Free Topo Maps

[GlennR]

I just discovered that US topo maps are available for free. Maybe it's common knowledge, but I didn't know.

They're free to download, and copyright free, so you can copy them too. I think you can use them with GPS's too.

The newest editions are digital, so you can remove extra details that you may not need, which helps with viewing.
The older editions are worth taking a lot at too because many of the trails that are on them are not on the newest editions. Staples will make B/W 20x30" copies for $2.40.

The link is in my sig-line.

[HardWorkingDog]

Wow, good find. They're USGS topo maps...who'da thunk?

[MrMac]

Yea, that pretty much gets you to the download site for all the USGS topographic maps in GeoPDF format, including ALL historical maps going back over 100 years!

If you want the DATA that supports the new USTopo image-based maps, most of that can be downloaded here:

http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/

It is a bit complex, but you should be able to figure it out.

More cool stuff will be released in the next few months.

[GlennR]

That's a cool link, but you're right it is a bit complex. It will take me a while to figure out how to use it. Hopefully it will allow me to make maps with varying boundaries, instead of the standard quadrangles.

I was ttrying to load some maps from the new digital layered quads onto a flashdrive, and realized that you can't download altered files without Acrobat 9 installed.

[GlennR]

Another link to maps info.http://nationalmap.gov/