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Gaia GPS

Plan Where to Fish with USGS Streamflow and Gaia Fishing Maps

by Ashli Baldwin March 16, 2020

written by Ashli Baldwin

Find a new favorite fishing spot or plan the perfect trip with two all-new interactive map layers. Get up-to-date streamflow and water temperature information from the new USGS Streamflow map. And, be one of the first to test the brand new Gaia Fishing Map with boat access information and known fish species for select waterways in Montana and Oklahoma.

The USGS Streamflow and Gaia Fishing maps supplement an expanding catalog of fishing-specific map sources that includes National Geographic fishing maps for Colorado.

USGS Streamflow

This layer allows you to overlay Stream Gage status icons on any map source and offers complete coverage of the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii.

Gage icons indicate current river flow status — above normal, normal, below normal, and unknown. Tap the icons to get information such as Gage ID, flow rate in cubic feet per second, water temperature, gage height, and river status based on historical averages when available.

Gage information comes directly from the USGS and gets updated every 6 hours. View the USGS Streamflow overlay when connected to the internet.

Gaia Fishing

The new Gaia Fishing overlay offers data sourced by Gaia GPS team members from their local states. Coverage is currently available in Montana and Oklahoma. Similar to the USGS Streamflow map, this layer is interactive, and you can tap icons to get more information.

The map also features:

Fishing access points, boat ramps, marinas
Known fish species where available
Fish habitat/brush pile locations
Bathymetric lines where available
Labels for lakes, rivers, streams, and small bodies of water
Montana fishing license dealer locations

You can layer both USGS Streamflow and Gaia Fishing on top of any map source – and take advantage of iOS Dark Mode by layering with the new Gaia Topo.

How to Use These Maps

These new layers come with a Premium Membership. To add these layers to your maps, open the Gaia GPS app or website, tap the layers icon, and select “Add map layers.” Go to “Nautical/Aviation” and select the new map source. Also, make sure you’ve enabled the new Gaia Topo to utilize these maps.

March 16, 2020

Tall orange and yellow flames sweep through a forest at night time.

Emergency Response Gaia GPS

Eight Ways to Help Victims and Firefighters of the Australian Bushfires

by Mary Cochenour January 9, 2020

written by Mary Cochenour

Deadly bushfires continue to ravage southeastern Australia, leaving more than 15.6 million acres burned and well over 100 fires still blazing out of control. As scorching summer heat and high winds continue, firefighters see no relief in sight and officials expect the fire season to continue through the months ahead.

With this long-lasting crisis, emergency responders say that financial donations are the best way to help both victims and fire crews battling the bushfires. Whether you’re down under or oceans away, consider donating to these eight Australian organizations.

Flames burning grassy, open hillside with widely dispersed, low trees in the distance. There is a dark sky in the background and charred land in the foreground.

Donate to organizations that help victims

1. Australian Red Cross

In times of disaster, the Red Cross cares for the health and well-being of disaster-affected people, noting on its website that financial donations, rather than goods, help communities recover sooner. Currently, the Australian Red Cross is supporting thousands of people in 69 evacuation centers who have been displaced from their homes due to the bushfire emergency.

Australian Red Cross volunteers are working to deliver basic needs like food and water, helping victims locate missing loved ones, and have started a cash grant program to help people meet immediate needs. Donations to Australian Red Cross help support these recovery programs and allow the organization to continue its one-on-one support to the thousands of victims who have been devastated by the fires.

2. Salvation Army Australia

Salvation Army Australia provides customized assistance for each individual or community in need, including financial assistance, housing support, mental health support, community building, and material assistance. Currently, Salvation Army Australia is supplying meals to both evacuees and wildfire responders involved in the Australian bushfire crisis. The organization is unable to accept donated goods at this time due to the lack of storage and the complex logistics involved in distributing goods in disaster-affected communities.

According to Salvation Army Australia’s website, financial donations are the most effective way to help all residents in need by allowing fire victims the opportunity to decide how to best use the much-needed funds to support their local communities.

3. St. Vincent de Paul Society

Thousands of residents left their homes this week as bushfires crept into suburban areas, forcing evacuations all over southeast Australia. St. Vincent de Paul Society focuses on helping victims deal with the aftermath of the fire. Financial donations help the organization to continue to provide food and clothing to people who have lost everything in the fire, pay unexpected bills that accumulate during the recovery process, make referrals to other organizations that provide crisis accommodations, and foster emotional and practical support after homes are lost.

