Any recommendations on where to get good maps? USGS maps great for hiking, but tend to be out of date, especially for roads. The books that are sold in most shops don't have great detail. I haven't looked at Google earth/maps or at TOPO!. Before I shell out any money, what's your opinion? Thanks, Mark
DeLorme state atlas is a good start, google earth download is also very helpful. GIS data is also a good one, most of the time it is a few years old but still good. Thirdly a cross reference with a fishing regs handbook which is free at BIG5 is mighty helpful. A little bit of research on the web is also very helpful, just gotta know what to look for and you will be GREATLY surprised what is available .
If you are referring to needing more/up to date information on a river system, contact a local fly shop or guide/outfitter in the area. Online versions are ok, but there are two known Yakima River logjams that don't appear on Google Maps. Don't trust technology in that situation, it doesn't get on the river every day.
I find Android Google Navigation maps are occasionally out of date for some roads on creekin' trips due to washouts and such so I try to be flexible and stay positive by remembering the good old days squinting to follow roads in a Gazetteer (which I still carry in the car) and USFS maps while driving . I am able to cache maps on the new Nav rev prior to a trip so I don't need to be in cell coverage. I also make a point of checking road conditions on the USFS, WTA, Trails.Com, etc sites before I set out, and check river conditions before a float as Derek very wisely counsels. I also have an Android app where I use USGS maps stored on my Android phone for the hiking trail datums missing from Google and MS Maps. I also purchased the Trimble Outdoors Navigator app as a backup.
You can view relatively seamless USGS map scans at mapper.acme.com for free, just hit "topo" in the upper right corner of the page. Zoom, pan, etc. just like Google maps. Fills your browser window with map, no sign up or login required.
I find that following the trail of empty beer cans will almost always lead you to water therefore I seldom need a map.....
National Geographic has a great aerial (satellite) maps that in some areas are better quality than Google Earth views. But, as Derek pointed out they aren't up to date.
Have you tried those Green water maps. Ed's Surplus in Everett sells them. If you spend a little money there are the Nat Geo Maps. They cover the whole U S A all 50 states. But they are not kept up to date. Some of them are quite old. Then there are the County maps. National forest maps. Then there are the fire trail maps. Not to sure where you get them at. In Washington there are maps to get you from a to z. You just have to spend a little to get them.
Green Trails Maps are pretty useful. The Delorme Atlas is by far the best place to get started. They list all the good places to fish and what you can expect to catch there, then to make it even easier they even put a little fish icon on the fishy spots.
If you are into exploring the backroads, most maps will be frustrating, because so many small roads depicted on maps often are gated, decommissioned, or otherwise impassable. Land management agencies (Forest Service, BLM, etc.) often have access maps that have (relatively) up to date information on closed roads in their jurisdiction. You usually have to get them from the regional offices for the respective agency.
In all the years that I lived in Washington, I had many, many maps. And yes all those roads that I used to drive down and get out and fish are now closed down. A lot of people used to dump their garbage in the woods. To stop all of that they closed the roads down. And since they closed the roads down they are now over grown so you couldn't get down some of them if you tried. It's a shame that so many have to suffer for just a few asshole's out there.
I remember when you could get up on Deer Creek. Road closed. And when using that road you could get to Day Lake also. Big EB Trout. Edit: I think that I lived and fished in Washington at the right time. Now you can't get anyplace without some kind of shitty pass. Or most of the woods are closed down so you can't get in to the out of the way places. I don't think that I would enjoy living there anymore. Also those high gas prices scare the hell out of me. I thought that the gas in Montana was high, $3.62.9 a gallon, It's cheap compared to Washington. I could go on about this but why.
I have TOPO, which I enjoy using. Allows you to create and print very specific maps. I have made several over the last couple of years which I use regularly for certain spots. Also great for doing exploration. Well worth it I'd say, and a great addition to the delorme atlases. Jason
