Topographical maps and a compass are our guides in hiking-pack them in first!

Topographical maps provide important information about the geography and geology of the mountains you will be hiking on. These maps can tell you the longitude and latitude of your position. Along with a compass, they are very useful to plan navigation on hikes and bike trips. Reading topographical maps and compass requires skill and practice. But it is a skill worth learning for hiking enthusiasts besides it can save your life if you get lost.

It is important to choose the right topographical maps for your hiking needs, the 1/250,000 scale map gives a general overview of a large area and is a perfect guide for pre-trip planning. A 1/50,000 scale map is highly detailed as it shows vegetation, land elevation and water bodies in great detail and is most important when it comes to pinpointing your location using a compass. It is useful to have one of these especially if you plan to enter more remote areas where trails are not clearly marked.

Although any map can be fine for hiking topographical maps are the best option. It is important to read your map's legend carefully as this will help tell you the particular attributes of the map you have and what the symbols mean. Generally black markings show cultural features such as buildings, railways and power transmission lines. Red is used for paved roads, orange indicates unpaved roads, brown shows contour lines and elevations and blue represents water features. These maps along with the compass needed for hiking can be easily found by searching online. In fact many websites sell these navigation aids at discount rates and offer free shipping too.

Topographical Maps

amback.com - Your American Backyard
One of your best sources for outdoor, hiking, backpacking and camping gear.