Maps

Reviewed by Bill S

If you are contemplating thru-hiking the John Muir Trail (or any section of it), this John Muir Trail Topographic Map Guide does an excellent job of gathering all the needed information for planning, plus having detailed maps of the entire trail and surrounding terrain.

Comparison of size of National Geographic Yosemite map with the John Muir Trail Topographic Map Guide (USGS 1:250,000 map in background) Background: I have to confess up front that, despite having hiked and climbed on all seven continents, including fairly extended expeditions (both time and distance), and having lived in California for a total of roughly 50 years (minus short sojourns in Massachusetts and Mississippi), I have not thru-hiked the entire length of the John Muir Trail, although I have hiked major portions.

Read more: National Geographic John Muir Trail Topographic Map Guide review (1)

Reviewed by Steverod

This is a set of maps for Garmin GPS units that's also usable with Garmin's (free) BaseCamp trip planning software (BaseCamp runs on both Mac and Windows). If you don't have a Garmin GPS, you are NOT interested in this software (I suppose you could use it just for trip planning on your computer, but it would be awfully expensive relative to the competition). These maps offer detail "similar to" a USGS 24K (7.5 minute) map for your GPS. My review summary is: I'm glad I got these maps; they have been very useful and fun for me, because I do advance trip planning on my computer, because I use my hiking GPS for driving as well, and because I really only go hiking/driving to remote trailheads in California.

Read more: Garmin Topo US 24K West review (1)

Featured review by KiwiKlimber

A hardy map that can withstand punishment and inspire exploration. The Purple Lizard Rothrock State Forest map thoroughly covers the forest, as well as areas north and south of the forest boundaries. Best for folks living in or looking to explore Central Pennsylvania, or for people who really like maps, I suppose.

Usage:I own other Purple Lizard maps, but this one gets the most use, as the Rothrock State Forest and surrounding areas are pretty easy to explore via hiking, camping, biking, hunting, and fishing. The double-sided map covers the entirety of the mountainous Rothrock State Forest and its many trails, and also includes: Five nearby natural areas (Bear Meadows, Detweiler Run, Alan Seeger, Rocky Ridge, and Little Juniata) Two state parks (Whipple Dam and Greenwood Furnace) PA State Game Lands, including their specific ID number (very helpful).

Read more: Purple Lizard Maps Rothrock State Forest Trail Map reviews (2)

Featured review by OldCodgerMe

Topo map GPS navigation program for Android phones. Download maps in advance from various map sources, or custom source and use them in realtime on your phone while you hike. Add points-of-interest, waypoints. Log your actual routes, save and share them. Excellent product with a somewhat non-intuitive user interface, recommended for backcountry hikers.

The Backcountry Navigator program for Android has been a really useful tool for me, which is why I thought I'd share my experience with it.  It is by no means perfect, nor does it have as much raw capability as the best dedicated Nav devices.  But for the dayhiker, the dogwalker, and the casual weekend backpacker, it might be exactly what you need. The Backcountry Navigator program is cheap, and effective.  It is available through the Google Play store, or at the Amazon app store.  There's a free trial version, but the full version is about $10 at https://play.google.com/store/search?q=backcountry+navigator  Various map sources are available free, and there are also premium map sources available for an extra fee.  I've been using the...

Read more: CritterMap Backcountry Navigator for Android reviews (2)

Reviewed by FromSagetoSnow

The best, most feature-packed map I have used yet.

I thought maybe I wouldn't review this because I used it in optimal weather and not an epic but I want to spread the word about it to potential Rainier climbers. This map shows the three most common routes on Rainier (DC, Emmonds,Kautz) and gives compass bearings to recognizable landmarks (magnetic and declination) to assist you in navigating home in a whiteout.  It also provides GPS coordinates in two different formats for finding the same. The map also shows close ups of the hike to Muir, Hazard and Schumann as well as the sections from each camp to summit.  The general routes are all marked on the map.  It is obvious that a lot of thought went into this map.

Read more: Carin Mountain Company Mount Rainier Guide Reference Map review (1)

Reviewed by Mike Mineart

The is a great, extremely light, pocket atlas/set of maps for doing the John Muir Trail.

