diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5d11de82..6b9be030 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -19,3 +19,4 @@ venv/
 platformio.local.ini
 CODE_REVIEW.md
 tools/pngs/
+tools/gpx/
diff --git a/docs/solo_features/tools_screen/tools_screen.md b/docs/solo_features/tools_screen/tools_screen.md
index daef1aa4..f80c23dc 100644
--- a/docs/solo_features/tools_screen/tools_screen.md
+++ b/docs/solo_features/tools_screen/tools_screen.md
@@ -100,13 +100,20 @@ Cycle views with **LEFT / RIGHT**:
 
 ### Downloading GPX
 
-1. Connect the device via USB cable
-2. Open a serial terminal at **115200 baud**:
-   - **macOS/Linux** — `cat /dev/tty.usbmodem* > track.gpx` (stop with Ctrl-C after dump completes)
-   - **Windows** — PuTTY (Serial, 115200) or Arduino IDE Serial Monitor (no line ending)
-3. On the device: **Tools › Trail** → **Hold Enter** → **Export (live)** or **Export (saved)**
-4. The device streams a GPX 1.1 XML document. Save the output from `<?xml` to `</gpx>` as a `.gpx` file
-5. Import into OsmAnd, Garmin BaseCamp, GPX Studio, Google Earth, etc.
+**Recommended — `tools/trail_export.py`** (auto-detects the port, captures from `<?xml` to `</gpx>`, writes a timestamped file under `tools/gpx/`):
+
+```sh
+uv run tools/trail_export.py
+```
+
+Then on the device: **Tools › Trail** → **Hold Enter** → **Export (live)** or **Export (saved)**.
+
+**Manual fallback** — open a serial terminal at **115200 baud** and capture the stream by hand:
+
+- **macOS/Linux** — `cat /dev/tty.usbmodem* > track.gpx` (stop with Ctrl-C after the dump finishes)
+- **Windows** — PuTTY (Serial, 115200) or Arduino IDE Serial Monitor with no line ending; copy the text from `<?xml` to `</gpx>` into a `.gpx` file
+
+Either way, the resulting file imports into OsmAnd, Garmin BaseCamp, GPX Studio, Google Earth, etc.
 
