General route finding advice...mapping software?

[Christophe Noel]

What does everyone use for mapping software relative to finding ideal overland routes. I have a general idea of where I want to go, but how do you guys find the exact routes?

For example, I'd like to connect Buena Vista, Colorado to Durango, Colorado by way of Jeep roads. Is there a source that provides really clear and easy to read maps containing such roads?

Do you guys use a mix of guide books, maps, mapping software and advice from forums?

 

[ntsqd]

I use map books (DeLorme mostly), Maps (AAA, USGS, BLM), route/guide books, and memory if I've been in the area. I have 2 GPS', but for the most part I use those to tell me where I've been, not where I'm going.

 

[jh504]

I have done a lot of searching for resources about jeep roads and that sort of thing, since being here on the East Coast it is harder to find good backcountry driving trails. The best scource that I have found for trails around here is the US Forest Service. You can get USFS topo maps direct from them. Another way would be through the fire service. Wildland firefighters have to know every backroad and jeep trail out there.
if you use GPS much, try ExpertGPS. It will allow you to view topo maps and arial photos and then draw your own routes and tracks over the trails on the map. Then you just export your tracks to your GPS.

 

[jcbrandon]

Topo!

I've always liked the 7.5 minute topo maps from the USGS. I've got bins full of the paper versions that I've been collecting for almost 30 years.

Much more usable, accessible, and affordable are the digital versions of those same maps, Topo! from National Geographic. Pick a rough route then drill down to the 7.5 minute scale to plan the exact route. Compare to Google Earth if you like, then upload your routes to your GPS. You can create custom versions of topo maps for specific trips. And you can print them on water resistant paper. Most excellent.

 

[rambrush]

I use Delorme Topo 7, it is a 1:24 format and works good for my purposes

 

[paulj]

Curiously I drove Durango to Buena Vista some 20 years ago using only a AAA state map, plus some local info I picked up in Silverton.

I took the main road to Silverton, after deciding that the famous train did not fit our plans. Based on local trail guides I headed up to Animas Forks intending to take Engineer Pass. Snow on the north side (mid October) blocked the way, so I drove to Ouray. After a night at Gunnison Nat Park, I took Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista.

For a single state wide view, the 'Recreational Map of Colorado' (and other states) is pretty good. I have DeLourme or Benchmark atlases for states that I spend more time in.

My favorite online resource is Google Maps, flipping between map, satellite, and terrain modes depending on what info I need.

It is also wise to look up trail descriptions, forest service 'current conditions' web pages, and local ranger stations. The tougher (and higher) the trail, the more likely that snow and local weather will make it impassible.

When I drove through the San Juans several years ago, the remnants of tropical storm soaked them for a day. I dropped all my plans to take the backroads, and stuck to the paved route from Telluride to Ouray to Silverton and Durango.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

USGS maps are great but they have very clear limitations.

Many of the 24k maps are 20 and 30 years old, trails can disappear, re-route or be constructed in that time. Along with that goes the legality of said routes. USGS maps including computer versions such as TOPO!, AllTope, Delorme, MapSource, etc show all routes, with little indication or coding to allow users to determine if they are a legal and open route. Using these maps as your sole source of info can be both naive and a poor outdoor ethic. A growing number of Forest Service and BLM website (with more and more coming out) have approved Motorized Travel Management Plan Maps available on their websites, some better than others, some difficult to decypher and navigate, but they will help you connect the dots with your 24k USGS maps. A little bit of research ahead of time can avoid route disasters on the trail and placing you in a precarious legal situation on a closed route.

For my route planning I combine the following:
USGS mapping software or paper maps
BLM/FS maps
Trail Guides, articles, etc
Google Earth
Seat of the pants

 

[JIMBO]

:rappel: I'm just an old California boy and thats where I do all my exploring

I use the:
Northern California Atlas & Gazetteer

Northern California "Back Country" Adventures

USGS 7 minute topo maps

AND FINALLY, I GOOGLE MAP "ZOOM" and make copies of the area I'm interested IN

The USGS maps are sometimes over 12 years old, along with the above books and GOOGLE MAPS, are usually less than a year old and they show NEW logging, or reroutes that aren't on PAPER


:camping: :camping: JIMBO

 

[Roktoys84]

USGS maps are great but they have very clear limitations.

Many of the 24k maps are 20 and 30 years old, trails can disappear, re-route or be constructed in that time. Along with that goes the legality of said routes. USGS maps including computer versions such as TOPO!, AllTope, Delorme, MapSource, etc show all routes, with little indication or coding to allow users to determine if they are a legal and open route. Using these maps as your sole source of info can be both naive and a poor outdoor ethic. A growing number of Forest Service and BLM website (with more and more coming out) have approved Motorized Travel Management Plan Maps available on their websites, some better than others, some difficult to decypher and navigate, but they will help you connect the dots with your 24k USGS maps. A little bit of research ahead of time can avoid route disasters on the trail and placing you in a precarious legal situation on a closed route.

For my route planning I combine the following:
USGS mapping software or paper maps
BLM/FS maps
Trail Guides, articles, etc
Google Earth
Seat of the pants

Do you have any links? I'm looking for more info on open/closed roads in Utah.

 

[xtfritz]

For my South America trip I'm planning, so far I've used ITMB maps per country since they display Tracks and Trails (seasonal tracks). This has been fantastic in planning the journey from a 4 wheel drive standpoint since we'd rather make the route challenging and see the real back country over taking the proverbial interstate or even primary paved roads. Once I've decided and noted down my route choices, I go into GoogleEarth and try to layout paths and measure them to compare against what I'm seeing on my paper versions. Sometimes the roads disappear (on satellite) other times its been paved. Nice to 'see' in advance.

By combing both data, I've been putting everything into an Excel spreadsheet to keep a central database of notes, critical waypoints, destination names and bearings, etc. My idea is to have the ultimate 'notebook' of compiled data plus maps plus google earth for when we actually hit the trail. In-country I hope to get some topo maps but some countries consider these as near state-secrets.

Cheers