4. Save the Children

More than 2,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged in Australia’s bushfires, leaving many families displaced and living in emergency shelters. Save the Children organization recognizes that kids become the most vulnerable victims in times of disaster. To help ease the traumatic effect of the fires, Save the Children is setting up “child-friendly spaces” across brushfire-affected areas. A donation of just $85 can help start a child-friendly space where youngsters can safely process their devastating experience by giving them a place to be children again.

Large range and yellow flames rip through a silhouetted forest at night.

Donate to organizations that support firefighters

5. Country Fire Authority

Currently, more than 2,700 firefighters are battling blazes across southeastern Australia with more fire crews on the way. Australia’s Country Fire Authority is a volunteer and community-based fire and emergency services organization that helps to protect 3.3 million people living in the Victoria region of Australia, where fires have been burning out of control. A donation to this organization will help keep firefighters working the front lines around the clock.

6. New South Wales Rural Fire Service

The bushfires have tragically claimed the lives of three New South Wales Rural Fire Service firefighters. Learn about the firefighters and donate to their families here to help them through this crisis. In addition, options exist here to make a donation to specific brigades or the organization as a whole, helping to keep the more than 2,100 rural fire brigades on the fire lines and protecting over 95 percent of New South Wales’ landmass.

A baby koala catches a ride on an adult koala's back as the adult is walking across pavement.

Donate to organizations that help wildlife

7. Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

Australia’s bushfires are burning in the country’s prime koala habitat and an estimated 25,000 koalas have died with many more injured and in critical condition. Donations to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital go directly to the rescue and treatment of sick, injured, and orphaned koalas, including helping them through their release back to natural habitat. In addition, the Koala Hospital also works on preservation and expansion of Koala habitat and the collection of information regarding habitat health, disease, and nutrition as well as education campaigns to increase public awareness of everything involving the koala.

Follow the progress of koala burn victims at the hospital here.

8. WIRES Wildlife Rescue

Wildlife experts estimate that 500 million animals have perished in the Australian fires and many more have been injured. WIRES rehabilitates and preserves Australian wildlife year-round but has been especially busy during the bushfire emergency. In December alone, WIRES took in more than 20,000 calls on its emergency hotline and rescued more than 3,300 sick, injured, and orphaned animals. Donations to WIRES help pay for the rescue and care of animals injured in the bushfires and uses donation money to train and support the more than 2,600 volunteers out in the field.

Donate to the organization that suits you best

This list is not exhaustive – there are many other places you can donate. As you search, be on the lookout for scams. There have been 47 reported cases of scams surrounding donations to the Australian bushfires. To learn more about how to spot a scam, click here.

Gaia GPS for emergency responders and people affected by the fires

Gaia GPS offers free memberships to emergency responders. We’re also offering free memberships to anyone who was affected by these devastating bushfires. Email support@gaiagps.com to learn more.

January 9, 2020

sunset behind stone spires on a beach in Australia

Gaia GPS New Maps

New! Topo Maps for Australia

by Corey Buhay August 22, 2019

written by Corey Buhay

Towering coastal spires, lush rainforests, glittering beaches, and wildlife you’ll find nowhere else on earth: If you’re starting to daydream about where to head for your next big adventure, you should put Australia on your short list. And, fortunately, you can now count on Gaia GPS to be your guide.

*Dangar Falls in New South Wales, Australia. You can navigate here using the official, government-sourced topographic maps available in Gaia GPS.*

Gaia GPS has just released new topographic maps for Victoria, Australian’s second-most populous state. Home to the city of Melbourne and over 100 national parks and reserves, Victoria is an ideal destination for any kind of adventure. It’s also just a short flight or a ferry ride away from Tasmania, an island known for its adventure opportunities and untamed wilderness.

The Gaia GPS map catalog includes full topographic coverage for Victoria and Tasmania. It also includes maps for the states of Queensland and New South Wales, and nearby New Zealand.

*An overview of the map coverage for Australia and New Zealand currently available in the Gaia GPS map catalog.*

About Victoria Topo

The new Victoria Topo map includes cities, roads, trail labels and mileages, clearly labeled peaks, vegetation shading, water sources, contour lines, flood zones, road access restrictions, and important landmarks. The level of detail makes it ideally suited to planning and navigation for outdoor adventures.

