Tag:

new maps

AdventuresFeaturedGaia GPSHow-ToNew Maps

Using Gaia GPS to Find Free Camping in National Forests

by Ashli Baldwin
written by Ashli Baldwin

Many National Forests across the United States allow free dispersed camping. This post will show you how to use Gaia GPS to find free camping spots before heading out and navigate when you get there.

Dispersed camping refers to camping outside of established campgrounds, typically with no amenities like bathrooms or running water. Sites vary from drive-up to walk-in only.

free camping

Get the Right Maps in Gaia GPS

The best maps to plan for off-grid camping in National Forests include:

  • USFS Classic: This map offers detailed coverage in many designated USFS areas.
  • USFS 2016: An update to USFS Classic, the 2016 map shows some forest service roads missing on the Classic map, but lacks private boundaries. Read more about USFS 2016 here.
  • Gaia Topo: The proprietary Gaia GPS base map — this map rocks. If you’re not using it yet — why?
  • Public Land (US): A shaded map meant to overlay on any basemap. The important color you’re looking for here is green, which means US Forest Service.
  • MVUM (USFS): The USFS’ Motor Vehicle Use Maps overlay shows roads styled to indicate seasonality and accessibility. Tap a road for details on use restrictions and access dates.
  • USFS Roads & Trails: An overlay of maintained routes, 4×4 trails, backroads, and little-known paths across U.S. national forests and grasslands. All roads are labeled to indicate their level of maintenance and accessibility by passenger vehicles.

A Premium Membership allows you access to these maps and the ability to layer maps together. This feature is key so that you can layer Public Land with USFS maps for the ultimate free campsite search experience.

Using the Maps to Find Free Camping Spots

Below you can see an example of a layered map in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Northern Wisconsin. It shows layered maps using Gaia Topo, USFS Classic, Public Land (US), and MVUM (USFS).

You can see the opacity settings used:

How to Find a Dispersed Camping Spot

You’ll want to find an area that is:

  1. In green (National Forest)
  2. Typically along or at the end of a Forest Service road (but not necessarily)
  3. Check the usage periods for the road for accessibility
  4. Make sure there aren’t a lot of buildings in the area (shown as black marks on USFS maps)

You’ll always want to get confirmation that the area you’ve picked is indeed okay for dispersed camping. Rules and regulations can vary widely, and temporary fire bans may be in effect. Always check before you go and note any posted signs along your route.

Using 3rd Party Resources and Maps

A quick Google search may yield some results for locations of free campsites in your National Forest, but more often than not, these sites don’t come openly advertised. This keeps the area impact low, and your special spot a secret.

If you’re willing to spend the time, here are a few additional resources to help you find that perfect spot:

  1. Call the ranger stations. They know the forest better than anyone else, and will typically advise you on the best places to spend the night.
  2. Find specialized maps for your National Forest. Some even list known dispersed camping sites. Here is an example from Nicolet, where the brown tent symbol with a white background represents a common dispersed free camping area.

Planning for Your Trip

Plot waypoints at the campsites you find and/or plan a route to your desired location. It’s best to plan several backup locations in case the one you want is already taken.

If your forest service area offers printable PDF maps, consider adding them to Gaia GPS. You can follow these steps to geo-reference your maps and add them to your account.

Most importantly, download maps before you leave so that you can view your location and navigate offline.

Leave No Trace

When you’re in the Forest, Leave No Trace. Pick up your garbage and follow all rules and regulations.

Find an amazing spot? Keep it a secret!

Disclaimer: Always bring a back up map. Rules and regulations may vary depending on your area. Always check with the responsible land management agency before heading out.

14 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
A screenshot of the Wildfire Satellite Data map layer shows where wildfires are currently burning in purple shading.
Gaia GPSNew Maps

Satellite Detected Heat Layer Can Help Identify Wildfires Quickly

by Mary Cochenour
written by Mary Cochenour

Find wildfire hotspots with the new and free Wildfires (Satellite Detections) layer on Gaia GPS. This layer sources satellite data from NASA to show where wildfires are currently burning worldwide. Pair this layer with your favorite map to plan re-routes around hot spots, predict likely trail closures, and stay safer during fire season.

