How to Create a Running or Cycling Course in Garmin Connect

Day 96: Create a New Course in Garmin Connect

Running or riding the same loop is convenient, but Garmin Connect can help you plan something new. Its Course Creator supports manual routes and automatically generated round trips, while Trendline Popularity Routing uses activity data from the Garmin community to favor commonly used paths.

Create a course on the web

1. Sign in at connect.garmin.com.
2. Open Training & Planning, then Courses.
3. Select Create New and choose the activity type.
4. Choose Automatic for a generated route or Custom to place your own points.
5. For a custom course, choose Follow Popular Routes, Follow Roads, or Freehand and draw the route.
6. Name and save the course, then choose Send to Device.

Automatic versus custom routing

Automatic is the quickest way to break a routine. Choose a distance and starting direction, and Garmin generates a round trip. Custom gives you control over specific roads, trails, climbs, or stops.

Follow Popular Routes is useful when you want roads and trails frequently used by other Garmin users. Follow Roads keeps the line on mapped roads, while Freehand draws straight lines and is mainly useful when the map has missing or unusual paths.

You can create courses in the app too

In Garmin Connect on your phone, open More → Training & Planning → Courses → Create Course. Choose Automatic or Custom, set the details, and save. Menu labels can vary slightly by phone and app version.

Send and start the course

After saving, send the course to your compatible watch or Edge and complete a sync. On the device, open the matching activity and find the course under Navigation or Courses before pressing Start.

Popularity is not a safety guarantee

A popular route can still include a busy crossing, seasonal closure, private access, poor surface, or trail that does not suit your skill level. Inspect the complete route, elevation profile, and surface before leaving. Check local conditions and carry a backup when the consequences of a navigation failure are serious.

Garmin's Course Creator guide documents both web and mobile workflows.