This colorful layer utilizes the most current maps available from official government sources. The end result is a mosaic of 1:100k, 1:50k, and 1:25k topo maps, all sourced from the Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning. The 1:25k maps were published in April 2017, the 1:50k maps in June 2017, and the 1:100k maps in February 2018.

*Victoria Topo includes coverage of Grampians National Park, known for its mountain vistas and wild kangaroos.*

How to Use Australia Topo Maps in Gaia GPS

The new Victoria Topo map is available with a Premium Membership. However, Gaia GPS members of all levels can access topo maps for the rest of Australia, in addition to maps of New Zealand.

You’ll find all our official Australia topo maps in the Australia/New Zealand/Asia category of the map manager. Simply tap the map name to view legend information and sourcing details. Then, click the green plus-sign to add the layer to your main map view.

August 22, 2019

sunlight shining through a forest of redwood trees

Company News Gaia GPS

How Scientists are Saving Trees with Gaia GPS (And How You Can, Too)

by Corey Buhay July 29, 2019

written by Corey Buhay

How hard is it to steal a tree? According to a one study, it’s not as difficult as you might think. The study, conducted by the United Nations Environmental Program and INTERPOL in 2012, found that 30 percent of finished wood products contain timber illegally poached from protected zones. That includes species like western redcedar, Alaskan yellow-cedar, coast redwood, and bigleaf maple.

The good news: Adventure Scientists is using Gaia GPS to build geo-referenced databases authorities can use to trace lumber and track down the criminals. And if you’re an expert on getting deep into the backcountry, they need your help.

Identifying a broadleaf maple for last year’s edition of the timber project. Photo courtesy of Damon Tighe

About Adventure Scientists

Adventure Scientists, a nonprofit based in Bozeman, Montana, draws on the resourcefulness and backcountry skills of outdoor adventurers to organize citizen science efforts across the world. It’s not just a feel-good volunteer activity, either—Adventure Scientists volunteers provide high-quality data. That data influences cutting-edge studies and real-world change.

Past projects have included freshwater and saltwater microplastics surveys (which influenced the European Union’s recent landmark ban of single-use plastics), wolverine and lynx population tracking, and antibiotic resistance studies. For many of these projects, volunteers use Gaia GPS to navigate in the wilderness. They also use the app to leave annotated waypoints so scientists can track exactly where the samples came from.

Adventure Scientists’ Michelle Toshack demonstrates how to use a tree corer to take a sample from a western redcedar.

Why Conservation Needs Citizen Science

Conservation biology requires a lot of legwork. Because it takes hundreds of data points for a study to be thorough and conclusive, data collection can take a long time. There simply aren’t enough scientists to go around. That means research progresses slowly, all while environmental problems worsen and populations of threatened species dwindle.

Fortunately, a lot of the work that needs to be done involves trekking out into the field, accessing remote fields and forests, spending time in isolated landscapes far from civilization—all things the outdoor recreation community is already doing. Adventure Scientists leverages that community to turn weekend warriors into the conservation army that biologists have always dreamed of. In this way, citizen science speeds up the pace of scientific discovery.

Adventure Scientists volunteers get a Gaia GPS Membership, which they use to geolocate tree samples.

Saving Trees with Gaia GPS

Adventure Scientists’ Timber Tracking Project, now entering its second year, aims to collect thousands of genetic and chemical samples from important tree species across the country. Volunteers are trained to identify the species involved in the study. When they find one, they take samples of the leaves, cones, wood, or sprouts and record a Gaia GPS waypoint. That waypoint can easily be shared with other volunteers or exported to the project file. Then, each tree sample is analyzed, and added to the appropriate genetic or chemical database.

Ultimately, forestry officials will be able to test wood from lumber shipments of bigleaf maple, western redcedar, or Alaska yellow-cedar, and compare those samples to the database. If the timber’s genetic or chemical makeup matches that of a sample collected in a protected area, officials will know it was illegally harvested.

For coast redwoods, Save the Redwoods League will compare the genes of each tree sample with characteristics of the site where the sample was taken. The study should help scientists understand the function of genetic variation within the species. That understanding will help guide future conservation and restoration efforts.

You can read more details about last year’s successes with bigleaf maple here, and more about how to sign up to help with this year’s project here.

July 29, 2019

Gaia GPS New Maps

Get Nationwide Canada Coverage With the Improved Canada Topo Map

by Corey Buhay June 27, 2019

written by Corey Buhay

We’ve just expanded our official topographic coverage of Canada to include the entire nation from coast to coast. Previously, the Canada Topo map layer only included the eastern part of the country. Now, it includes all available digitized quads produced by Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN). The level of detail has also improved, with map tiles hand-selected to include the versions that show the most roads, trails, and manmade structures.