In response to the wildfires ravaging the West Coast, we’re offering the Wildfire (Satellite Detections), Wildfire (Current) and Air Quality layers for free on gaiagps.com and the mobile app. Click here to view the free maps on the web.

A screenshot of the Wildfires (Satellite Detections) map layer on the Gaia GPS website shows the locations of wildfires in purple shading throughout California.
Get up to 40% off
Gaia GPS

The Wildfires (Satellite Detections) layer updates several times each day to give you up-to-date information from NASA’s satellites. NASA uses MODIS and VIIRS satellites to detect thermal anomalies around the globe, showing where wildfires are actively burning and hot. Hot spots show up on your map in purple shading. Click on the purple-shaded area to learn how and when NASA detected the thermal area.

Detect Wildfires by Pairing Satellite Detections and Current Wildfires Layers

A screenshot of the Wildfires (Satellite Detections) and (Current) map layers in the Gaia GPS app shows where a wildfire is located, its name, the year, size, status, perimeter date, and map method.

Use the Wildfires (Satellite Detections) and Wildfires (Current) layers together to help find and avoid active wildfires on your next adventure. NASA’s satellites detect all thermal anomalies on the earth’s surface, so some hot spots may be caused by flares, volcanoes, or other heat sources. To make sure the area represents heat from a wildfire, use the Wildfires (Satellite Detections) layer in concert with Gaia GPS’s Wildfires (Current) layer to see what part of an active wildfire is still burning hot.

The Wildfires (Current) layer displays recent wildfire activity in red. Click the red area on the Wildfires (Current) layer and a pop up shows the fire’s name, size, activity level, and more. Some wildfires remain undetected by the Wildfires (Current) layer, especially when the fire is brand new, in a remote area, or not being actively fought. However, both detected and undetected fires will appear on the Wildfires (Satellite Detections) layer in purple shading if they are still hot and actively burning.

Get the New Wildfires (Satellite Detections) Layer

To access the layer, visit the layers menu and select the “Features/Weather Overlays” tab. Scroll to the bottom and tap “Wildfires (Satellite Detections).” Tap the “Add Layer“ button.

8 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
Gaia GPSNew FeaturesNew Maps

Find More Rivers, Lakes, and Wetlands with the New US Hydrography Map

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Find water sources, identify river crossings, and get a better picture of any landscape with the new US Hydrography map. This layer shows more rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands than any other map on Gaia GPS. Level up your favorite maps by pairing them with US hydrography for more precise and expanded coverage of bodies of water across the United States.

About US Hydrography Map

Crossing a raging river in the middle of a backpacking trip should never come as a surprise. With this new map, you can plan more effectively with data sourced from USGS National Hydrography Data Set.

The US Hydrography Map represents the water drainage network of the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, with features such as rivers, streams, canals, lakes, ponds, coastline, dams, and stream-gages. Community stewards and users update and maintain the data.

US Hydrography has a scale of 1:24,000 scale or 1:63,360 in Alaska, and reveals more details as you zoom in on the map. Click on water features to learn more about the type and size of the body of water.

How to Access the New Hydrography Map

Access and download the Hydrography Map with a Premium Membership. Download the map by visiting the layers menu and selecting “Features/Weather Overlays” then select US Hydrography to add the map layer. Download any map to your device before you head in the backcountry to view water sources while out of cell service range.

1 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
Gaia GPSNew Maps

Access 45 Updated National Park Service Maps

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Gaia GPS offers an expansive collection of National Park Service maps for 45 national parks and recreation areas throughout the United States. Skip the paper map at the park entrance and view all park amenities, trailheads, and must-see stops right on your phone.

What’s Included on the NPS Visitor Maps

Sourced from the National Park Service, the NPS Visitor maps highlight all of the features you’ll want to have on hand when sightseeing and exploring national parks. Pick out where to stop along your route with labels for amenities, trails, roads, and natural features. Use the black square icons to identify campgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms, boat launches, ranger stations, and more.

Avoid issues that might disrupt your visit by scouring the map for details, like seasonal road closures and water availability. Zoom closer on the map to see inserts with expanded information on main attractions. That way, you never miss a geyser, waterfall, or scenic overlook.

