How to Quickly Print Free Maps with Caltopo - Navigation

When things go bad, your GPS will only be good as a paperweight. Take a map!
With Caltopo.com you can quickly and easily print maps for all your adventures. High quality topographical maps (TOPO maps) for the U.S., Canada, & New Zealand available. General streetmaps are available worldwide.
These are great for teaching kids basic navigation too! They are not the big, expensive maps and you can print a lot of them easily.
Find more info about this tutorial at our blog. goo.gl/WqbQ2G
A shoutout to Matt Jacobs for this amazing resources!

[@columbiariverorienteeringc5395]

Actually, the entire world is available when using CalTopo. Check out the open cycle or open street map layers.

[@stevek8829]

Thanks, I didn't know this printed grids as well. If people want the grids to match their map tool they have to print at the appropriate scale. If you want a scale of 1 inch equals 2,000 feet, set in the lower left menu for 1 in 24,000.

[@tyeeoutdoorexperiencellc6772]

Thanks for putting that scale calculation. We didn't want to get too heavily into scale since that would be a bit over the head for beginners but you can definitely match the grids up if you will be using map tools.

[@knothardly4727]

Love the dancing outlaw, very cool lol

[@mt-nv4jd]

excellent.

[@dsmith377]

Ha. just over the hill from ya. Myrtle Point. good info.

[@carls.6746]

just printed one out and it doesnt match my map tools scale all the UTM/MGRS lines are about 1mm+ smaller than the scale on my map tool. is there any way to change that to fit my map tool as i do all of my orienteering without a gps, i cant afford one yet and its just another battery to keep charged and otherwise something else that can go wrong. my map tool is from maptools.com

[@carls.6746]

FIXED IT!!! in printer options when the printing page pops up "Fit to page" was selected. i deselected that and now it works perfectly. i didn't delete my comment in case others had the same problem. thanks for the vid.

[@tyeeoutdoorexperiencellc6772]

Glad you got this fixed. You are right that your scale will be all off depending on your printer settings so if you plan on using the scale you should definitely double check it before you head out.

[@1990Co]

Worst case scenario you can just make a tool by marking an index card

[@jcshinobi1973]

Has anyone printed onto Tyvek sheets? If so, what type of printer? What were the results?

[@DavidWlodarski]

I am sure you could print out maps on Tyvek. Large banners are printed on vinyl sheets. You would need to use archival ink that is water and UV resistant. Check with local printing and copy companies in your area for help.

[@BRExteriorPro]

Only thing I have issue with is how outdated maps are .. is that a issue?

[@tyeeoutdoorexperiencellc6772]

It really depends on which map layers you are using. Although they are not "official" maps, Open Cycle or Open Street Maps is open source and driven by the public so I would expect it to be updated more often than official maps. As far as government maps, I tried to see if he had a list of which years he was using but could not find any. It may help to compare a few different map layers to see if there are differences between them.

[@tyeeoutdoorexperiencellc6772]

Also, if I was headed out locally say to somewhere on Forest Service land, I would drop into the nearest FS office and see if they could update me on road closures and other changes.