Your Garmin Knows the Way Home, Even When You Don't
The best runs are the unplanned ones — but at some point you need to get back. Here's how to use Garmin's Back to Start feature to find your way home.
Day 76: Your Garmin Knows the Way Home, Even When You Don't
Sometimes the best runs are the ones with no plan. You head out the door, turn wherever looks interesting, explore a new neighbourhood, follow an unfamiliar path. No route loaded. No destination in mind.
But at some point, you do need to get back home — and by that point, you might have no idea where you are.
Your Garmin has you covered.
How to use Back to Start
During your activity, press the upper right button on your watch to pause the activity. From the paused menu, scroll to Back to Start and select it.
You'll then be offered two options:
- TracBack: Retraces your exact route in reverse. This is the safest option — you already know this path is runnable, it goes where you need to go, and the distance is predictable.
- Straight Line: Points you toward the start point via the shortest route as the crow flies. Useful when you don't want to retrace your steps, but be aware it may take you off-trail or through areas you haven't scouted.
Once you select a mode, your Garmin gives you navigation back to where you started, with distance and direction shown on screen.
When it's most useful
This feature is especially handy for trail runners and hikers who venture into unfamiliar terrain. It's also a quiet safety net for those days when a run goes longer than planned and you realise you've turned one too many times to remember the way back.
No data plan required. No phone needed. Just your watch and your legs.
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