Two iPhones displaying NPS Visitor map of Grand Teton National Park

About National Park Service Maps

The NPS Visitor maps are for general reference, orientation, and route-finding only. If you plan to travel into the backcountry, waterways, or other remote areas in the park, use supplemental maps. The NPS recommends US Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps, available on Gaia GPS, for more serious travel. Also, reference Gaia GPS’s recommended maps for hiking, backpacking, and offroading.

Access NPS Visitor Maps

These new maps are available to Gaia GPS users with a Premium subscription. To access them, open up the Gaia GPS app or website, click or tap the layers menu and select “Add Map Layers.” Select “United States” and then NPS Visitor. Try adding the layer to Gaia Topo for added information for exploration between parks. To find a specific park, type the name into the search bar on the main map.

3 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
AndroidApp UpdatesGaia GPS

The Next Generation of Gaia GPS for Android

by Ashli Baldwin
written by Ashli Baldwin

We built the Android release everyone has been waiting for, and it’s been a year in the making. The next generation of Gaia GPS for Android features crisp maps, fast downloads, smooth panning/scrolling, and the ability to interact with features on the map.

We consider this release foundational. It’s both a dramatic improvement the community will feel to the bones of the app, and it sets the stage for a longer laundry list of accumulated UX improvements, bugs, and new features that we’re going to deliver in 2020.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the huge round of beta testing leading up to this release. If you’d like to participate in future beta testing, sign up to be a beta tester.

Beautiful Map Display, Faster Downloads

Gaia Topo and several other sources now display as ‘vector’ maps. This improvement means labels stay crisp as you zoom in/out and enables faster scrolling, panning, zooming, and tilting.

The switch to vector maps also allows for drastically smaller map download sizes at impressive speeds. In testing Gaia Topo, we found that the state of Washington can be downloaded in fewer than 1000MB (perhaps as small as 500MB) and completes in less than 10 minutes — 10x smaller and faster than some other non-vector maps.

Interactive Map Icons

Tap icons directly on the map to get information about them. Learn about hikes, natural features, property boundaries, and other important landmarks.

Gaia Topo Gets a Slick Redesign

Perhaps the most visual change you’ll notice, the new Gaia Topo features a cleaner look and smarter labeling. You can read all about the newly updated Gaia Topo here.

tablet featuring new Gaia GPS map

Automatic Map Updates

Now, you’ll have the option to automatically update all of your map downloads for a particular source when it receives an update. No more deleting and re-downloading your public land maps every year. Anytime a map update is available, you’ll get a notification as soon as it’s live.

What’s Next for Gaia GPS Android

We’re excited about this update not only for the new maps, but also because it sets the stage for faster feature development in the future.

The Gaia GPS Android developer team remains small, but we’re still on the hunt for great software developers to join Gaia GPS. Check out our open job listings here: gaiagps.com/company/jobs

4 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
AdventuresGaia GPSNew Maps

South Australia Topo: Maps for Kangaroo Island, Flinders Range, the Coastline and More

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Gaia GPS’s Australia map collection now includes South Australia Topo. For adventurers down under, this authoritative government-produced map unlocks five areas from the coast to the mountains. Dial in your South Australian route with detailed topo maps, road and track information, and key landmark notations.

What’s Included in South Australia Topo?

The South Australia Topo map includes full topographic coverage for Kangaroo Island, Flinders Range, Yorke Peninsula, Riverland & Murray Mallee, Mount Lofty Ranges, and Eyre Peninsula. Coverage extends along 3,800km of southern coast from the border of Western Australia to Victoria, and extends north to the Flinders Range.

Map details include topography, roads and tracks, buildings, and other landscape features. It also features a standard topographic map base, generated from databases maintained by South Australia’s Department of Land and Water and other state government agencies.

South Australia coastline with trees in the foreground.

About South Australia Topo

Australia’s official Government resource, Emergency Services Map Books provides the maps for South Australia Topo. Mapping scales include: 1:250k, 1:100k, 1:50k, and 1:25k. A combination of high and low resolution maps show the entire extent of coverage at every scale.

Multiple Australia maps already live in the Gaia GPS map catalog as part of Gaia GPS’s growing effort to provide maps for the entire country.

How to Access South Australia Topo in Gaia GPS

South Australia Topo maps are available for users with a Premium Membership. Gaia GPS users of all levels have access to other Australia and New Zealand maps that can all be found here.

