Most Detailed Trail Map?

Questions about trails and campsites on the island.

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06apache06
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Most Detailed Trail Map?

Post by 06apache06 »

I'm looking for the most detailed map I can take with me in a canoe on our Isle Royale camping trip. I have the 1:50k, 2-sided, plastic coated map, but wonder if there's a 1:25K series. Saw that the Isle Royale Store has a US Geologicial Agency map for sale ($11), but not sure what the scale/detail is. Anyone have any advice?
johnhens
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Re: Most Detailed Trail Map?

Post by johnhens »

USGS quads 7.5 minute series (1:24, 000) are the most detailed maps I am aware of. I have made custom maps before using Topozone (have not done so in a while) if you need detail that crosses 2 quadrangles and don't want to carry 2 maps.
I have not bought a USGS quad in a while. It used to be you had to waterproof them, which also made them tear resistant with a product like Map seal.

I tried the link, you will have to copy and paste.

http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/map ... stopo=true
fishmonger
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Re: Most Detailed Trail Map?

Post by fishmonger »

I made some maps from screen shots of topo maps using photoshop (re-assemble the tiles of each screen onto a larger canvas to print at 300dpi). I usually print on 8x10 paper and use the pages I don't need any longer as fire starter or note paper. Color laser printed, they are weather resistant for one time use. The size you print determines the scale, I guess. I printed my Isle Royal maps in what is about 1:50,000 from original 7.5 minute maps, and it works fine. Got the entire island on 8 pages.

I've done this for many years, either from freely available USGS maps as TIF files or whate you can get to via various online tools. I mapped out my upcoming trip using this site, which loads my GPX route file and you can zoom in as needed. I recommend the myTopo overlay since the higher quality maps are screwed up for Isle Royale at this site. you can switch to satellite at any time with your own GPX overlay:

My route in October online map link
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Tampico
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Re: Most Detailed Trail Map?

Post by Tampico »

I'm not sure what johnhens was trying to link to above, but here is the most recent topographic map available from the USGS store. It was last updated in 1993.

The National Geographic topographic map is a good one, and it's pre-folded and waterproof. It was last updated in 2006.
fishmonger
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Re: Most Detailed Trail Map?

Post by fishmonger »

Tampico wrote:I'm not sure what johnhens was trying to link to above, but here is the most recent topographic map.

not sure what you were trying to link to, but this is what I get:
ISA Framework: java.lang.NullPointerException
Details: No details available
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Tampico
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Re: Most Detailed Trail Map?

Post by Tampico »

It worked yesterday. I got nothin'.
johnhens
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Re: Most Detailed Trail Map?

Post by johnhens »

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