 > [!NOTE]
 > If the companion app is connected via **BLE**, the export is safe — BLE and USB operate independently. If connected via **USB**, disconnect the app before exporting.
diff --git a/tools/trail_export.py b/tools/trail_export.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..78ce8144
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/trail_export.py
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Capture a GPX track from a Wio L1 Tracker (Solo firmware) over USB serial.
+
+Usage:
+    uv run tools/trail_export.py [--port PORT] [--out OUT]
+
+The device prints raw GPX 1.1 XML to the USB-CDC serial port when the user
+selects Tools › Trail › Hold Enter › Export (live) or Export (saved).
+This script waits for the `<?xml` start, captures bytes until `</gpx>`,
+and writes them to a timestamped file in `tools/gpx/`.
+
+> Tip: disconnect the companion app first if you are using it over USB —
+> the raw GPX stream will otherwise look like garbage frames to the app.
+> If the app is connected over BLE the export is safe; USB receive is
+> ignored while BLE is connected.
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import sys
+import time
+from datetime import datetime
+
+import serial
+import serial.tools.list_ports
+
+GPX_START = b"<?xml"
+GPX_END   = b"</gpx>"
+DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_S = 30
+
+
+def parse_args():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Capture a GPX trail dump from the Wio Tracker L1 over USB serial"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument("--port", "-p", help="Serial port (default: auto-detect)")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--out", "-o",
+        help="Output file path (default: tools/gpx/trail_<timestamp>.gpx)",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--timeout", "-t", type=int, default=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_S,
+        help=f"Seconds to wait for the GPX header before giving up (default: {DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_S})",
+    )
+    return parser.parse_args()
+
+
+def find_wio_port():
+    """Look for a Wio/Seeed CDC interface; fall back to a generic ACM/COM port."""
+    ports = serial.tools.list_ports.comports()
+    for port in ports:
+        desc = str(port.description).lower()
+        if "wio" in desc or "seeed" in desc:
+            return port.device
+    for port in ports:
+        if "ACM" in port.device or port.device.startswith("COM"):
+            return port.device
+    return None
+
+
+def default_out_path():
+    os.makedirs("tools/gpx", exist_ok=True)
+    stamp = datetime.now().strftime("trail_%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S.gpx")
+    return os.path.join("tools/gpx", stamp)
+
+
+def wait_for_header(ser, timeout_s):
+    """Drain bytes until we see the GPX start marker. Returns the buffered
+    chunk that *includes* `<?xml` (or None on timeout)."""
+    deadline = time.time() + timeout_s
+    window = bytearray()
+    while time.time() < deadline:
+        chunk = ser.read(256)
+        if chunk:
+            window += chunk
+            idx = window.find(GPX_START)
+            if idx >= 0:
+                return bytes(window[idx:])
+            # Keep only the last len(GPX_START) - 1 bytes — anything earlier
+            # cannot be the start of a marker we haven't matched yet.
+            if len(window) > len(GPX_START):
+                window = bytearray(window[-(len(GPX_START)):])
+        else:
+            # short idle — keep waiting
+            time.sleep(0.01)
+    return None
+
+
+def stream_until_footer(ser, initial, out_file):
+    """Write bytes to out_file until we see `</gpx>`. Returns total written."""
+    total = 0
+    out_file.write(initial)
+    total += len(initial)
+    print(f"Receiving... ({total} B)", end="", flush=True)
+
+    # Sliding tail keeps us from missing a marker split across reads.
+    tail_keep = len(GPX_END)
+    tail = bytearray(initial[-tail_keep:])
+    if GPX_END in tail:
+        idx = bytes(tail).find(GPX_END)
+        # already complete (unlikely on first chunk, but be safe)
+        return total
+
+    last_report = total
+    while True:
+        chunk = ser.read(256)
+        if not chunk:
+            # Device went quiet — bail rather than hang forever
+            if total > last_report:
+                print(f"\rReceived {total} B (device idle)        ")
+            else:
+                print("\nDevice went quiet before </gpx> — partial file kept.")
+            return total
+        out_file.write(chunk)
+        total += len(chunk)
+        tail += chunk
+        if len(tail) > tail_keep * 4:
+            tail = bytearray(tail[-tail_keep * 4:])
+        if GPX_END in tail:
+            return total
+        if total - last_report >= 1024:
+            print(f"\rReceiving... ({total} B)", end="", flush=True)
+            last_report = total
+
+
+def main():
+    args = parse_args()
+
+    port = args.port or find_wio_port()
+    if not port:
+        print("Error: no serial port found.")
+        print("\nAvailable ports:")
+        for p in serial.tools.list_ports.comports():
+            print(f"  {p.device}: {p.description}")
+        port = input("\nEnter serial port manually: ").strip()
+        if not port:
+            sys.exit(1)
+
+    out_path = args.out or default_out_path()
+
+    print(f"Connecting to {port} at 115200 baud...")
+    try:
+        ser = serial.Serial(port, 115200, timeout=0.2)
+    except serial.SerialException as e:
+        print(f"Error opening serial port: {e}")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    print("Connected.")
+    print()
+    print("On the device: Tools › Trail › Hold Enter ›")
+    print("    Export (live)   — current RAM trail")
+    print("    Export (saved)  — /trail file from flash")
+    print()
+    print(f"Waiting for GPX stream (up to {args.timeout}s)...")
+
+    initial = wait_for_header(ser, args.timeout)
+    if initial is None:
+        print(f"Timed out after {args.timeout}s — no <?xml seen.")
+        ser.close()
+        sys.exit(2)
+
+    with open(out_path, "wb") as f:
+        total = stream_until_footer(ser, initial, f)
+
+    ser.close()
+    print(f"\nSaved {total} bytes to {out_path}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()