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How to Use Maps and Navigation on the Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2)

A practical guide to opening the epix Pro (Gen 2) map, downloading TopoActive maps, selecting a destination, creating a course, and configuring navigation screens.
Estimate4–5 min Catalogued SpecialistWatchRanker Team
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On the Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2), open the map directly from the watch face or add it to a GPS activity, then use touch or buttons to pan, zoom, select destinations, or follow a saved course. Map downloads and navigation screens are managed through the watch’s Map and Navigation menus. These steps follow Garmin’s epix (Gen 2) Standard/Pro Series Owner’s Manual, version 12, dated August 2025; firmware updates may change menu labels.

Open the map

You can view the map without starting an activity or display it while recording a GPS activity.

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  • From the watch face: Press START and select Map.
  • During an activity: Start a GPS activity, then press UP or DOWN to scroll to its map screen.

If the map or your position is not ready, go outside and wait for the watch to locate satellites.

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Pan, zoom, and select a location

Use either the touchscreen or the buttons to move around the map and choose a point.

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Touchscreen controls

Tap the map and drag it to move the crosshairs over the area you want. Press UP or DOWN to zoom in or out.

Button controls

  1. Hold MENU and select Pan/Zoom.
  2. Press START to cycle between panning vertically, panning horizontally, and zooming.
  3. Press UP or DOWN to move the map or adjust zoom, depending on the selected mode.

Center the target beneath the crosshairs and hold START to select it. If prompted, choose a nearby point of interest. Then select Go to to navigate there, Save Location to store it, or Review to inspect its information.

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Check maps and download TopoActive maps

To see downloaded maps and the available map-management options, hold MENU and select Map > Map Manager. Garmin lists TopoActive Maps and Outdoor Maps+ there. Outdoor Maps+ is described as a premium option; it is not required for the basic map and navigation steps in this guide.

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Garmin’s documented TopoActive download flow requires Wi-Fi. The watch queues the download to limit battery drain and starts it when connected to external power.

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  1. Connect the watch to Wi-Fi.
  2. Hold MENU and select Map > Map Manager > TopoActive Maps > Add Map.
  3. Select a map, press START, and choose Download.
  4. Connect the watch to external power so the queued download can begin.

The manual does not establish exact map inventory or currency for every region. Check Map Manager on your watch for the maps available to you.

Adjust map appearance and detail

Hold MENU and select Map to adjust settings that affect map orientation, readability, and redraw behavior.

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  • Dark Mode: Choose a white or black background, or Auto to base the mode on the time.
  • Orientation: Choose North Up to keep north at the top, or Track Up to orient the map to your direction of travel.
  • Auto Zoom: Let the watch adjust the zoom automatically, or turn it off to use manual zoom controls.
  • High Contrast and Detail: Adjust visibility and the amount of map detail. Garmin cautions that displaying more detail can slow redraw.
  • Track Color and Lock on Road: Adjust how the track appears and whether the map locks to a road.

For map data associated with an activity, open START > Map, press START, and select Map Layers. Choose Activity Theme to edit a particular activity, or switch an individual feature—such as contour lines or saved locations—to Status > On. Changes are saved to that activity theme and can be applied to all activities.

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Create and follow a course

A course is a route made from locations you add. Create one from an activity before starting navigation.

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  1. From the watch face, press START and choose an activity.
  2. Hold MENU and select Navigation > Courses > Create New.
  3. Name the course, select Add Location, and choose a location option.
  4. Add more locations as needed, then select Done > Do Course.
  5. When the navigation information appears, press START to begin following the course.

Choose navigation screens and alerts

To choose the information shown during navigation, hold MENU and select Navigation > Data Screens. Garmin’s manual describes these options:

  • Show or hide the map and its routing data field.
  • Show or hide Up Ahead information for course points.
  • Enable a Guide screen with a compass bearing or course to follow.
  • Enable an Elevation Plot.
  • Add, remove, or customize data screens.

For prompts while navigating, hold MENU and select Navigation > Alerts. The manual lists final distance, estimated time remaining (Final ETE), off-course status, and turn prompts. Enable the alert you want and enter a distance or time when the watch requests one.

Which navigation method should you use?

What you want to do Use this method
Navigate to one point you can select on the map Pan to the point, center it beneath the crosshairs, hold START, then choose Go to.
Follow a route with multiple locations Create a course under Navigation > Courses, add locations, then choose Do Course.
Keep the map available while recording an activity Start a GPS activity and scroll to its map screen with UP or DOWN.
Change the map’s framing or readability Adjust orientation, zoom, detail, and other options under the Map settings.

For a fixed north-up reference, choose North Up; Track Up instead aligns the map to travel direction. Auto Zoom reduces the need to adjust scale manually, while manual zoom gives you direct control. More detail can make redraw slower.

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