To add the South Australia map to your collection, visit the layers menu and view the Australia/New Zealand/Asia maps category. Select South Australia Topo or choose from the list of other Australia maps available.

0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
Gaia GPSHuntingiOSNew Maps

24- and 72-Hour Weather Forecast Overlays

by Robyn Martin
written by Robyn Martin

In addition to the 48-hour Precip Overlay, Gaia GPS includes 24- and 72-hour Forecast Overlays, too. Beat the rain, or maximize your powder days, with these  options that you can display over your favorite base maps.

Sourced from NOAA Data

Like the 48-hour overlays, the 24-hour and 72-hour Precip Overlays refresh with new information every 12 hours from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Prediction Center (WPC). Predictions show a static image of the amount of liquid precipitation expects to fall in the given time frame for the continental United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Using the Precip Forecast Overlays

Choose the best day to head out on the trail by referencing the right weather overlay. Heading out for the weekend? Check out the 72-hour forecast to get a view of overall precipitation. Just want to know what tomorrow looks like? Use the 24-hour forecast to get a quick and accurate prediction.

Premium Members can view the forecast overlays when connected to WiFi or cell service in the iOS app and on gaiagps.com.

How to View the Precip Overlays

In the app:

  1. Follow these steps to add the Precip Overlay to your layers list.
  2. Find the Precip maps under the Feature/Weather Overlays category.
  3. Turn on layered maps to view the Precip overlays on top of your favorite map source.

On gaiagps.com:

  1. Follow these steps to add the Precip Overlays to your layers list.
  2. Find them in the Weather and Features Overlays category.

How to Read the Precip Forcast Overlays

These overlays use colored shading to show forecasted cumulative precipitation. The legend below shows the color markings for cumulation in inches:

Quantitative Precipitation Forecast

A Note on Safety

You can use the weather overlay as a planning tool to help you pack, plan your route, and be prepared for the weather ahead. Gaia GPS provides map layers to help plan and prepare for inclement weather but make sure to check with local news sources for more frequent and localized updates.

0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
Gaia GPS 48 Hour Precip overlay
App UpdatesGaia GPSiOSNew Maps

Get 48-Hour Precipitation Forecasts on Any Map in Gaia GPS

by Angela Crampton
written by Angela Crampton

Prepare for the unexpected with the new 48-hour weather forecast overlay.

Combine this new map overlay with your favorite base map to see rainfall predictions for your next weekend adventure.

Gaia GPS NOAA 48 hour precip forecast overlay

Built on Official NOAA Data

The 48-hour precip overlay taps directly into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasting data. The NOAA Weather Prediction Center (WPC) researches and releases short-term forecasts twice daily, based on predictive models and satellite imagery. Their reports can forecast heavy rain, snow, and flash flooding up to seven days in advance.

We’ve limited the forecasting for this map to 48 hours in order to give you the most accurate prediction for weekend trips. The overlay refreshes with new information every 12 hours and currently includes the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

How To Read the Forecast

Known as a Quantitative Precipitation Forecast, the weather overlay shades areas of the map to help you visualize the amount of rainfall during a specified amount of time (48 hours, in this case).

The chart below shows the different shades available depending on the forecast, ranging from 0 to 20 inches of rainfall. Green and blue shades represent light showers, while darker areas of red or purple indicate larger accumulations.

Quantitative Precipitation Forecast

Using the 48 Hour Precip Forecast Overlay

Available for iOS users with a Premium Membership, the 48-hour Precip Forecast map can be viewed while connected to the internet.

Gaia GPS 48 hour precip map overlay

From the Map Sources menu, navigate to the Feature/Weather Overlays category.

Add the 48-hour Precip Forecast overlay atop any of your favorite base maps and set the transparency from 25 to 30 percent for the best visibility. Learn how to add map sources for iOS below:

A Note on Safety

You can use the weather overlay as a planning tool to help you pack, plan your route, and be prepared for the weather ahead. Know the terrain and alternate routes ahead of time, and plan for inclement weather, even if none appears in the forecast. Gaia GPS provides map layers to help plan and prepare but the ‘go’ or ‘no-go’ decision remains with you.

0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
Stay Prepared during Wildfire Season
Gaia GPSHuntingNew Maps

Stay Prepared during Wildfire Season with New Current Wildfires Overlay

by Robyn Martin
written by Robyn Martin

With the new ‘US Wildfire – Current’ overlay, Premium Members can view current fire conditions before heading out on the trail. In addition, use the existing ‘US Wildfire – Historic’ overlay to view areas that were previously affected by wildfires.