As such, our previous map for Western Canada (Canada Topo West) has been merged into the new layer to give you one seamless base map for whole country.

Topographic map of Canada, viewed on an ipad — The updated Canada Topo map layer, as viewed in the Gaia GPS app.

How to Use the Canada Topo Map Layer

The Canada Topo base map is available to everyone with a Gaia GPS Membership. You can find it under the Canada category of the map manager.

Because Canada Topo includes roads, trails, topo lines, vegetation shading, and labeled terrain features, it works as a versatile, standalone base map. However, Premium Members can supplement the coverage with the Backroad Mapbooks Canada Trails overlay, which color-codes trails by usage and seasonality to help you choose adventure destinations easily at a glance. We also recommend using the Canada Historical Wildfires overlay to avoid being surprised by burn zones on your next trip.

June 27, 2019

Gaia GPS New Maps

Air Quality Forecast Maps Available in Gaia GPS

by Corey Buhay June 18, 2019

written by Corey Buhay

Plan hikes and runs—and estimate just how good the views are going to be—with the EPA Air Quality forecast maps in Gaia GPS. You can view current estimated levels of pollutants with the Air Quality (Current) overlay, or take a look at upcoming levels with the Air Quality (Tomorrow) overlay.

Updated daily with information from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Air Quality map overlays are available to users with a Premium Membership. You can find them in the Feature/Weather Overlays category of the map manager.

Why Air Quality Matters

Clean air is essential to human health. People with asthma, young children, older adults, and individuals with a history of heart or lung trouble are all at risk when air pollutant levels are moderate or slightly above moderate. If air gets much more polluted than that, even healthy adults could experience adverse symptoms, including trouble breathing or irritation of the eyes and nose. Prolonged exposure to pollution, especially ozone, or smog, can damage the insides of your lungs.

Air quality is especially important when you’re exercising outdoors, as exercise increases your respiration rate. More breaths per minute means more exposure to any pollutants.

Plus, one of the best parts of being outdoors is breathing in clean, clear air. You can also see more distant mountains and forests on clear days. So, it makes sense to pick your hiking days based on the air quality forecast the same as you would a precipitation forecast: The better the forecast, the more fun you’ll have.

a clear view of mountains with good air quality — Good air quality means clearer views.

About the Air Quality Index

The Air Quality Index (AQI), developed by the EPA, reports levels of some of the most common air pollutants: ozone (smog), particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. An AQI reading of 101 corresponds to a level that is above the national air quality standard. The higher the AQI rating, the greater the health impact.

The Air Quality map layer uses color coding to indicate AQI. Each category is identified by a simple descriptor that conveys how air quality within each category impacts public health. The table below defines the AQI categories you’ll see on the map. (On this map, uncolored areas indicate good air quality that poses no risk to human health.)

Map legend for the Air Quality Index. — The Air Quality Index, as defined by the EPA. This color coding system serves as the map legend for the Air Quality overlays in Gaia GPS.

June 18, 2019

Adventures Gaia GPS New Maps

The Only Map You’ll Ever Need to Climb All the Colorado 14ers

by Corey Buhay May 28, 2019

written by Corey Buhay

Summit all 58 Colorado 14ers with just one app and one map. Now, you can get accurate, comprehensive National Geographic route information for all Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in Gaia GPS. The map includes trail mileages, elevation gain, technical climbing ratings, parking information for both 2WD and 4WD vehicles, points of reference, and detailed route notes.

You can use this map layer to guide you in real time on any peak, even when you’re offline. That’s because the Gaia GPS app uses your phone’s built-in GPS chip to pinpoint your location, no cell service required.

About the Colorado 14ers

Colorado is home to 58 peaks above 14,000 feet in elevation. That includes 14,433-foot Mount Elbert, the second highest summit in the contiguous United States. The routes up these mountains range from non-technical hikes to serious scrambles. The Knife Edge on Capitol Peak and the infamous Keyhole Route on Longs Peak are both good examples of the latter.

For many Colorado locals, as well as avid mountaineers across the U.S., summiting every 14er is a life goal. However, there is some debate about which 14ers should make the “official list.” After all, some peaks are connected by shallow saddles that make it difficult to determine where one summit ends and the other begins.

