USGS Maps Online (split: iPad GPS)

[rypett]

Originally Posted by surfgeek33

[from: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=6049]

Hey Jeffrey, can you share some sites that you can download maps/topos from? Thanks.

I'm not sure if this has gotten adequately answered, but in case not, I'll throw in my 2 cents...

For CA the complete place is atlas.ca.gov, its got everything but its not the most user friendly, and some of the "product" is fairly specific in its intended usage (i.e., for ArcGIS or other GIS packages).

For the rest of the US (and a considerably more user friendly) use the "Maplocator" at usgs.gov :

http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/maplocator/[...].do

I'm not sure if the link will work, but if it doesn't go to http://www.usgs.gov --> "Maps, Imagery, and Publications" --> "Download digital scans of topo maps" --> "Maplocator"

Hope that helps!
Ryan

[daveb]

It says USGS store...do you have to purchase the download? Or is it freeware?

[rypett]

Originally Posted by daveb

It says USGS store...do you have to purchase the download? Or is it freeware?

The downloads are free. The paper maps you have to pay for.

[jage]

Originally Posted by rypett

The downloads are free. The paper maps you have to pay for.

Is this a substitute for driving to my local BLM office (1 hr.) and buying paper BLM maps?

[rypett]

Originally Posted by jage

Is this a substitute for driving to my local BLM office (1 hr.) and buying paper BLM maps?

Certainly has been for me!

[rypett]

BTW...the maps from the USGS site come in two varieties, "Regular" and "Digital Map - Beta". If you're just going to print them the regular version should be just fine (smaller and easier to deal with). The "Digital Map" version has a lot of other capabilities (layers, georeferencing, etc) but is a much larger file.

Hope that helps.