Already have Premium? Follow these steps to add new maps, like the US Wildfire Overlays.

Disclaimer: The US Wildfire – Current’ overlay is updated daily as new data is made available by the USGS, but many fire boundaries will be out of date or incorrect, and recent fires may not have been added yet. Use of this map layer for any purpose is at your own risk, and Trailbehind Inc (maker of Gaia GPS) is not responsible for any actions you take based on the information contained in any map.

Use the “US Wildfire – Current” Overlay to Stay Informed

You’ll find the “US Wildfires – Current” overlay in the Feature/Weather Overlays category of the map manger. It can be used whenever you have an internet connection and gets updated daily by the USGS. Reference the map before leaving home to check for actively burning wildfires.

Layer the ‘US Wildfire – Current’ overlay atop any of your favorite map sources, like Gaia Topo, USGS Topo, or USFS 2016. You can use this information to follow up with the local rangers station for closures and trail conditions in the area.

Layer the US Wildfire-Current overlay with USFS 2016 to view active wildfire for an area.

US Wildfire-Current over USFS 2016

Shaded red displays current burn areas. Tap the area and click the Info icon to view more details about the fires size, name, and Inciweb id which you can use to look up more information about the burn.Gaia GPS US Wildfire - Current

Use Gaia GPS to Check for Historical Wildfires

In addition to the current Wildfires map, you can also find historical wildfire information with the ‘US Wildfires – Historical’ overlay. This map layer updates bi-annually and shows you a record of past wildfires, the year they burned, and acreage of the fire. Overlaying this data with map sources like Gaia Topo will queue you to important trail conditions you may need to prepare for.

Even after fires blow through an area, land managers can keep trails closed for weeks or even years. Much of the Columbia River Gorge area in Mount Hood National Forest remains closed in the aftermath of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire due to fallen trees and other hazards. Cleared areas may still have widow makers (dangle branches) or dead trees with rotted roots along a trail which are especially dangerous in high winds.

Contact the ranger district for the area you are exploring for up-to-date conditions for the area.

Layer the US Wildfire -Historic overlay with Gaia Topo to view past fires in an area.

US Wildfire – Historic over Gaia Topo

Third Party Resources

Use the following resources to get more information about current wildfires:

  • The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) provides detailed information on its USFS Public Fire Information page with specific wildfire data and additional web resources to stay aware.
  • InciWeb shows incident information from multiple management agencies. Use the InciWeb ID listed in the fire details page to find details on fires near you.
  • Research the air quality before heading outside will make the hike more enjoyable, your lungs will thank you. Wind can carry smoke across states causing haze. Firesmoke.ca provides a 51-hour forecast of North America’s conditions.
  • Check the local news source in the area you are headed for regional-specific closures and updates.

Feature photo by: Brian Miracle

0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
Gaia GPSNew Maps

Introducing Luxembourg Maps in Gaia GPS

by Brandon Fralic
written by Brandon Fralic

Six new Luxembourg maps, now available for all Gaia GPS users. Sourced from the official Luxembourg Geoportal, these maps include a current topographic layer, satellite (aerial) photos, a land parcel layer, and three historic topographic layers.

You can find each new Luxembourg map layer in the app in the More Layers menu, under the International sources category. Use the following instructions to add them:

Add map sources in Gaia for iOS
Add map sources in Gaia for Android

Luxembourg Topo Layers
Compare the current Luxembourg Topo layer to historic topos from 1907, 1927, and 1964. Screenshots below show the current Luxembourg Topo (left) compared to an historic 1907 topo layer (right).

 

Luxembourg Aerial 2013 and Luxembourg Land Parcels
You can also use Gaia GPS to access satellite photo images of Luxembourg (left) and Luxembourg Land Parcels (right). For more information on finding land parcels, visit the Luxembourg Geoportal.

We want to provide the best, most up-to-date maps available, and constantly search for ways to improve the Gaia sources list. Add your requests for additional map sources to our Community Forum.

If you have any other questions or feedback, reach out to us at support@gaiagps.com.

0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinRedditEmail
Load More Posts