Currently, many climbers characterize a Colorado 14er as a peak above 14,000 feet with at least 300 feet of topographic prominence. In other words, it has to rise at least 300 feet above surrounding peaks to count. For that reason, you’ll hear many refer to the “53 Colorado 14ers” rather than 58. Just to be safe, the NatGeo Colorado 14ers map includes all 58.

Longs Peak Colorado — 14,259-foot Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

About NatGeo Maps in Gaia GPS About NatGeo Maps in Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS has long partnered with National Geographic to provide users with the expertly designed, high-quality cartography NatGeo is known for. The NatGeo Colorado 14ers layer is the most recent addition to the Gaia GPS map catalog, which already includes NatGeo maps of the John Muir Trail, the Colorado Trail, and dozens of America’s most popular recreation destinations.

How to use the Colorado 14ers map layer

Like all National Geographic maps, the Colorado 14ers layer is available to users with a Premium Membership.

You can access it by opening the United States category of the map manager. Then, tap the plus sign next to the layer to add it to your map screen.

map of longs peak — Routes to the top of Longs Peak, as depicted on the NatGeo Colorado 14ers map.

Tips for Climbing Colorado 14ers

Hiking and climbing at high altitudes can be dangerous, and hikers get lost or seriously injured on Colorado 14ers every year. Here are some tips for packing the right kit, nabbing the summit, and getting home safe.

Build up your experience level. Start with non-technical peaks, and honestly evaluate your expertise and emergency preparedness before embarking on a climb.
Wait for the snow to melt. The safest time to summit a 14,000-foot peak is between mid-July and late September, when the spring snow has melted out and before fall snowstorms begin.
Bring a buddy. A partner can help keep you accountable to your pre-determined turnaround time, help you make risk-management decisions, and seek help if you get sick or injured on the trail.
Download maps before you head out. The sheer elevation of 14ers means most of them have service on the summit. However, the rest of the trail is often without cell reception. Always make sure you have the map you need downloaded in Gaia GPS before you leave, so you can access it no matter where you are.
Start early. Aim to be back below treeline by noon; afternoon lightning storms are common in the Rocky Mountains, and often occur even when the forecast doesn’t call for them. Pulling off a successful summit often means beginning your hike well before dawn, a quintessential part of the experience known as the “alpine start.”
Prepare for unpredictable weather. Temperatures can drop fast in the mountains. Look at a forecast that shows predicted weather at the top of a peak as well as at the base (we recommend mountain-forecast.com). Pack for the lows, not the highs. Always bring more food and water than you think you need, as well as a hat, gloves, a good insulating layer, and a rain shell.
Pack safety equipment. Always bring a headlamp, sun protection, sun glasses, a first aid kit, and any other protection you might need from the elements should something go wrong. It’s smart to bring a satellite communication device, such as a SPOT device, as well.
Beware of summit fever. No peak is worth putting yourself in danger. Turn back immediately if you see rain clouds moving in, or if you begin to experience any signs of acute mountain sickness (AMS).

May 28, 2019

Gaia GPS New Maps

High-Resolution Geologic Map with Worldwide Coverage

by Corey Buhay May 28, 2019

written by Corey Buhay

Get the Bedrock Geology map layer in Gaia GPS, and you’ll always know exactly what you’re standing on. You’ll also know what’s ahead: If you’ve ever looked at a rock formation and wondered whether it was limestone or granite, this is the map for you.

The Bedrock Geology layer is based on the map source Macrostrat, which combines U.S. Geological Survey data with over 200 different geologic maps at various scales around the world.

The result is an exhaustively cross-referenced world geologic map, and the highest temporal resolution geologic map of North America ever produced. It includes information about the ages, tectonic histories, and minerals in the bedrock around the world.

In the Gaia GPS app, Bedrock Geology uses smart scaling to show you the most pertinent geologic information at any zoom level. Use it to scout out new rock climbing areas, improve your knowledge of natural history, impress your friends, or educate the little ones in your life.

How to Use the Bedrock Geologic Map

The Bedrock Geology map is available to those with a Gaia GPS Premium Membership. Currently, information about rock types and physical origins is only available in iOS, where the map is interactive. However, we’re working on a fix to bring that same functionality to the Android app. In the meantime, Android and web users can reference the map legend (below) to learn more about the geologic ages of the rocks around them.

