Maps, Maps, Maps & More Maps!!!!!

Dazed N Confused · 04-23-2003, 10:30 AM

I am looking for a good source for detailed maps of the western states (for starters) that show minute off road detail.
What I have now are the Gazetteers and state maps by GTR Mapping called Topographic Recreation Map Of _____.
Both of these maps are good but....
The Gazetters are huge and have some detail but don't show enough detail, I want more off road/ fire road detail.
The recreation maps are a good size to fold up in the tank bag map holder but don't show enough detail for fire roads. These maps ARE the best I've found for their size for pavement riding/ touring.
The alternative seems to be 7.5 & 15 minute topos but you end up needing stacks of them to cover the area you need.
I have seen National Geographics software that you can use to down load maps to a GPS, but I am looking at that as my last option.
From what I've seen shopping around, my expectations may be unrealistic.
I know somebody out there has the answer....bring it on!

Bodwick · 04-23-2003, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Said Dazed N Confused:

The alternative seems to be 7.5 & 15 minute topos but you end up needing stacks of them to cover the area you need.

It sounds like your looking for the sort of detail a road book would offer loaded with your above mentioned maps. You can keep your larger scale map for an overview as you go.

Dazed N Confused · 04-23-2003, 10:46 AM

The key is that I am trying to NOT load up on a shit load of books!:):

Infracaninophile · 04-23-2003, 12:55 PM

Dazed:

I know you said "map" which implies printed material, but for the kind of stuff you're describing I depend on the Garmin Roads and Recs Mapsource stuff which I download to the GPS.

Example: I live in Colorado Springs, CO. We have, let me guess, about 4 billion forest service roads, old mines, trails, etc.. in these parts. Roads and Recs seems to really have almost all of these. And, downloaded quickly (county by county) into a GPS it makes it easy to get lost and find new stuff. On either a DS bike or my Jeep I routinely just head off into the mountains to explore and use the GPS to determine "does this road go anywhere..". The downside is that you can't hold these in your hand. In a Jeep, you could bring a laptop and skip the GPS.

I also use the Gazeteer's from Delorme which I think are pretty detailed. Colorado also has several other similar items with about the same detail. As you mentioned, going to the printed "Quad" maps is too bulky and expensive.

My .02.

Tom

RedMenace · 04-23-2003, 06:24 PM

large portions of the West are covered in detail by USFS and BLM maps. Check the BLM and FS office near you or go on line and check the region you are interested in.
Delorme TOPO USA is pretty good.
Pitmans County maps are good if you can still find them(used to be in every gas station and convenience store you stopped at, now mostly supplanted by really lame Rand McNally and King of the Road brands and other crappy maps of that ilk).

Asshat · 02-27-2005, 10:53 AM

Topo! on CD is pretty good.....plot trips, print to waterproof paper or dload to GPS....best price i found was $69

paper.....

or you can pay yearly for access nationally....good deal if you travel longer distances......

http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/

regards,
terry

toyhauler · 02-27-2005, 12:05 PM

I agree that a GPS is one of the best sources of this type of information. The Garmin "Roads and Recreation" mapset is good and the "Topo" maps provide graphic relief detail. I also have a Delorme Colorado Atlas and Gazatteer, Topo Maps of the Entire State, which provides similiar detail as the GPS, in printed form. The atlas is a little big to carry on the bike though.

Will · 02-27-2005, 05:38 PM

Take a look at these: http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/

I use the gazetteer. Open the map to the middle and cut along the staples, so each page is individual. Then take it to Kinkos and tell them to put a spiral binding on it, but only the ends. Leave the middle un-bound. Then I put the map in an atlas case from Cycocactive ( http://cycoactive.com/mc/at1.html ) onto which I sewed four "D" rings. Folded in half, it's easily attached to the tank bag and has all the detail I could want. Pictures available, PM me with an email address if you want to see.

W.

