Free online TRK to GPX converter

A navigation app, GPS receiver, or GIS program may require GPX when it cannot open the original TRK track file. Converting it also makes the route easier to share, edit, archive, and import into other mapping software.

What the TRK format is

In GPS and mapping software, .trk commonly identifies a track file created by CompeGPS LAND or TwoNav. It can contain ordered positions and, depending on the source, elevation, timestamps, speed, and other track metadata.

TRK is not a universal GPS standard. Other navigation applications also use the extension for proprietary track formats, so the program or device that created the file determines which decoder and export method are appropriate. A CompeGPS or TwoNav file should be treated as a CompeGPS track, not as a Garmin or OziExplorer file.

What the GPX format is

GPX, or GPS Exchange Format, is an XML-based exchange format supported by most GPS applications, GIS tools, route planners, fitness platforms, and handheld receivers. It can store tracks, routes, and waypoints, with optional elevation, time, and descriptive fields.

GPX is useful when the destination software does not support the original proprietary format. Its documented structure also supports editing and long-term archiving in applications such as QGIS, Garmin BaseCamp, Google Earth, and outdoor-navigation software.

How to convert TRK to GPX

Using 101convert.com

1. Open the TRK-to-GPX converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the source file with its original .trk extension.
3. Select GPX as the output format and start the conversion.
4. Download the resulting .gpx file and open it in the target mapping or navigation program.

This method requires no software installation and is free to use. If the converter rejects the file, identify the application or receiver that created it; the extension alone does not establish the file variant.

Using GPSBabel

GPSBabel can convert CompeGPS track files on a computer. Install the current version, place the source file in a convenient folder, and run:

gpsbabel -i compegps -f input.trk -o gpx -F output.gpx

Replace input.trk and output.gpx with the actual filenames. The compegps input option is for the CompeGPS track variant; it is not a universal decoder for every file with a .trk extension.

In GPSBabel's graphical interface, select the CompeGPS input format, choose the TRK file, select GPX as the output format, and specify the destination filename. If the source came from another navigation application, use that application's own GPX export instead of forcing the CompeGPS format.

Quality and compatibility limits

Conversion normally preserves latitude, longitude, elevation, and timestamps when those values exist in the source, but it may discard proprietary fields. Styling, map references, color settings, attachments, application-specific statistics, and other metadata may not have GPX equivalents.

Open the output in a map viewer before using it for navigation. Check the position, track order, elevation profile, timestamps, and track segments. GPX coordinates are defined in WGS 84; a source using a local or unknown coordinate reference system may need verification or reprojection in a GIS application.

A TRK file that is not a CompeGPS or TwoNav track may require the creator's software for conversion. Use its equivalent of File → Export → GPX, then inspect the exported file for missing points or metadata.