Find, Buy, and Print Your Own Topo Maps

Finding topographic maps may seem like a daunting challenge, but it doesn't have to be. They exist for every square foot of the United States, and the US Geological Survey (USGS) is the primary source.
ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewe...
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[@STOKERMATIC]

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[@kan-zee]

@STOKERMATIC what is your thoughts about the USA being surrounded by RUSSIA / CHINESE nuclear ships and submarines ?? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaTdqIGQbK2horM

[@sandygap1]

Many times, map details are not "past onto current the current edition." Not because the feature doesn't exist, it was simply ovetlooked. My map tip is to purchase the latest updated map and then review much older maps for these "lost" features. I vertify either by "boots on the ground" or aerial pictures. Since most of my outdoor hunting/fishing, etc, happens on BLM or Forrest service public property, I go to the nearest office and ask to see their current working copy and update my copy. Several times, they asked to see my map, with details from older maps and other sources, and they asked me if they could make a copy of my map. They ask if features have been verified and I direct them to my sources. In my opinion, maps are an incredible and underutilized resource.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Always interesting to see how they change.

[@slappy8941]

Past and passed are different words with different meanings.

[@BooRadley452]

​@@slappy8941 The word "asshole" can also denote two definitions.

[@Messier.42]

I just discovered the USGS developed a web based map tool called Topobuilder. All free, all the most up to date contours (updated every three years) you can get USGS quadrangles or custom ones for your specific needs. Highly recommend

[@tx4x486]

Great recommend!!!

[@justanotherrat9703]

@just_another_WFR Untill the batteries go dead

[@peterrussell798]

@just_another_WFRTough to write notes on a computer or smart phone screen. Plus paper maps are always in service range and need no batteries.

[@rickm4295]

Finally....Ive been trying to figure out how to buy maps for a minute now

[@GenXGemini]

Many, many, moons ago when I was about 15, I wrote to a government address and got a free topo for my area. I'm not sure what the address was. I found it in these old "Books of Knowledge" my parents have. I think it was a 1966 edition, but it was the late 80's when I did this. Good info, Stoker. I've been wanting a paper copy of my current location. Thanks for the video. 🥃

[@STOKERMATIC]

Cool!

[@jtaylor8792]

I have been searching for a map like this for a couple years. A hidden gem. Ty Stoker

[@davepetro5676]

As your driving off the highway through state you can hit a rest stop pick up some free maps or hotels maybe have them free flyers some maps or some fast food places have flyer and have maps. Look around there more companies put free flyers to bring business in and a lot have free maps

[@debragarrett5110]

Many thanks for taking the time to make this video. It was very helpful and easy to understand.

[@caborico0677]

Stoker! you hit the nail on the head! glad to see this video. navigating the USGS's site can be a navigating challenge in itself But good "how to" instructional video how to do just that. This "map junkie" appreciates the effort it took to make this video.

[@alexmanne]

This video was incredibly informative. I never knew you could easily find topo maps like this. Thank you

[@Darryl.Harris]

Beautiful! Just what I needed. Thank you, bruh.

[@s.m.h.m8804]

Definitely value added. Thanks for great videos

[@apprenticegilligan1635]

As always amazing information. Thank you.

[@bickie603]

Way cool post. I’ve been looking for a top on map of my area for a while now. Great and wonderful information. Thank you.

[@3412Studios]

This was an awesome video. Thank you, brother.

[@ibragim_on]

Great lesson today Top!!!👍

[@AlucardFeeds]

Yo! Thank you so much for doing this. I have been having a terrible time trying to get these maps at stores and people not knowing what they were.

[@Z7d3nR4]

Thank you for the valuable info.

[@jasonj5641]

Excellent video explaining how to get maps.

[@ericl8122]

Great info brother, thanks!

[@bq7227]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@jeffleitman5269]

thank you! learned something valuable here

[@recondo4u]

Thanks for this information and your time!

[@STOKERMATIC]

👊

[@elric68]

Great lesson today Top!!! Finding maps is challenging and being familiar with procurement is a must!!! I dig the Gila National Forest! We went over landing through (starting in Albuquerque, Gila, White Sands, Roswell, and Carlsbad Caverns) New Mexico last year and had a blast, be going back sometime to hit the northern side! This is great tool for interesting practice! Not just using the old Tenino practice maps! Keep up the Fire!

