Colorado Map Book

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I?m looking for a hard-copy map of Colorado, at a fairly detailed level- specifically for the non-urban areas, mostly the Frontrange? Down to fire roads and trails? Gotta Jeep, looking to get out of town. I like paper in general, being able to take notes would be nice. Electronic is great, until it dies. Just kind of old school that way.

Any suggestions?

[BushMasterBoy]

DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer: Colorado

Amazon has this. Maybe a local bookstore has it too. Barnes and Noble probably has a copy.

[colorider]

Butler Maps are just what you are looking for

[Zundfolge]

As BushMasterBoy points out, The DeLorme Atlases are a good choice (and if its all you can find, go ahead and get it). The Benchmark Atlases tend to be slightly better. Especially if you're interested in topographic data included in your road atlas (which sounds like what you're asking for).

https://www.benchmarkmaps.com/product/colorado-road-recreation-atlas

Keep in mind I was Creative Director for MacVan Maps for more than a dozen years, so I was somewhat inside the industry.


Butler Maps are just what you are looking for


Butler's are awesome but geared toward motorcycling.

For Jeeping, the FunTreks guides are doubleplus awesome.

https://funtreks.com/

[buffalobo]

When it comes to maps, listen to this ^^^ guy.

[def90]

I?m looking for a hard-copy map of Colorado, at a fairly detailed level- specifically for the non-urban areas, mostly the Frontrange? Down to fire roads and trails? Gotta Jeep, looking to get out of town. I like paper in general, being able to take notes would be nice. Electronic is great, until it dies. Just kind of old school that way.

Any suggestions?

If you are using the map for jeeping just download an MVUM (motor vehicle use map) from the local forest service website and print it out. It will show every trail in the area as well as the current status as to what vehicles are allowed and which aren’t.

[Martinjmpr]

Benchmark is much better than Delorme. I have benchmark atlases of every state we typically camp in (CO, WY, UT, NV, NM, AZ and CA.) Well worth the money.

[eddiememphis]

National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps are great. You will need a lot of them to cover all of Colorado but I have found them great while out on the trail.

I always carry them when I'm on a dirt bike. Water and tear resistant as well. Not quite what you are looking for but if you are exploring a specific area, they are hard to beat.

[Sawin]

I use the COTrex app for iOS - free and works offline too.... I suggest it's worth looking at if you're interested in an electronic solution too.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Thanks everyone for the insights! Great info.

[BladesNBarrels]

I used to buy USGS Topo Maps from the store at the Federal Center.
I have not been there for years, so it may be closed.
I think you can order if you go online too.

[Zundfolge]

You can download USGS quad maps for free as PDFs and if you have access to a plotter print your own (or just save them on your phone or tablet).

I went poking around on the USGS site and they've changed a lot of stuff, but here's the direct links to the maps (you just have to know the name of the quad map you want). If you have Acrobat you can shut off the photo layer and turn on the contour lines or whatever you need to do to make them look good (some PDF readers won't let you turn layers on and off).

https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html?prefix=StagedProducts/Maps/USTopo/PDF/CO/

I couldn't figure out how to download the maps from here https://apps.nationalmap.gov/downloader/ but you can turn on the 7.5 minute grid under "Show Map Index" and use that to figure out the quad names.

[Martinjmpr]

I used to buy USGS Topo Maps from the store at the Federal Center.
I have not been there for years, so it may be closed.
I think you can order if you go online too.

USGS map store has been closed since probably 2014. They will now refer you to a commercial map store or online source. Also, USGS topo maps are generally free to download although the difficulty level varies and depends on your computer knowledge and skills. There are a number of YouTube videos on the process.

[Zundfolge]

USGS map store has been closed since probably 2014. They will now refer you to a commercial map store or online source. Also, USGS topo maps are generally free to download although the difficulty level varies and depends on your computer knowledge and skills. There are a number of YouTube videos on the process.

We used to print them at MacVan.

Dug through some old files and found a couple of the download links I used to use (which are a little easier than just going to the USGS site).

https://store.usgs.gov/map-locator

I actually liked the US Forest Service versions of the 7.5 minute quad maps better, but they are only available for areas under Forest Service management but you can find their maps here:
https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b70e11a68aac46b3a5bd911b82b53c1e

[BladesNBarrels]

USGS map store has been closed since probably 2014. They will now refer you to a commercial map store or online source. Also, USGS topo maps are generally free to download although the difficulty level varies and depends on your computer knowledge and skills. There are a number of YouTube videos on the process.

I guess it has been longer than I thought since I went to the Federal Center.
You lose track of time after a while.

Do they even update the maps any more?

[Zundfolge]

Do they even update the maps any more?
They actually update better and more often now (some areas are getting annual updates even). One problem with buying the ones the USGS printed at the Federal Center is that they would print maps and then not reprint until they sold out. So you could end up buying a version of a quad map that was several versions old (so there were some editions of their maps that were never printed nor sold).

For the most part this hasn't been much of a problem because its not like the topography changes. But the declination (difference between magnetic north and true north) does change constantly so if you're trying to do any orienteering you could end up slightly off your chosen path. That and roads can change.

[Martinjmpr]

I guess it has been longer than I thought since I went to the Federal Center.
You lose track of time after a while.

Do they even update the maps any more?

Yes, in fact it's easier to update maps because they keep them as digital files instead of paper maps.

Then, instead of printing X,000 maps following some SOP, they have the ability to print "on demand." That reduces storage costs and it reduces waste.

[BladesNBarrels]

Print on demand really makes sense.
I remember having to check the dates each time I went to buy maps, and then make a decision whether the information was current enough.
This all makes good sense.
Thanks for the posts

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I got the Benchmark map and I used it in the last trip I took around Steamboat. At 1:200,000 it is just slightly lower rez than I want. I think around 1:50,000 is closer to what I want to do- mainly to be able to annotate and note things. Beside shooting guns, I shoot cameras, and being able to put down locations with a bit more specificity than the Benchmark would be what I want.

I found some online resources, including some govt ones that you can print off a map with the features you want. Some blending of visual, roads, and terrain is where I'm looking now.

The Benchmark is great since it does the whole state and has enough detail to get from place to place. Got my daughter a bit used to using a paper map as be explored back roads. She is into photography also and loves to 'hunt' old barns.

When I find anything else, I'll pass it along.

Thanks!