It is really only good to show you where the trails likely go give or take a little. NW trails has little if any detail which makes sense since it is normally used as an overlay anyway. As mentioned either above, or elsewhere, there are trails you can load onto the GPS, but without a mapping GPS it's not that useful. In any case, given the winters recently, you are better off checking with the FS about roads rather than relying on either map source.Īs for trails IMO both routes are a toss up. I think FS roads are updated more recently with one of the NG map programs and I'm not sure that is included with the state series topo. The NG topo will only be as updated as the maps were when they were scanned. I'm also used to looking at USGS maps and NGtopo is easier on my eyes. I have both of the products you mention and use NGtopo all the time because I find it easier to create maps with text and annotation which I carry with me. Then you can print a map with the waypoints to bring with you.

It allows you to mark waypoints, etc, and then put them into your GPS. Since you have a non mapping GPS I'd go with NG Topo. Transfer waypoints to a (non-mapping) GPS. To some extent I have found the Garmin 24K will sometimes try and route you on a trail it contains, but that works spotty at best so I don't really use it. There are some trails indicated in the Garmin 24K card but not all and it is easier to plan on the computer anyway. I have found these trails in NW trails are not always 100% accurate either but a good starting point. NW trails is nice to beta routes/put in waypoints beforehand then send to your GPS. I say generally because sometimes it gets confused on the forest service roads, so you have to at least have an idea of where you are trying to get.Īn real example is that when trying to navigate to the 8 mile lake trailhead it wants you to turn into the campground before the actual 8 mile creek road you are supposed to turn to. The downside of course is the Garmin card cost about $100 (maybe cheaper on line, I bought mine when they first came out from Garmin directly). No need to have two sets of maps for the GPS. One thing I like about the Garmin 24K topo card is it also does street routing so if you plug in a trailhead waypoint it will generally guide you there in the car. Basically what RickZman said is kind of what I do.

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