Don't get lost on your ride, race or hike!

The dynamic.watch web site and routeCourse app are the fastest and easiest way to create and download routes to your Garmin Edge, Oregon/Rino GPS, or Fenix 5/5S/5X, Forerunner 645/645M/935 or Descent Mk1 watch, right from your phone or computer.

Designed for cyclists and hikers, just install the routeCourse app on your device, and use this web page, dynamic.watch, to create routes using our mobile-friendly route Planner (or import routes from popular sites like Strava, Ride with GPS and MapMyRun) and send them to the device.

Use the bigger screen of your phone, tablet or computer to create or import a route, and your device will automatically see the updated route list when you start the app. Your device only needs an internet connection (through your phone) if you want to view and download new routes. Otherwise it is self-contained and designed for use outside of cellular service.

This website is fully mobile-enabled to use on your phone, and a laptop is not required (though of course the website works great there too).

When you start the routeCourse app on your GPS it will show you a list of your local routes (the ones already downloaded to your GPS) and your "cloud" routes (routes created (or imported) and stored in the cloud at dynamicWatch).

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Tap (touchscreen) or use the Up/Down and Select buttons (Edge 520) to select a route to download and "launch" it in the GPS's built-in activity/map feature.

When you're ready for more, dynamicWatch Premium adds a Route Archive, elevation profile and stats in Planner, a route Archive and Collections, editing of imported routes in Planner, OpenCycleMaps (OCM) map type, GPX exports and no advertising.

routeCourse runs on the following Garmin cycling, watch and outdoors GPS devices:

All are available from Amazon.com and your local outdoors stores.

If you have a Garmin GPS watch, our dwMap app combines the easy route (course) planning and simple route downloads of this site with a route map display right on the watch screen to guide you as you run.

On the Garmin Fenix 5, 5S and 5X, Forerunner 645, 645M (645 Music) and 935, and Descent Mk1 watches you can use either dwMap or routeCourse. We recommend you use routeCourse because then you get all the advantages of dynamicWatch for route planning and downloading, with the built-in map feature on these watches.

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To get started, you just need to:

The following tips apply to both our dwMap and routeCourse apps.

  • No Bluetooth to Garmin Connect or Error Code 1 or 2 when I start the app on my Garmin
    Your Garmin must be connected via Bluetooth to Garmin Mobile Connect on your Android or iPhone/iPad. Check the following:
    - You must connect to your phone by Bluetooth, not by wifi or a cable.
    - The Garmin Connect Mobile app must be running on your phone.
    - Windows Phone will not work: that version of Garmin Connect Mobile does not provide a usable data connection.
    Once setup, our apps do not need the phone connection during your run or ride.
  • Garmin installer says my device firmware is not up to date
    Try undocking your watch, and you may find that it will then install and restart with updated firmware. Then redock and install the app again. You may need to try this a few times. Also try powering your watch off completely and restarting it.
  • I cannot find the app on my watch
    On the Garmin Forerunner 230/235/630/735XT/935 and Fenix 3/5 watches you press the Start button when on the main (watch face) page, and your installed apps are there with the activity types, such as Run.
Our routeCourse app installs to your device from the Garmin Connect IQ Store.
Make sure that your device is connected by Bluetooth to Garmin Connect Mobile running on your phone (iPhone or Android [Windows Phone will likely not work]), and that your phone and device can get online.
The first time you open it on your device it will show you a simple link code to securely link your device to your account here.

The Garmin software may tell you that you need to update your firmware, even when you think you have the latest version. In this case, undock your device and see if it installs new firmware that it has downloaded. Then redock the device and try installing our app again. Powering-off your device and back on again may also be necessary to get the new firmware installed and running. You can check what your device is actually running by going to Settings - System - About.
We have implemented a simple but secure mechanism to link your device to your account here.
  • When you open the app on your device the first time it will show you an 8 character code.
  • Enter that code on our website here and the device will know which account it is associated with. Conversely, our website will know that you have authorized access by this device.
  • After you have entered the code on our website, tap the screen or press the Up button of your device to complete the linking process.
If you get No Bluetooth to Garmin Connect or Error Code 1 or 2 on your device during this step, make sure that your device is connected by Bluetooth to Garmin Connect Mobile running on your phone (iPhone or Android [Windows Phone will likely not work]), and that your phone and device can get online.
As an extra security measure, the code is only valid for 5 minutes after you open the app. If you do not enter the code here in time, don't worry, just exit and open the app again, and a new code will be generated.
You only have to do this once for each device you link (and you can link any number of devices), and afterwards the app will only need an internet connection when you want change the downloaded route.
We do not get access to any other apps on your device or phone.
Use our simple yet powerful Route Planner to create and edit routes, with automatic routing along trails and roads.
  • Use the Location box and button to enter a place name, or just click to find your current location.
  • The resulting location will offer a popup: choose "Add to route" to start building your route from this spot, or just close the popup.
  • Click on your starting point, then click on further points to add to your route. A route will be built from point to point.
  • Click or to choose whether cycling or pedestrian routes should be calculated.
  • Click if you want straight lines between points, with no automatic routing. This is on the same popup menu as and .
  • Press to remove the last point to delete or redo it.
  • Drag a point marker to edit the route.
  • Click on route line to insert a new point marker into the route.
  • Double-click on a point marker to remove it.
  • Click on to make this your active device route when you save it.
  • Press to save and (at the top-right) to exit when you are done.
  • Click on in your routes list to edit it again.
You can also import routes or connect to route planning tools available at sites like Strava, Ride with GPS and MapMyRun.
If you have upgraded to dynamicWatch Premium you can also create and edit waypoints, edit routes that you have imported or uploaded, see the elevation profile and statistics (such vertical gain) as you create your routes, and keep an archive of all your routes.