I picked up Erik the Black's Ultralight trail guide for the JMT last summer for use on a couple of section hikes I was doing. The trail guide is only about 2.5 oz, very thin, and about the same dimensions as most paperback books available now days. Each of the maps in the guide include an elevation profile, information on camp and water locations along with a variety of other information useful during your hike of the JMT. This really is a great set of maps and a competent hiker with average navigation skills will find this is all they need for the JMT.

Read more: Blackwoods Press John Muir Trail Pocket Atlas review (1)

Reviewed by Bentbrook

For day hikers and thru-hikers who want a quick reference guide to a trail that doesn’t skimp on information, doesn't require electricity, and which only adds negligible weight (.18 oz/5 g), AntiGravityGear’s Pocket Profile is an aptly named resource worth both the weight and the cost (USD $3.95)!

AntiGravityGear produces a number of useful little publications called Pocket Profiles. Among their Pocket Profile titles are releases for the Appalachian Trail (22 different sections/profiles), the Benton MacKaye Trail, the Art Loeb Trail, the John Muir Trail, and the Foothills Trail. The last is the one I purchased and used during my thru-hike of the Foothills Trail in June of 2019. A Pocket Profile contains a plethora of information. In the case of the Foothills Trail Pocket Profile, AntiGravityGear claims to provide the following: “The entire 76.2 miles of the Foothills Trail at a glance!  Weighing in at just 4 grams, this water-proof, durable map features a Foothills Trail map on one side and an elevation profile with altitudes and...

Read more: AntiGravityGear Foothills Trail Pocket Profile review (1)

Reviewed by Dave MacLeay

If you’ve done much hiking in the Northeast, you’re probably familiar with the Appalachian Mountain Club’s guidebooks. The venerable White Mountain Guide – continuously published for 100 years and now in its 28th edition – is the standard reference for hiking in New Hampshire’s high peaks. For the centennial edition, the AMC has added an online companion guide that pulls from, and even improves upon, the original. The centerpiece of the White Mountain Guide Online is an interactive trail map that allows users to explore more than 500 trails in the White Mountain National Forest and nearby areas.

The White Mountain Guide Online interface. Using the old paper guide, planning a trip that links more than one or two trails often requires flipping back and forth between several different pages to keep track of mileage, trail descriptions, etc. With the online guide, you can create a route by selecting trail segments from the map. Relevant trail descriptions are then displayed in the proper order and with mileage, elevation gain/loss, and “book time” automatically calculated. Points of interest and trail junctions are all clearly laid out.

Read more: Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide Online review (1)

Reviewed by KiwiKlimber

A map that covers a somewhat overlooked, underexplored, and fairly large area in Central Pennsylvania (Bald Eagle State Forest). The map, in its typical Purple Lizard fashion, is super-durable and could serve as an emergency umbrella if necessary (only half joking...it is waterproof though). Best for those living in or exploring Central Pennsylvania or for map-junkies.

Usage:Admittedly, like many in Central Pennsylvania, I’ve explored many of the trails covered by the popular Purple Lizard Rothrock State Forest map more, but this map has almost single-handedly led me to explore the often-overlooked Bald Eagle State Forest. I think a good map can draw a reader to the locale it highlights, and that’s exactly what has happened several times with this map. Map Material:The map is made of a thin plastic-like material that folds well. It is not paper coated in plastic, but rather fully plastic itself.

Read more: Purple Lizard Maps Bald Eagle State Forest Map review (1)

Reviewed by Roger Reynolds

The Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer is an indispensable tool for the outdoors person when planning their next excursion. It is chock full of places to go for every type of outdoor activity, from where to camp including amenities at the campgrounds, places of interest for sightseeing, places to hunt and fish, and even includes species of interest, along with many other types of information.

If you have not heard of it the Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer is an indispensable tool for the outdoors person when planning an outing! It is chock full of places to go for every type of outdoor activity, from where to camp including amenities at the campgrounds, places of interest for site seeing, places to hunt and fish including species of interest, whether or not there are boat ramps and types of motors and horse power allowed. There is just too much to mention here. You have to thumb through one yourself to see all the info that it has to offer.

Read more: DeLorme State Atlas & Gazetteer review (1)