Mapsource Topo Us

[+Rocketcaver]

Just picked up a used Vista (original).

I do a lot of hiking and a bit of geocaching.

Is the Mapsource Topo US detailed enough to be usefull for hiking?

I do most of my hiking in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois.

Can I reasonably expect it to show the hiking trails?

Thanks.

[peter]

Useful? Yes. Sufficient? Probably not.

 

You can see the level of detail by using Garmin's MapViewer at:

http://www.garmin.com/cartography and zooming in on some areas with which you're familiar.

 

The Topo US maps are based on the USGS 1:100,000 series and share their pros and cons. They aren't nearly as detailed as the usual 1:24000 series used by most hikers and manmade features, incl. trails, are frequently out of date.

 

OTOH, the accuracy is good and can quickly show you your position relative to natural features in the area. That's frequently sufficient while hiking and if you do need more detail it can help you quickly identify your position on a paper map.