Where (retail store) can I buy USGS topo maps?

[Mitch]

I use the NatGeo TOPO! software mentioned above. Good for some things, but frankly the Tom Harrison maps are the best for backpackers. All the detail of a USGS map, cleaner and easier to read, better emphasis on trails, with mileages (though unmaintained trails are often left off). Plus they are plastic sheets instead of paper.

REI rarely if ever has paper USGS maps but they usually have a good supply of Tom Harrison maps.

[edgerly779]

Holloway in Albuquerque. TYhey print it out while you wait. Or order online

[Tanner68]

Try CalTopo.com if you don't find a retail source.

[echo1]

I use the NatGeo TOPO! software mentioned above. Good for some things, but frankly the Tom Harrison maps are the best for backpackers. All the detail of a USGS map, cleaner and easier to read, better emphasis on trails, with mileages (though unmaintained trails are often left off). Plus they are plastic sheets instead of paper.
REI rarely if ever has paper USGS maps but they usually have a good supply of Tom Harrison maps.

I've used the Harrison maps before and they are nice. REI also has the FS maps of the various wilderness areas that are most likely to be used. Map and compass, know how to use them. PAX

[Cummins_Powered]

REI is phasing out topos. 1:24000 are the best for hiking/backpacking, CP is wrong, you can never have too much detail, they are the best for any serious work, and especially useful if going off trail or searce and rescue/recovery. If you've got the ducats, Natgeo has a great topo program based on the 1:24 maps. It'll show you point to point, elevation gain or loss, and you can do a 3D overfly of the planned route. PAX

Notice how i said for me personally, they are not useful
But in any case, i disagree that 1:24000 are best for backpacking/hiking. Why would I want to carry around 4 different maps when I can sacrifice some detail (a very minor amount) and get a single map centered around the area I am hiking. One 1:24000 USGS map only covers an area roughly 4mi x 3mi. To me, that is not particularly useful...Just something for the OP to think about.



What do you mean phasing out topos? I cant imagine why they would do that, as one of the main groups they cater to, are the exact people who use topos over any electronic map/gps.

[Mitch]

What do you mean phasing out topos? I cant imagine why they would do that, as one of the main groups they cater to, are the exact people who use topos over any electronic map/gps.

It's a hassle for them to maintain an inventory of topos. Because topos are based on a simple grid of the state, they are less convenient for hikers who just want maps of a specific area. This is why the Tom Harrison and Forest Service maps are gaining more traction, and also why some stores will print you out a map of exactly what you need from the NatGeo TOPO! software.

These are examples of TOPO! output:





Back in the day, most mountain shops had an area in the store with a kiosk or other specialized set of shelves that held dozens of topos. Almost invariably, the quads you wanted were sold out, while the rest of the shelves were filled with useless quads of other areas. Buying the quads direct from the USGS seemed to make more sense, though I never did. Now I just use the Tom Harrison maps.

Edit: Apparently you can now download topos in PDF form from the USGS website: http://store.usgs.gov/ I just downloaded something called a "US Topo" map and while it's nice and clean and modern looking, it is lacking a lot of trails detail. Not sure whether the traditional topos are still available. Maybe the crappy maps are free and you have to pay for the good ones.

[omgwtfbbq]

Well I certainly neglected all the action in this thread this weekend. I did end up driving down to REI in Roseville to have a look. No I didn't call first because I didn't have anything going on this past Saturday so I wanted to hit other fun places down there and make an afternoon of it.

REI had the Natgeo topo maps and they were great quality, however, they don't have the area I'm looking for, or at least enough of it. I went on the Natgeo webstore when I got home and found they don't even offer a topo map of the area I want.

As I mentioned in the OP, I am just starting out trying to practice navigating with map and compass so I'm looking to get a map detailing an area I'm already quite familiar with; the Spenceville Wildlife Area. I can get around there easily without a map, so I figure it would be a safe place to practice shooting bearings, triangulating positions and such without major fears of getting lost.

I worked through the USGS site and actually found they have very current topo maps (2012) of the area so I'm just going to buy from them.

[Cummins_Powered]

It's a hassle for them to maintain an inventory of topos. Because topos are based on a simple grid of the state, they are less convenient for hikers who just want maps of a specific area. This is why the Tom Harrison and Forest Service maps are gaining more traction, and also why some stores will print you out a map of exactly what you need from the NatGeo TOPO! software.

These are examples of TOPO! output:





Back in the day, most mountain shops had an area in the store with a kiosk or other specialized set of shelves that held dozens of topos. Almost invariably, the quads you wanted were sold out, while the rest of the shelves were filled with useless quads of other areas. Buying the quads direct from the USGS seemed to make more sense, though I never did. Now I just use the Tom Harrison maps.

Edit: Apparently you can now download topos in PDF form from the USGS website: http://store.usgs.gov/ I just downloaded something called a "US Topo" map and while it's nice and clean and modern looking, it is lacking a lot of trails detail. Not sure whether the traditional topos are still available. Maybe the crappy maps are free and you have to pay for the good ones.

