National geographic released free pdf quad maps

[DFBrews]

Nat geo has links to every quad map in the us downloadable in pdf format.


Eta they print on 5 standard printer pages per quad

http://www.natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads

[USMC88-93]

Nat geo has links to every quad map in the us downloadable in pdf format. http://www.natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads

The trouble is finding a large format color printer and the proper paper to print them on.

[DFBrews]

They print on standard printer paper in 5 sheets per quad I just got done printing some test ones and they are quite readable

[00tec]

Where's the "download all" button? Haha

[Zundfolge]

USGS has had their maps available for download for quite some time now.

http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/maplocator/(ctype=areaDetails&xcm=r3standardpitrex_prd&carea=%24ROOT&layout=6_1_61_48&uiarea=2)/.do

Company I work for prints them and sells them $9 for regular paper, $15 on waterproof paper.
MacVan Maps
1045 Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs
(719) 633-5757
(800) 473-6277

[Erni]

Man, these maps are old, my whole block is mussing.

[DFBrews]

Man, these maps are old, my whole block is mussing.


But is the topography the same !?!

[Erni]

Not sure. Once they elevated the new roads, added the golf course, it's kind off hard to tell.

[roberth]

Thank you DFBrews - I've already started downloading.


Where's the "download all" button? Haha

Exactly.

[ray1970]

What's a quad map?

[USMC88-93]

They print on standard printer paper in 5 sheets per quad I just got done printing some test ones and they are quite readable

So you can not print the Quads on one single large format sheet?

[roberth]

What's a quad map?

A map of all the places you can take a quad.

[ray1970]

A map of all the places you can take a quad.

Lol. See. That's what I was thinking.

[DFBrews]

So you can not print the Quads on one single large format sheet?

i believe if you use the link zund provided then you can get the full size maps we are used to with a standard topo map

I linked this one because it is specifically formatted for standard printers.

[Zundfolge]

So you can not print the Quads on one single large format sheet?
Not with the ones on the National Geographic site, but the ones on the USGS site are on one sheet.

The USGS site also has lots of versions of each map. Old versions often have some things that the new ones don't (like private property markings and some trails).
Also the newest quads are proper multi layer vector PDF files and they turn off the township and range layer for some foolish reason.
Also also, the newer quads contain shaded relief and aerial photography layers that are shut off by default (which are pretty, but not all that useful).
Also also also you might need to flatten them before plotting them, that aerial photo layer caused our RIP to crash so I delete them, flatten them and color correct them before printing).


i believe if you use the link zund provided then you can get the full size maps we are used to with a standard topo map

I linked this one because it is specifically formatted for standard printers.
They do not maintain proper 1:24,000 scale. So that you can not use a proper field compass and scale/protractor.

Also while I think they're prettier with the shaded relief layer on, it does make them muddier and harder to use the contour lines (of course if you're concerned with that you're probably also using map tools and you'll need the full scale maps anyway).

Also, also, they're using older data in these, not the newest vector data (the older maps are just scans of the old printed maps).

Also, also, also, we can print them on waterproof paper :D

Still, for a day hike or trail ride these are a nifty and useful alternative to full size quad maps.