Best Map

[theloneboot]

Has anyone found any particularly good maps?
I've got the Nat Geo, and the Park Service maps, plus topo maps I've produced on my own from my university's map library. But I just want to make sure there's not something better that I'm missing.

[fiddlehead]

USGS 7.5 minute maps.
Probably the best maps you'll find. (it would cost a small fortune to buy all of them to cover the AT)



I believe you can now download an equivalent into a handheld GPS though.

[FelixS13]

Here is what seems like a pretty good map online - http://www.fivemillionsteps.com/trailmap.php (Link thanks to Old Man River).

I bought the Trailhead Series of the Appalachian Trail on a microchip for my Garmin Oregon GPS for only $49. I have not been on the trail yet with the map but my other Garmin maps have been excellent.

[4eyedbuzzard]

For hiking purposes, I've found nothing better than the (Nat Geo) Trails Illustrated maps for the places they have maps available for.

[hayshaker170]

I have been using the AT conservancy maps. Nice profile map on the side. Seems to have all the info I need. They are about 8$ each. I usually need 3 of them for a weeks worth of hiking. They are also plastic coated to resist water.

[jimmyjam]

For the AT all you really need are AWOL's maps. Really.

[myakka_]

USGS 7.5 minute maps.
Probably the best maps you'll find. (it would cost a small fortune to buy all of them to cover the AT)
I believe you can now download an equivalent into a handheld GPS though.

Yes, you can also download them for free into your smart phone. I started a thread about a good program that uses them.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?102490-PDF-maps-by-Avenza

[Wise Old Owl]

I think you have it figured out.. just follow the blazes and when in doubt.. turn on the tracking of boot prints...

[rafe]

For hiking, I stick with the ATC maps. Although I have been known to hike with very old maps, and been bitten by it. An old map is still better than no map at all. I like doing business with the ATC -- I mean, stuff from the ATC store or with the AT logo on it.

[Odd Man Out]

This web site is also nice.

http://web.eecs.utk.edu/~dunigan/at/googleat.php?lat=45.88165&lon=-68.99569&scale=11

I use a Firefox browser and get these features. If you click on the iphone map link at the top center, you get a full screen map. Click the +Trail button on the top right to show the AT overlay. Shelters are already loaded. From the drop down menu in the top right you can select from a variety of Topo maps. US topo and CalTopo +Shaded are both very nice. You get different resolutions depending on how far you zoom in. By adjusting the size of the browser, the zoom on the map, and the scale on the print preview screen, you can generate any level of detail you want. Then print with a color printer on 8.5x11 paper. If you trim the margins slightly and fold in half, it fits in a quart sized ziplock bag. Print adjacent maps on opposite sides of the same sheet. Put all the sheets for you hike in the same baggie. When you hike off of one sheet, go to the next and use the first as fire starter.

[chinook]

This web site is also nice.

http://web.eecs.utk.edu/~dunigan/at/googleat.php?lat=45.88165&lon=-68.99569&scale=11

I use a Firefox browser and get these features. If you click on the iphone map link at the top center, you get a full screen map. Click the +Trail button on the top right to show the AT overlay. Shelters are already loaded. From the drop down menu in the top right you can select from a variety of Topo maps. US topo and CalTopo +Shaded are both very nice. You get different resolutions depending on how far you zoom in. By adjusting the size of the browser, the zoom on the map, and the scale on the print preview screen, you can generate any level of detail you want. Then print with a color printer on 8.5x11 paper. If you trim the margins slightly and fold in half, it fits in a quart sized ziplock bag. Print adjacent maps on opposite sides of the same sheet. Put all the sheets for you hike in the same baggie. When you hike off of one sheet, go to the next and use the first as fire starter.

this site is moving to http://tnlandforms.us/at

[LAF]

postholer maps (http://postholer.com) depending on where your at / what you're doing

[Odd Man Out]

this site is moving to http://tnlandforms.us/at


thanks - have updated my bookmark!

[Odlaw]

I believe you can now download an equivalent into a handheld GPS though.

Garmin has an AT map for the GPS, which is downloadable for $50. It will download to your GPS only, not to comptuer... If you Download Basecamp (free), hook the gps up to the computer, you can view GPS maps on the computer. You can add waypoints, lines and other things to the map and then print it.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/maps/on-the-trail-maps/trails/trailhead-series-appalachian-trail/prod91298.html (map is downloadable an $50)

http://www.garmin.com/en-US/shop/downloads/basecamp (basecamp is free)