What Trail maps are you using?

Yes, “ArcGIS.” I used it quite a bit throughout my college years. OnX does cater to the overland crowd more but For simplicity and quick accessibility I think it is a great tool. Ive been using onX primarily for hunting purposes since they came out.

 

Yes, it's definitely a good tool, it's just a red flag to me when they lump 4x4s and side-by-sides together, and have a separate category for Overlanders.

Just wonder if when using that category it automatically hashtags your routes and posts them to instagram or something, lol.

There's also a difference between easy to use and simple. I wouldn't consider 3D maps "simple" even though they may be easy to use. Additionally, people who rely on 3D maps probably have trouble reading a paper map, and has been discussed in this and other threads, that's not really a good thing.

All this said, it's definitely on my list to try out next time.

 

Everyone should be able to read paper maps. I feel like that should be a basic life skill, but it’s not sadly. That’s just my inner geographic nerd coming out I guess.

 

Exactly. Smart phones have made it possible for people to squeak by without needing to. And then they get screwed when their phone battery dies or they drop it or something.

I remember a time where I thought being able to print out turn by turn mapquest directions was a huge bonus.

 

Haha! Yep. Mapquest was space-age technology back then. I do rely on my garmins as plan A, but I always keep hard copy topos of the area I will be in with me............just in case.

 

100%

I swap back and forth with my trip planning between electronic and paper maps, too. Just maps it that much easier to orient myself on the paper maps should I need to.

 

I've been using Avenza, Gaia, Google.... It feels like I often need 2 different sources to confirm routes.

Having said that, I could definitely use some good paper maps or an atlas.
Does anyone have any recommendations for either of those that have good and semi-up-to-date trail detail? Looking for mostly western states. California, Nevada, Utah...

 

The Funtreks books are great but very specific.

California Trail Users Coalition used to publish paper maps that are available but they have moved to digital so not sure if the paper is up to date.

Back Country Discovery Route maps are available for most western states but they are for a point to point route.

Each National Forest regularly updates their Motor Vehicle Use Map with all legal routes.

I am not aware of any atlases that include a comprehensive list of unpaved legal routes. You generally will have to work backwards from your area of interest.

 

I’ve been trying to decide between Gaia and OnX myself. May try them both out this spring.