To get started:

Find the Bedrock Geology map in the Feature/Weather Overlays category of the map manager.
Tap the plus sign to add the layer atop any of your favorite base maps.
Toggle the transparency as needed to see feature labels or satellite imagery beneath the color-coded swaths of geologic information.

A Note on Resolution

The resolution of map coverage can vary for different areas of the world. Some continents (like North America) have excellent coverage, and draw data from up to a dozen different geologic maps. In countries that lack publicly available geologic data, however, Bedrock Geology relies on the world geologic map provided by the Geological Survey of Canada.

You can use the interactive map on the Macrostrat sources page to learn more about available coverage for different areas of the world.

May 28, 2019

morel mushroom hunting map with burn zones and timber cut regions highlighted

Adventures Gaia GPS How-To

How to Create The Ultimate Morel Mushroom Hunting Map

by Corey Buhay May 21, 2019

written by Corey Buhay

The morel is perhaps one of the most prized quarries of American mushroom hunters. Its distinctive look, rich meaty flavor, and reputation for elusiveness all make for an intoxicating chase. Consequently, the locations of morel jackpots are often closely guarded secrets.

Morel mushroom hunting maps do exist, but they’re often based on reports from other foragers. If you want to find your own secret spot, or discover the hotspots locals won’t share, you’ll need to supplement those reports with a map of your own.

Tricks for Finding Morel Mushrooms

Though the exact whereabouts of morels can be difficult to predict, they are more prone to appearing at certain times and in certain locations.

Start hunting for morels in the spring, usually when tree buds just begin to open and soil temperatures hover consistently around 50 degrees. That means daytime highs in the 60s or 70s and nighttime lows in the 40s. In most places in the U.S., those conditions occur for a week or two sometime between late-March and the end of May.

A morel mushroom on the forest floor. — *Morel mushroom. Photo by George P. Macklin, sourced via Flickr.*

Before you head out, secure permits for foraging when required. Research local land management policies to determine responsible collection limits. Also be sure to follow other regulations and Leave No Trace policies as they apply to off-trail exploration.

In the early season, look on warmer south- and west-facing slopes and at lower elevations. Later in the season, move your hunt uphill and on cooler north- and east-facing slopes. Morel mushrooms tend to favor damp, well-drained soils.

Look around ash, elm, or cottonwood trees, particularly ones that are dead or dying. Morels are linked to environmental distress, particularly timber cuts and, in the West, wildfire burn scars.

morel mushroom hunting in a recently burned area — In the West, hunt for burn morels in areas affected by recent wildfires.

The Best Morel Mushroom Hunting Maps

To build your own morel mushroom hunting map, you’ll need the following map layers. All of these are available in Gaia GPS, and you can layer maps on top of one another and adjust the transparency to pinpoint the spots where conditions are perfect. Usually, you’d need a Premium Membership to use them, but you can access all these maps for free for the rest of the season with the three-month free trial offered at the bottom of this page.

1) A Burn Scar Map Layer. In the Western US, morels have been known to proliferate on completely burned soil in the first growing season after a fire, especially in burned coniferous forests. Use the Wildfires (Historical, US) map layer to see burned areas color coded by year. On iOS devices, you can also tap on a burn to learn the name of the fire and see just how recent it was.

a map of areas that were recently logged for timber

2) A Timber Cut Map Layer.Use the Timber Harvests map layer to show swaths of recently felled trees, one of the harbingers of a morel mushroom gold mine. Wait for a little rain and the right temperatures, and then go prowling around the stumps.

a map of private and public land boundaries

3) Maps of Private and Public Land Boundaries.Always make sure you’re hunting for morels legally. Ask private landowners for permission to search on their property, and follow appropriate regulations on public land. In most national forests, for example, collection permits are required for morel mushroom hunting. Check the land manager’s website for specific details. Use the Private Land and Public Land maps in Gaia GPS to make sure you’re within the right boundaries.

a map showing shaded relief of a mountainous region in the US

4) Good Shaded Relief.Hillshading, or shaded relief, can help you distinguish the different aspects of a slope. This is useful for gauging how much sun it will receive. Remember: morels often favor south- and west-facing slopes in the winter and north- and east-facing slopes in the summer. In Gaia GPS, try the Shaded Relief Layerfor nationwide coverage.

a map of satellite imagery with contour lines

5) Clear Contour Lines.In Gaia GPS, you can leave waypoints to mark where you’ve found morels in previous years. If you start your hunt earlier or later in the season in subsequent years, check the elevation of the waypoint. Then, follow the contour lines (like those on this Satellite Topo base map) up or down the slope until you reach the elevation and corresponding soil temperatures that match your predictions about this season’s crop.