[@STOKERMATIC]

Put Cimmeron on your list! Great area!!

[@ratchetman]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@danlaws-er8yo]

Ha bill I live close by you I finally got your book of Amazon the shtf field manual and want to say it's awesome I learned some in survival training your right on point keep up the great work and write another book please I'll sure buy it brother

[@ZEUS]

Thank you for this! Very useful, I spent hours on the USGS website looking for information but just failing

[@memathews]

Great tip! I make specialty maps for certain areas using these maps as the initial layer in Adobe Illustrator. Some of these special maps are super closeups to capture animal territories or track campground growth, and other maps are simply same-size with added information such as fire or rehab areas. Getting prints can be expensive, especially on waterproof paper, but they are highly useful.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Thanks for sharing that! Good stuff!!

[@paulzimmerman3895]

Very helpful expose! Really liked the reference to a very special wilderness in my home state. I didn't know it was the oldest wilderness in the US. Great info in this vid! Like your new mike. Have a great week, sir!

[@STOKERMATIC]

Would love to go back!

[@SmokyMtnHiker1]

Great info. I used to laminate topo maps of different areas of the smoky mountain national park.

[@Z7d3nR4]

I've done that in the past, and made them into mini books.

[@danielroncaioli6882]

You can find protractors on e-bay for the correct 7.5 quad scale maps.

[@stacywilliams1710]

Thanks for the Information

[@cripplers8]

Great timing on this vid bro because I was just looking for topo maps just the other day. Thanks man…..

[@STOKERMATIC]

🥃

[@derekvogel3700]

Such a great resource

[@marclucier2533]

Where I live. I went to the forestry office. And got a topo quick book that I carry in my pack. Great resource

[@STOKERMATIC]

Right on!

[@jeremyknop5378]

Hey man I really appreciate the info here, I've been trying to figure out how to find topo maps as well as street maps for a long time. If your still local and still wanting to do land nav classes I'd be down. I'm currently in Kent. I think I might be able to talk my fiance into doing it too. She's just started getting into preparedness and I think we could both benefit from some basic landnav instruction and hands on practice in the field. If not no worries, I still appreciate the help finding maps.

[@joshpeterson1999]

One quick note; I've been doing this for backpacking trips in AK and WY for the past few years, and it actually is quite a bit cheaper to do this at local print shops IF you are ok with a smaller map (which I think is more convenient to carry on a trip). I typically print out a few 1:24k maps, depending on the length of my route, then get them laminated, or do it myself. I do it on 8.5x11 printer paper in color (professional print shops have good printers, so the clarity is sufficient). It is quite small print and helps to have that magnifying glass on the compass, but is sufficient for most trips IMO. It's a bit of a compromise because it's a pretty small map, and it's not as sharp as the ones you buy from USGS site, but it's cheap, convenient, and good enough for off-trail navigating if you know what you're doing.

[@jinnakamura6192]

I definitely asked you that, and you gave me one!

[@HandyMarcus]

Thank you sir

[@kestrel5719]

Good info!

[@GruntProof]

good stuff man!

[@user-MIKE705]

And this is why I subbed. 👍

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

Good stuff brother!!! 🥃

[@Ray_Mac]

Using CalTopo/SARTopo you can print of maps with different layers/matkers/etc on your plain old printer

[@stewarttrains98]

Idk if you still can, but at tines you could go to a Army corps of engineers office and get maps local to that office.

[@mikec.8556]

Thanks for this video because I have problems coming across topo maps where I’m at

[@STOKERMATIC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@apar1560]

👌 Awesome

[@zathrasnotzathras9435]

I’ve always used CalTopo. The downside is I have to laminate what I print.

[@glennhernandez4366]

Keep it going

[@actually_a_circle]

They where free at my local forest ranger station. Just ask the clerk.

[@sportopaul3482]

cool thank you

[@dalepittman5254]

They also have Gazeteers, which you can get over the internet for the entire state.

[@jamestrump9479]

In the Kit Bag!

[@robertburgess749]

I like maps

[@kineticinstallationspecial5775]

you could get this printed on vinyl stickers. Thank you for the info.

