Making an Outing Map

You MUST have a map when going on an outing!  

Step One - Who is the Land Manger

Figure out where you are going.  Who's property are you going to travel through or camp on?  Determine the land manger by looking at this map: Administrative Boundaries Map BLM National Data.

Step Two - Researching the Site

After determining who the land manger is, determine what the regulations are there.  

• Is camping allowed?

• Campfires?

• Parking Pass?

• Hiking Pass?

• Bear Canisters?

• Areas to avoid - avalanche, fires, floods? 

Start by researching the official web page for that area, determined by who the Land Manger is (Step One).

Look at other travel sites about the area 

• Pacific Northwest Trail Association

• AllTrails 

• Washington Trails Association 

Contact the Ranger.  They have information that no one else has.  

Step Three - What Area do you need a Map for

Determine where you are going to go.  

• How do you get there

• Where will you camp

• Emergency evac routes

Step Four - Finding a Map

There are many map options.  If  you just want to buy a map, you can head over the REI in Seattle and find a suitable map.  Metskers Maps is Seattle is another great option; if they don't have the map you need, they can make one for you. 

DIY Map

You can print out your own map.  This saves money, time and allows you to make the map you want in the scale you want.  Here are a few options:

• GPS Mapping App

  • AllTrails 

    • AllTrails is preferred app for traveling on trails

      • Best option for most Hikers and Backpackers

        • Great for day hiking on established trails

        • Extensive crowd-sourced suggested hiking routes and reviews

    • User Interface

      • Easy to use

      • Less expensive than other apps

    • Utility

      • Designed for Smart Route Making for hikers and bikers

        • Trails easily snap to trails

      • No Bearing support

        • Used to measure bearings from different points

        • Helpful if using a compass to travel off trail

      • No Lidar

        • Used to help visualize slope-angle imaging

    • Map Making

      • Paid version allows you to download offline maps for Smartphone or GPS

      • Supports creating and sharing routes and tracks

      • Limited selection of maps

        • No USGS map option

      • Easy to created custom maps

        • Save as PDF and share with everyone on outing - since everyone should have a map

  • CalTopo

    • Very popular app for Climbers and Search and Rescue

      • Excellent mapping feature for off trail expeditions and missions

      • Originally designed for Search and Rescue

    • User Interface

      • Difficult to use

      • “Snap To Trails” route creation available on website but NOT phone app

      • Complex two-tiered item storage system

    • Utility

      • Bearing support

        • Used to measure bearings from different points

        • Helpful if using a compass to travel off trail

      • Lidar

        • Used to help visualize slope-angle imaging

        • Supported in free version of app

      • Search and Rescue

        • Preferred mapping app

    • Map Making

      • MANY map options

      • Best printing features compared to other apps if trying to create something beyond a basic trail map

  • Gaia GPS

    • Great app for hiking and scrambling

      • Great balance between on-trail and off-trail support

    • User Interface

      • Easier to use than CalTopo

      • Simple item storage system for Waypoints, Routes & Tracks

      • Mountaineers membership gives you 1 year free

    • Utility

      • Bearing support

        • Used to measure bearings from different points

        • Helpful if using a compass to travel off trail

      • Lidar

        • Free version does NOT include Lidar

        • Used to help visualize slope-angle imaging

    • Map Making

      • Large selection of world wide maps

      • Decent printing features

• USGS 7.5 minute topo Maps - Formatted by National Geographics

  • These USGS maps are set up to be printed on 4 separate pages

  • Print out Pages, trim edges and tape them together

  • Great option when you need a map for a large area

USGS Maps - Formatted by National Geographics

Go to natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads

Scroll down to this tool:

Zoom in to the area you want a map of:

Click on Red Boxes to see download options: 

The Cover Page shows you how to arrange the following pages.

See how pages line up and overlap?

Now it's crafting time.

Print out your map sheets.  Make sure to save the legend with scale on at least one page - or cut it out and tape to a part of the map you don't need (such as area you won't visit or the back of map).

Assemble map, take care to carefully line it up.  Take your Time trimming and aligning the map.

Tape map sections together. 

For best results - first tape corners of map sections as you align the map, followed by taping the center of sections, areas between tape and so on, like you would stitch weld sheet metal.  This allows you to align your map with greater precision. 

If you like to mark your map with routes, launch and takeout points, campsites, etc. - do so now

Fold and place in map case of large freezer bag.