BaseCamp
BaseCamp is Garmin's route planning and GPS data management application for macOS, used by outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, cyclists and travelers to create and edit waypoints, tracks, and routes on maps. It supports import and export of GPX, KML, KMZ, and Garmin-native formats, and integrates with Garmin handheld GPS devices (Montana, GPSMAP, eTrex and others) for device management and map transfer. Users can download maps, organize routes in collections, and sync data to compatible GPS hardware. The app has not received active maintenance from Garmin in several years.
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1 suggestionBaseCamp is an Intel-only app with no native Apple Silicon build — it runs under Rosetta 2 on M-series Macs, but will stop launching entirely when Apple removes Rosetta 2 in macOS 28 (September 2028). Garmin has not released a native version and has effectively ceased development of BaseCamp in favor of their cloud-based Explore web platform. Community reports indicate the Intel version is unstable on Apple Silicon even under Rosetta, crashing frequently when connecting Garmin devices, particularly when routes are stored locally. Given the app's abandoned status and the approaching Rosetta 2 deadline, you should begin migrating your routes to an alternative workflow now. For simple route creation, the Garmin Explore website (explore.garmin.com) offers free route planning and device management via any web browser, though it lacks some of BaseCamp's desktop conveniences. For users who need more sophisticated route editing and local file management, QGIS is a free, open-source desktop mapping tool that runs natively on Apple Silicon and can import/export Garmin formats, though it has a steeper learning curve. Download your existing routes and waypoints from BaseCamp to GPX format as a backup before you move off the app, since no future native BaseCamp will be available.
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