04-23-2003, 10:30 AM	#1
Dazed N Confused Who? Me? Joined: Mar 2003 Location: Salt Lake City Oddometer: 172	Maps, Maps, Maps & More Maps!!!!! I am looking for a good source for detailed maps of the western states (for starters) that show minute off road detail. What I have now are the Gazetteers and state maps by GTR Mapping called Topographic Recreation Map Of _____. Both of these maps are good but.... The Gazetters are huge and have some detail but don't show enough detail, I want more off road/ fire road detail. The recreation maps are a good size to fold up in the tank bag map holder but don't show enough detail for fire roads. These maps ARE the best I've found for their size for pavement riding/ touring. The alternative seems to be 7.5 & 15 minute topos but you end up needing stacks of them to cover the area you need. I have seen National Geographics software that you can use to down load maps to a GPS, but I am looking at that as my last option. From what I've seen shopping around, my expectations may be unrealistic. I know somebody out there has the answer....bring it on! __________________ 2003 F650 GS Dakar 2003 K 1200 GT

04-23-2003, 10:46 AM	#3
Dazed N Confused Who? Me? Joined: Mar 2003 Location: Salt Lake City Oddometer: 172	Bodwick: The key is that I am trying to NOT load up on a shit load of books!:): __________________ 2003 F650 GS Dakar 2003 K 1200 GT

04-23-2003, 12:55 PM	#4
Infracaninophile Simplifying My Life $Infracaninophile's Avatar$ Joined: Sep 2001 Location: Colorado, USA Oddometer: 4,736	Garmin Roads & Rec? Dazed: I know you said "map" which implies printed material, but for the kind of stuff you're describing I depend on the Garmin Roads and Recs Mapsource stuff which I download to the GPS. Example: I live in Colorado Springs, CO. We have, let me guess, about 4 billion forest service roads, old mines, trails, etc.. in these parts. Roads and Recs seems to really have almost all of these. And, downloaded quickly (county by county) into a GPS it makes it easy to get lost and find new stuff. On either a DS bike or my Jeep I routinely just head off into the mountains to explore and use the GPS to determine "does this road go anywhere..". The downside is that you can't hold these in your hand. In a Jeep, you could bring a laptop and skip the GPS. I also use the Gazeteer's from Delorme which I think are pretty detailed. Colorado also has several other similar items with about the same detail. As you mentioned, going to the printed "Quad" maps is too bulky and expensive. My .02. Tom __________________ My 1993 R100GS thread is Here My 1981 R80 G/S thread is Here
$Infracaninophile is offline$

04-23-2003, 06:24 PM	#5
RedMenace Adventure Sidecar Joined: Dec 2001 Location: GoodLiver,Oregon,USA Oddometer: 3,561	large portions of the West are covered in detail by USFS and BLM maps. Check the BLM and FS office near you or go on line and check the region you are interested in. Delorme TOPO USA is pretty good. Pitmans County maps are good if you can still find them(used to be in every gas station and convenience store you stopped at, now mostly supplanted by really lame Rand McNally and King of the Road brands and other crappy maps of that ilk). __________________ the Red Menace http://adventuresidecar.com/ http://adventuresidecar.com/articles.htm "We tried giving tax breaks to corporations and to the rich .... they repaid us by stealing more money, sending our jobs overseas and asking for bailouts" Ice Walker

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02-27-2005, 10:53 AM	#6
Asshat ColdFinger in JoMoronLand Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Up Yer Ass Oddometer: 2,371	Topo! on CD is pretty good.....plot trips, print to waterproof paper or dload to GPS....best price i found was $69 paper..... or you can pay yearly for access nationally....good deal if you travel longer distances...... http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/ regards, terry

02-27-2005, 12:05 PM	#7
toyhauler Adventurer Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Denver Oddometer: 96	I agree that a GPS is one of the best sources of this type of information. The Garmin "Roads and Recreation" mapset is good and the "Topo" maps provide graphic relief detail. I also have a Delorme Colorado Atlas and Gazatteer, Topo Maps of the Entire State, which provides similiar detail as the GPS, in printed form. The atlas is a little big to carry on the bike though.

02-27-2005, 05:38 PM	#8
Will Carpe Moto. Joined: Sep 2001 Location: Forestville, CA Oddometer: 444	Take a look at these: http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/ I use the gazetteer. Open the map to the middle and cut along the staples, so each page is individual. Then take it to Kinkos and tell them to put a spiral binding on it, but only the ends. Leave the middle un-bound. Then I put the map in an atlas case from Cycocactive ( http://cycoactive.com/mc/at1.html ) onto which I sewed four "D" rings. Folded in half, it's easily attached to the tank bag and has all the detail I could want. Pictures available, PM me with an email address if you want to see. W.