Ahh I see, My confusion came from my "definition" of "topo" maps. To me I dont view them as a specific grid system (ie USGS 7.5' or 15' maps). I was using the term topo as a catch all for topographic maps in general.


I typically use the maps you referenced, based on a specific location such as Desolation Wilderness. They are much more convenient to me than the USGS quads. I reserve those for Geological Mapping


I recently purchased some standard USGS 7.5' maps from the USGS store, i think they were somewhere around 10 bucks each. It is a pain in the *** to navigate their storefront to order, but it was worth it for the maps i wanted.

Try CalTopo.com if you don't find a retail source.

huge plus one for this site. It is awesome, even has cool old maps from years gone by. Great site for printing random last minute maps of areas you might be visiting

[omgwtfbbq]

I recently purchased some standard USGS 7.5' maps from the USGS store, i think they were somewhere around 10 bucks each. It is a pain in the *** to navigate their storefront to order, but it was worth it for the maps i wanted.

Their site in general is very poorly designed. Probably the same cats who went on to do healthcare.gov if you know what I mean.

The prices for USGS maps vary by how recently they were published. The older ones (say between 30 and 15 years ago) are between 8 and 10 bucks. The ones I'm looking at getting are only 2 years old so they are 15 bucks each.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Well, this thread is over a month old and I just found it. I'll chime in with a few things I like.

First, I do land navigation regularly. I HATE and detest GPS, but that's just me and I know it does serve a purpose. I prefer the USGS 7.5 minute angle quads. In SoCal, there is a map store near Angel's stadium that sells all of the USGS topo maps. It's called "Pacific West Maps." (Formerly called "Allied Services."). Unfortunately, when I was in there last week, the guy that runs the place said they are probably shutting their doors permanently within weeks. The place has been there for over 35 years! Right now, the Boy Scouts of America run the place and it's staffed by volunteers only. Finding the volunteers to put in the time at the store is what's killing the place. They have no volunteers.

So, if there's a topo you want, get it NOW from that place. Also, they're not open like they used to be. You have to call them and catch them at the right time. Leave a message and they'll call you back, but it might take a day or two.

Second, the USGS is no longer printing the full size 7.5 quad maps. This is why going to a computer program of some sort is best. One idea is to use mytopo.com as already suggested by someone. It's great and you can customize the map and then have it mailed to your door step. Another option is to put the map you want on a thumb drive. Then take the thumb drive to a print shop and have them print it out on large sized paper. I agree that the USGS map "service" website is a complete joke and hassle. Typical government run crap, in my humble opinion. Thank God for mytopo.com.

Third, someone here mentioned "Silva" compasses. May I suggest you NEVER EVER buy a Silva that's sold in North America! The Silva's sold in the USA and Canada now are NOT the famed (quality) "Silvas" that are manufactured in Sweden, by "Silva Sweden AB." The USA sold Silvia's are all garbage and made in Indonesia, by a company called "Johnson" or "Johnson Outdoors" for the newer models. Trust me, they are crap and bottom of the barrel compasses. Perhaps for a Girl Scout training thing, they're "okay," but I'd never trust my life with one. I've compared three side-by-side model Silvas (not the Swedish ones) and all three were off with an average compass error of a whooping 6 degrees!!!! That's crap for land nav!

If you want a great compass brand for land nav and at a descent price, go with Suunto, made in Finland. They are much better than Silvas sold in North America. Suunto is quality and affordability. You can find Suunto in REI but on the web, you'll find a better selection of models, like everything else these days.

Another excellent compass is the U.S. Army issued "Cammenga" 3H (Tritium) or 27 (phosphorescent) models. Tough rugged compasses, but make sure you buy an original "Cammenga."

Finally, if you want the Rolex of compasses with accuracy down to 1/2 of a degree, get the Brunton. They have three models to choose from between $300-700 range. They are designed for serious professionals and land wilderness surveyors. Many professional geologists and cartographers use them in addition to other instruments. I have one and love it because it's a precision mechanical instrument that also looks gorgeous. Again though, the Suunto is a quality and AFFORDABLE compass that you can trust. Suunto is night and day compared to Johnson Outdoors cheap Silvas. I can't stress enough how bad those Silvia's are for a serious land nav guru.

I have this one, among several quality compasses in my collection....

http://www.brunton.com/pages/navigation

[echo1]

What do you mean phasing out topos? I cant imagine why they would do that, as one of the main groups they cater to, are the exact people who use topos over any electronic map/gps.

Sorry, I meant USGS 7.5 maps. PAX

[milotrain]

Not to drag this up but I just had a similar experience. I grew up with the quadrangle maps from the USGS, but I've been out of the woods loop for maybe 10 years. Now I find that REI (and everyone else) has given up carrying those maps. It makes me really old man grouchy.

So the other week I went camping and I took a GPS. I hated it. There were some useful features, which I appreciate in first trip aspects, but overall I hate it. It completely dissolves the emancipation that is pathfinding. F u c k that.

USGS lets you download the maps. HP makes large format printers off the roll and ebay has them for pennies. Download what you need print what you want, ziploc bag and done.