When you start the routeCourse app on your GPS it will show you a list of your local routes (the ones already downloaded to your GPS) and your "cloud" routes (routes created (or imported) and stored in the cloud at dynamicWatch):

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The GPS icon (rectangle) by the route shows it has already been downloaded, while the cloud icon shows it is available to be downloaded from your account on dynamic.watch.

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Tap or select one of these, and you will be given the option of downloading it, or of both downloading and launching it immediately.

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Tap (touchscreen) or use the Up/Down and Select buttons (Edge 520) to select a route to "launch" it in the GPS's built-in activity/map feature. This is the usual map and activity recorder capability of the GPS that you are already familiar with.

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Routes are sorted by their distance away from you.

On the Garmin Fenix 5, 5S and 5X, Forerunner 645, 645M (645 Music) and 935, and Descent Mk1 watches you can use either dwMap or routeCourse. We recommend you use routeCourse because then you get all the advantages of dynamicWatch for route planning and downloading, with the built-in map feature on these watches.

When you start the routeCourse app on your 5/5S/5X/645/645M/935/Mk1 watch it will show you a list of your "cloud" routes (called "courses" on the watches) stored in your account at dynamicWatch:

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The GPS icon (rectangle) by the route/course shows it has already been downloaded, while the cloud icon shows it is available to be downloaded from your account on dynamic.watch.

Use the Up/Down and Start buttons to select a route, and you will be given the option of downloading it, or of both downloading and launching it immediately:

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Use the Up/Down buttons to choose "download" or "download and launch" (start) the route in the watch's built-in activity/map feature, and press Start. If you choose "download and launch" the routeCourse app will exit to the normal Courses feature of the watch that you are already familiar with (the one you get to from Menu > Navigate > Courses).

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Routes are sorted by their distance away from you.

If you are already using Strava, Ride with GPS or UnderArmour (MapMyRide/MapMyRun) then you can connect and automatically use those routes here.

For other route web sites, you can copy the URL of the route you are interested in and enter the URL on our Import page.
We can import route URLs from: connect.garmin.com ridewithgps.com strava.com mapmyride.com mapmyrun.com gpsies.com outdooractive.com bikemap.net openrunner.com mtbproject.com hikingproject.com trailrunproject.com trailforks.com gpstracks.nl Details...

If you use Chrome as the web browser on your computer we have a Chrome Extension that adds a button to your toolbar to save routes directly from these websites! Learn more...

For GPX and TCX files, Click on Drop a GPX/TCX file here or click to upload here and upload your file.

You can, of course, draw a route right here, using our Route Planner.

If you have upgraded to dwMap Premium you can link your Garmin Connect account and automatically see and use the routes of your recent activities.
You can also import waypoints and use them as destinations to navigate to, and to use for geocaching.

If you are already using Strava, Ride with GPS or UnderArmour (MapMyRide/MapMyRun) then you can connect and automatically use those routes here. These sites offer excellent planning tools for creating routes.
In Linked Accounts click on the service you wish to connect and follow the prompts to authorize your access.
  • Strava: You will be prompted to authorize access on the Strava website. This will let you use your Strava routes. To use such a route, 'star' it on their site, and it will then appear on your routes list here.
  • Ride with GPS: Enter your username/password for that service and we will use those to verify that we can access your account ok. All of your routes there will appear in your routes list here. If you see someone else's route there that you would like to use, use the COPY TO MY ROUTES link on the route on Ride with GPS to add it to your set.
  • UnderArmour: You will be prompted to authorize access on the UnderArmour website. This will let you use your MapMyRide and MapMyRun routes. To use such a route, Bookmark it on their site, and it will then appear on your routes list here.

You can revoke your access at any time at Linked Accounts.
You can also draw a route using our Route Planner or import routes from GPX or TCX files and other services.

If you use Chrome as the web browser on your computer we have a Chrome Extension that adds a button to your toolbar to save routes directly from these websites. It's now incredibly easy to leverage the wealth of awesome routes on those sites, then send them to your Garmin watch or Edge with just a click of our button!

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Routes imported from Ride with GPS, or from TCX files from route services like plotaroute.com, usually include a list of "course points", often known as a "cue sheet", which give turn-by-turn directions along the route. These are often superior to the turn instructions that your Garmin device can generate, especially if your Garmin does not have good built-in maps.

dynamicWatch Premium knows how to extract these cue sheets and include them in the routes (courses) that routeCourse downloads to your Garmin Edge or GPS watch.

Upgrade to Premium now!

You can share your dynamicWatch routes with any of your friends! Just click on the icon next to a route and we'll generate a special sharing URL, with buttons to share it instantly via email, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or LinkedIn, or just copy the URL and send it in any other way.

The recipient won't be able to change your route, but they will be able to add a copy of it to their routes so that they can download it to their device.

If you have upgraded to dynamicWatch Premium you can also export your routes to the popular GPX file format.

Please check the above guides for the fastest access to the information you need.

We also have a Blog at Medium and a YouTube Channel:

Otherwise we can be reached via Twitter, Facebook or email, or follow the dynamicWatch Blog.

For support for your Garmin device or for Garmin Connect Mobile, contact Garmin Support.

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