[@olddominionmedic1519]

great Info! Any resources for 1:50,000 maps?

[@Counselor77]

Where do you get those cool military maps with the grid squares? The ones with the yellow dots with numbers in them.

[@pierreaucoin2480]

Here in Maine, every outdoorsman has their map book. This is the Maine atlas and gazetteer. Formerly made by DeLorme and is now owned by Garmin I believe. I was said that Garmin would discontinue this publication but there was such an uproar that they continued producing it. This map book is at 1:135,000, which I know is a bit distant but it is still very thorough. I have 3 or 4 of these and I keep it in my get home bag. Excellent piece of information! Get yourselves one!

[@davidmckay2655]

What about for Canada. I'm having a heck of a time finding paper maps.

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

Good information Bill, I've used USGS topo maps quite abit for hiking and hunting! As a side note, I was stationed at Ft. Lewis when Mt. St. Helens blew, and ETSd a few months later. Driving down I-5, saw alot of the damage, blew my mind!! What does the volcano look like now, has it regrown back to its pre-eruption height? Thanks!

[@STOKERMATIC]

Wow, that's crazy! While there has been a lot of new growth in forest, the size and shape of the lava dome is the same, and she's still like a 1,300 feet shorter than in 1979..

[@abauto5408]

Excellent content. Have you heard of Caltopo? If so I would to hear your opinion on there maps vs the USGS maps.

[@STOKERMATIC]

TBH I'm not a fan of most applications - they are fun to use and a good resource, but they generally play ads, require subscriptions, and may allow you to "download" a map, it's just not for me.

[@jayarcher1945]

I just started using CalTOPO and you should give it a go. Haven't used it much yet, but it pretty easy to print a properly scaled map on whatever size printer you have. @@STOKERMATIC

[@tylerraycrisp]

Hey, Thanks for this info!Huge help as I'm trying to brush up on land nav again (rejoining in a few moths and have to go back to basic and watched your video on that too!). I ordered a map of my property off this site but the one I ordered has grid lines that arent exactly straight like some of the ones you pulled up. How does this effect your ability to plot grid coordinates?

[@STOKERMATIC]

Awesome to hear! Yeah, based on location and declination the lines may not be perfect. But your good to go.

[@tylerraycrisp]

@@STOKERMATIC Awesome, thank you! Also, is there a way to order a custom map? The one of my city (Portsmouth Ohio) cuts off most of the city and shows mostly the woods around it. I was hoping to be able to proctice some in the city as well as on my property(found one for my property).

[@oldschooltakingyaback]

Sweet video Stoker 👍🏼 What metal canteen do you use?

[@STOKERMATIC]

have my USGI and a Keith

[@AntiFederalist58]

I regularly drive to our state capital which is 120 miles each way. I suspect getting these maps can get expensive for the entire route if purchased from USGS. Regardless, they would be a good thing to have. I printed two counties. It took too much paper and the amount of ink used was outrageous

[@STOKERMATIC]

They have all kinds of scales, should check it out. Fun to play with either way.

[@AntiFederalist58]

@@STOKERMATIC Thanks Top.

[@elric68]

Another good item to buy if you’re driving a lot is a Rand McNally Atlas and Gazetteer for your state… lots of general map information that can give very simple intel of the area and various Lines of Drift… another outstanding feature is the ability to see all the natural (rivers and streams) vs. manufactured (roads, paths, railroad) Hand Rails… Excellent tactic for urban traversing… don’t forget to look for power line corridors, generally maintained corridors that some don’t think about.

[@AntiFederalist58]

@@elric68 I keep these in both of my vehicles. Thanx.

[@Old52Guy]

Great vid! I have a crappy printer so I get the larger printed quadrant maps there but I can't find the smaller scale printed maps (the ones that cover about 5x8 miles or so). Am I looking in the wrong place? Also, I agree with your premise that having the printed map is good insurance against a broken or battery dead GPS. Besides, if people use Google, the accuracy is a crap shoot.

[@STOKERMATIC]

You can search their site by scale, may not have what your looking for but they might.

[@P6009D]

6:42 The difference between true north and map north seems to be small. Is the difference so small that you can consider Map North to be in line with the Meridian to True North?

