLE Sensors: Pair external sensors (heart rate monitors, power meters, cadence sensors)
  5. Audio Coaching: Enable spoken updates during activities

Tips for Best Results

Troubleshooting

Syncing Issues

GPS & Location

Watch App Issues