This year, we’re happy to launch an official “RWGPS” track for the Ride:

See below for step-by-step instructions:

RWGPS vs. Ribbons:
Ride With GPS is a great tool, but ribbons are the boss and should be your primary navigation. Last minute trail changes may mean there are spots where the marked trail deviates slightly from the RWGPS route. You might get an occasional off-course “bong.” DO NOT PANIC. If you still see trail ribbons on the trail ahead of you, you’re good. When in doubt, trust the ribbons.

2026 Tevis Cup

Ride with GPS Navigation Guide

Provided through the Western States Trail Foundation Club Account

Overview

Ride with GPS (RWGPS) is the official navigation tool for the 2026 Tevis Cup. Through our club membership, you have access to all premium RWGPS features at no cost — including live moving-map navigation, voice cues, and automatic off-course alerts.

Key features available to you:

Moving map display on your smartphone
Voice turn-by-turn cues
Off-course alert when you deviate 165 feet or more, with on-screen directions back to route
Full offline use once routes are downloaded

Do this before leaving home WiFi or cell service:

1. Join the event via your registration link (see Section 2)
2. Configure your phone settings (see Section 3)
3. Download route for offline use (see Section 4)

Section 1 — Joining the Event

Use the link below (or yellow button above) to join the Tevis Cup 2026 event in RWGPS. You will receive a confirmation email — follow the instructions in that email to complete access.

2026 Tevis Cup Event:

https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Event/489247/yFhMOzqmVIOM8kQ0YQI5Kg1iJdh7Usop

Section 2 — Phone Setup

Phone OS updates can silently reset app settings. Complete these steps every time, even if you have used RWGPS before.
Do this at home on WiFi before the ride.

iPhone

Step 1 — Set logging interval to 1 second:

Open the Ride with GPS app
Tap More > Settings > Logging > Logging Interval
Set to 1 second

Step 2 — Set location permissions:

Open iPhone Settings (not the RWGPS app)
Scroll to and tap Ride with GPS
Tap Location and choose While Using the App
Toggle on Precise Location

Step 3 — Set volume for voice cues:

On iPhone, voice volume is controlled inside the RWGPS app — not with the phone’s ringer buttons. To adjust:

Open your route, then tap Start Navigation
Tap Tools and locate the volume control

Step 4 — Enable directional arrows on the map:

Open your route and tap the map layer symbol
Under Map Options, select Directional Arrows

Android

Step 1 — Set logging interval and auto-pause:

Open Ride with GPS
Tap More > Settings > Logging > Logging Interval — set to 1 second
Confirm Auto-Pause is On

Step 2 — Disable battery optimization (critical for GPS accuracy):

Exact steps vary by phone model. General path:

Open phone Settings
Tap Apps (or Apps & Notifications)
Find and tap Ride with GPS
Tap Battery
Set to Unrestricted (or equivalent — do not allow the OS to optimize this app)

Why Unrestricted?

Battery optimization can pause GPS recording in the background. Disabling it is counterintuitive but essential for continuous, accurate tracking — per RWGPS guidance.

Section 3 — Downloading Routes for Offline Use

Cell service on trail is unreliable. Download routes BEFORE you get to Robie Park when you have good wifi, so they work completely offline.

Open the RWGPS app
Tap More > Events, then select the 2026 Tevis Cup event
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) to the right of the route, then tap Download All

A grey circle with a lightning bolt icon next to the route confirms it has been downloaded. You can also open the route and look for the word Downloaded below the mileage.

Section 4 — RIDE DAY: Starting Navigation

Open RWGPS before you mount
Put your phone in Airplane Mode (GPS still works — you downloaded your route in Section 3 for exactly this reason). iOS users can alternatively enable Offline Mode inside the RWGPS app under More > Settings > Offline Mode
Tap the Library icon at the bottom of the screen
In the top bar, select Collections, then tap Offline
Select your route and tap Navigate
You can PAUSE at your 1-hour holds or let the app run, just don’t forget to start it again if you pause! Also charge your phone while on your holds! RWGPS does consume battery charge (less if you are on airplane mode), so carrying a portable charger with you on trail is highly recommended
When finished, long-press the pause button (circle with two vertical lines), then tap Save

Section 5 — Routes

Currently the only route available is the full Tevis route you will use on ride day!

Pre-Ride Routes

Although there is only one route available, you can still ‘test it out’ with a pre-ride on the trail. Just be aware that if you go the ‘wrong way’ on the trail, RWGPS will ‘bong’ you off-course. For example, if you start at the finish line and ride to No Hands Bridge, you will get bonged off course until you turn around and come back to the finish. Likewise, you will be ‘on course’ if you do a pre-ride at Robie Park, but as soon as you turn around to come back you will be ‘off-course’. If you have never used Ride With GPS we highly recommend you test it out BEFORE race day so you can dial in your settings!

Section 6 — Protecting Your Battery

A dead phone means no navigation. Follow these practices:

Put your phone in Airplane Mode (GPS still works offline)
Close all other apps before starting navigation
Keep the screen off when not actively checking the map
Turn off Power Saving Mode — it degrades GPS recording quality on both iPhone and Android
Keep your phone near the top of your pack or mounted where it has a clear view of the sky
Charge your phone at the hold vet checks (suggestion: put one crew person on duty to ask you for the phone, charge it while you’re in the check and hand it back to you before you leave)
Carry a portable power bank as a backup

More battery-saving tips: https://ridewithgps.com/help/battery-saving-tips/

Section 7 — Voice Cues and Navigation Chimes

Reducing Chime Clutter

By default, RWGPS announces three advance warnings before each turn. This can get confusing. We recommend turning off the extra chimes:

Open RWGPS and tap More > Settings > Navigation
De-select: Advance Cue Warning, Nearing Cue Warning, and Imminent Cue Warning

Understanding Voice Instructions

When RWGPS says ‘Right turn ahead, then turn left’ — the second part (‘then turn left’) is a preview of the next cue, not an immediate instruction. You will hear the left-turn cue again as you approach it.

If you miss a cue: tap Cue Sheet in the bottom-right corner of the app screen to see all upcoming turns. Tapping any cue on that list will show its location on the map.

Hearing Voice Cues on Trail

Trail noise can make it difficult to hear your phone speaker. Options:

Use a Bluetooth headset with one earbud (keep one ear open for safety and horse awareness)
If riding without a headset, introduce your horse to the RWGPS chime sounds while on the ground before mounting

Section 8 — Optional: Metric Readouts

RWGPS can announce ride metrics at set intervals — for example, average moving speed, remaining distance, and estimated time remaining. Many riders set this to every 5 miles. To configure:

Manage app settings: https://ridewithgps.com/help/manage-settings-on-mobile#logging

Section 9 — Getting Help

Familiarize yourself with the app and routes before ride day. Recording conditioning rides at home is one of the best ways to learn the interface.

RWGPS tutorials and help articles are available at ridewithgps.com/help
For questions about using RWGPS for the Tevis Cup, contact ride management
For technical support, contact RWGPS directly at ridewithgps.com/help

RWGPS Help Center: https://ridewithgps.com/help/

Good luck and ride safe! Ride with GPS is a powerful tool, but it is not a substitute for pre-ride preparation. Familiarize yourself with the route, download your maps before leaving home, and enjoy the trail with confidence.