[@clivedunning4317]

Hi , question from across the pond. Does the USGS retail pre-laminated maps ? In the UK you can get laminated maps from the government Ordnance Survey, one of the private map producers , Harveys, print waterproof maps on plastic which are really handy. Just curious. TIA.

[@STOKERMATIC]

On their website no. Plenty of private companies selling waterproof maps online.

[@clivedunning4317]

@@STOKERMATIC Thanks for such a quick reply. Keep drinking the Cuban rum !

[@bendover4496]

The big thing that I hate about USGS maps is that they come in 1:24,000. I would much rather have 1:20,000; 1:10,000 or 1:25,000 maps. This is so that the metric system works. 1:24,000 maps absolutely suck for purposes of plotting/land nav.

[@STOKERMATIC]

I picked up a 1:24 protractor because of that.

[@jacob9436]

how do i go about printing my own 1 to 24000 scale map? thanks for all the info!

[@STOKERMATIC]

Order from USGS or download the map and take to local print shop. Or - play around with cutting and pasting and printing until it gets right.

[@jtaylor8792]

If requested, I am given something to have, just incase a Coyote or bobcat shows up. I was surrounded by Coyotes 1 night. Brush kept me from seeing them, but herd them 50yrds away, 30 min beforehand. Got inside a building to evade any confrontation

[@STOKERMATIC]

In my experience coyotes never bothered me, but I have heard stories. Fire. Loud noises. Spray. Are all good options.

[@Jeff-vp9vz]

I'm sure someone else told you but, try Cal Topo. Very user friendly.

[@STOKERMATIC]

Some people love it.

[@bobbywlindsey]

You mentioned scaling the maps so that one could print on their own printer using standard paper sizes. Is there a tutorial for this you recommend?

[@STOKERMATIC]

Trial and error.

[@andrewbrown9461]

How do you get your grid lines on the map? I bought some usgs maps but m they don’t have any grid squares on them

[@Alienshark]

I believe I seen an option on the site that had grid squares turned off or on

[@steveowen5143]

Do you know where to find topo maps with trails on them?

[@STOKERMATIC]

The USGS maps will have trails on them.

[@nathanielmilam75]

Why only USGS maps? Why not incorporate satellite maps as well?

[@mariner_life7631]

Can I print the downloaded maps, trim the margins and tape together? Will they be to scale?

[@STOKERMATIC]

If you print them to scale (full size), no problems. If you attempt to print the entire map on regular copy paper, they may be to scale, but not a 1:24 scale.

[@mariner_life7631]

@@STOKERMATIC Rgr that, thanks. Do you have a video where you talk about that or show it? Thanks

[@STOKERMATIC]

of my attempts of printing on regular paper? i do not. if you're trying to join several maps, you'll drive yourself crazy, TBH. i've downloaded and printed screenshots of maps on regular paper, and that took multiple attempts to print to the scale I wanted.

[@mariner_life7631]

@@STOKERMATIC yea that’s what I was contemplating, printing out each quad out of the 4 quad zone, cutting the margins off where they would meet and tape them back. I’ll just start buying the full-size and save my self the headache. Thanks buddy, and keep pumping the videos out, I’ve learned more in a week in my down time at work offshore than any book has taught me. 💪🇺🇸

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

me california. rei doesnt carry desert topo maps. (mojave). ,gold prospecting. can you choose the scale. 1:24 is cool. 1/2" 1 mile. can you print coordinates on side and bottom latitude/longitude have a good day.

[@markinaction1]

How bad is the difference between 1:25 and 1:24?

[@STOKERMATIC]

Not enough to worry about TBH

[@jester_killzem3005]

I say Hooah

[@odmaodmadotodma4136]

20 ballis, 20 smakaroos, 20 fucking dabloons for a map. I just wanna learn land nav 😭

[@STOKERMATIC]

Let's train! I'm in NE Georgia, but I also offer virtual training for those who can't make it. www.stokermatic.com

[@Gundam-bruh]

If there is a European equivalent, please someone help a brother out!

[@jerryj3047]

easy trick on how to protect map..use Carpet Protection Film..btw.US topo maps suck 😂😂,good video

[@TUKByV]

Someone recommended transparent contact paper to me. I will also look at carpet protection film.