6) A Rainfall Forecast Overlay. Mushrooms tend to emerge after a good rain, often appearing to suddenly pop up overnight. You’ll want to look for places where the soil is damp but not drenched. Check the forecast over your intended hunting grounds several days in advance with the 24-hour or 72-hour Precipitation Forecast overlays in Gaia GPS. The overlays show the estimated rainfall in inches.

And, finally…

a topographic base map to use with your morel mushroom hunting map

7) Reliable Topo Maps. If off-trail searching is permissible, go for it, but be sure to carry a GPS-enabled map with you. It’s easy to get turned around when your eyes are on the ground. The Gaia GPS app uses your phone’s built-in GPS chip to show your location and direction of travel even without cell service. Plus, the app lets you download maps so you can always find your way home—hopefully with a bag of morels in tow.

Tips for Responsible Morel Mushroom Hunting

Never hunt for morels or any other mushroom without consulting an expert first. Many mushrooms are toxic, and morels have dangerous lookalikes that can easily be mistaken for the real thing. Always carry a reliable field guide, but know there’s no substitute for in-person instruction from a seasoned professional, and that the consequences for misidentification can be serious.

Always be careful to observe collection limits set by land managers, and secure a permit if one’s required. Don’t over-pick any one area; like any mushroom, morels perform an important service to the ecosystem by breaking down debris in the forest floor. Plus, if you leave a few behind, they’re more likely to release more spores and ensure future harvests.

May 21, 2019

Gaia GPS Hunting New Maps

Meet the New and Improved Public Land Survey System (PLSS) Map Layer

by Corey Buhay May 16, 2019

written by Corey Buhay

Get vastly expanded coverage, new subsection detail, and clearer township and range labels with the updated Public Land Survey System (PLSS) grid layer in Gaia GPS. With more than double the previous coverage, this edition of the map now contains all available PLSS data for the United States.

Earlier versions of the map displayed township and range lines at higher zoom levels, then revealed sections as you zoomed. Now, zoom in even further, and you can see subsections as well. This level of detail makes it easier than ever to find your precise location within a given section.

We’ve also improved the map styling, cleaning up the labels and adjusting the colors to improve visibility across a variety of base maps.

*The PLSS grid layer, before and after the update. Coverage in Alaska (not pictured) has also been expanded.*

About the Public Land Survey System

The Public Land Survey System, or PLSS for short, is a system of boundary lines used for apportioning and describing land areas in the western United States. It was devised in the 1780s, after the Revolutionary War, as a system for dividing land into plots, which could then be given to war veterans and prospective settlers of the then-wild West.

Today, PLSS boundaries are still used to delineate property boundaries, and natural resource managers, surveyors, and hunters use range and township lines to talk about geographic location. Many boundaries are still labeled with physical markers, like disc-shaped metal “monuments” or wooden posts.

*PLSS markings carved into a tree in the Beaverhead Mountains. Photo courtesy of Jesse Crocker.*

How to Use Township and Range Boundaries

The vertical lines of the PLSS grid are called range lines, and the horizontals are called township lines. Range lines are measured in 6-mile increments east and west of lines of longitude, called principal meridians. Likewise, township lines are measured in 6-mile increments north and south of lines of latitude, called baselines.

Each resulting 6-by-6-mile square is called a township. Labels include numbers to indicate the township’s distance from the relevant baseline and principle meridian, as well as letters to show its spatial relationship (whether it’s north, east, south, or west) from the central intersection of those two lines.

Each square mile within a township is called a section, which is numbered 1 through 36. And, finally, each section is divided into 16 40-acre subsections. Each subsection is described in terms of its cardinal direction from the center of the section. For example, the far southeast subsection would be called SESE, and the far northwest subsection would be NWNW. (See an example in the screenshots below).

How to use the Public Land Survey System Layer

The updated PLSS grid is available to Gaia GPS users with a Premium Membership. Android users can find it in the Premium Overlays Category. iOS and web users will be able to access it through the Weather & Feature Overlays category of the map manager.

Simply add the layer atop any base map in Gaia GPS, and zoom to view increasing levels of detail. The map styling will adjust as you zoom to preserve readability, regardless of background.

In iOS, you can tap a subsection to learn its exact acreage.

May 16, 2019

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