Topo (Worldwide) in Lokimaps uses Thunderforest Outdoors, a global map based on OpenStreetMap source data, with terrain rendering and cartography by Thunderforest. Thunderforest designed the style to prioritize hiking routes, ski runs, topographic features, natural features, and outdoor amenities.
Thunderforest's public documentation explains the core design and lists the vector source's data families, but it does not present a fixed, exhaustive visual key for Outdoors. The style and source coverage evolve, and details vary with zoom and region. This page explains the stable reading principles documented by Thunderforest, but an unfamiliar symbol may still require checking the feature's label and current local information.
At the closest app zoom levels, Lokimaps can enlarge the most detailed available raster tile. Larger lines or icons do not mean that more source detail has appeared.
Terrain, elevation, and contoursTerrain, elevation, and contours
Contours show lines of equal elevation, while hillshading gives a visual impression of slope direction and relief. Elevation colouring helps separate lower and higher terrain at a broad glance. Read all three together: close contour spacing signals steep terrain, but hillshade and background colour are visual aids rather than measured slope or avalanche information.
Contour intervals, detail, and terrain coverage vary around the world. Zooming a tile beyond its intended level does not create more elevation data. Use labelled heights and a regional authoritative map when exact elevation or landform detail is critical.
Land cover, wetlands, and built areasLand cover, wetlands, and built areas
Background colours and patterns differentiate categories such as forest, open land, farmland, water, wetlands, built-up areas, and buildings. Thunderforest notes that land use and buildings are deliberately subdued so trails, terrain, icons, and labels remain legible.
These areas inherit the strengths and gaps of their underlying source data. A mapped forest boundary may be generalized or outdated, and a wetland fill does not tell you present water depth, seasonal flooding, or whether the ground is passable.
Paths, hiking routes, and difficultyPaths, hiking routes, and difficulty
Paths and outdoor routes receive stronger emphasis than on a general street map. A highlighted hiking route is laid over one or more physical paths, not necessarily a separate trail on the ground. Follow the underlying path connections and labels at junctions.
Thunderforest uses the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) hiking scale when the source path has that difficulty information. As difficulty increases, path styling changes from black toward red, and the dashes become shorter until they appear as dots. This is a relative hiking-difficulty cue, not a complete risk assessment.
Most importantly, no difficulty styling does not mean an easy trail. The source may have no SAC value, the classification may be incomplete, or the path may be shown only at another zoom. Weather, exposure, scrambling, river crossings, snow, navigation difficulty, and local closures need separate checks.
Ski runs and liftsSki runs and lifts
Outdoors prioritizes ski runs and lift infrastructure. Different lines and labels can identify pistes, Nordic routes, lifts, or related facilities where these have been mapped. Visibility and completeness vary by resort, country, and zoom level.
Map presence does not confirm that a run is open, patrolled, groomed, safe, or permitted. Use the operator's current piste report and avalanche information.
Natural features and outdoor amenitiesNatural features and outdoor amenities
Labels and icons can identify peaks, passes, cliffs, caves, springs, viewpoints, shelters, campsites, accommodation, parking, and other amenities. Thunderforest's Outdoors map overview explains that trails, natural features, chairlifts, and accommodation are intentionally prioritized for small-screen use.
A point on the map is not live operational information. Confirm access, opening, water quality, booking, and current condition with the responsible authority or operator.
Roads, access, and boundariesRoads, access, and boundaries
Road hierarchy, tracks, paths, railways, waterways, and boundaries provide general context. Their appearance may differ from a national topographic map, and a mapped connection does not establish a legal right of access. Private roads, seasonal gates, protected areas, local rules, and temporary closures require current local sources.
Why symbols and coverage varyWhy symbols and coverage vary
Thunderforest states that Outdoors is continuously updated from OpenStreetMap source material and through changes to its own map style. Its Outdoors vector-source documentation lists data families such as contours, hillshade, path properties, pistes, barriers, land use, natural features, routes, and points of interest. Whether a particular object appears depends on available source tags, rendering rules, and zoom.
When a feature matters to safety or route feasibility:
- Zoom in and read its full label and surrounding terrain.
- Check whether difficulty styling is actually present, rather than assuming a plain path is easy.
- Compare with the relevant national mapping authority or another authoritative regional map.
- Verify current access, closures, weather, trail, snow, and facility conditions.
Thunderforest's story behind Outdoors gives more background on the map's design. Because the style evolves, recent live map behaviour is more reliable than an old screenshot or unofficial legend.