The 24k Topo card you can't use on the computer so it is kind of hard to get a screen shot. Now the routing maps I have are tied to the 60CSx (thanks Garmin ). I still have a Vista Cx but rarely use it as it fails too often in heavy tree cover for hiking. After returning 3 different Vista HCx units I ditched it for the 60CSx. It would never correct but would keep tracking from there. While it tracked better the transporter effect is that it would suddenly think I wasĪnywhere from a few hundred feet to a half mile away from my actual location. I also had transporter problems with the Vista HCx. I know that from experience with the Vista Cx.
Older GPS's without the newer chipsets had/have problems sometimes tracking in heavy tree cover or ravines etc. I've intended to put up waypoints and share tracks but it's somewhat time consuming to do right so I haven't so much yet. I always record my routes, which are mostly trail hikes. I tend to trust my own tracks logs from the Garmin 60CSx. To a at least Garmin GPS units that can take maps. Many of these can be installed and viewed in Mapsource or loaded
GPSfiledepot has a bunch of free maps of various states. Washington Topo is a nice free map of Washington. Since I most often use the 24k card I usually use NW trails in mapsource to trace a track manually using the NW trails line which I can then load to my GPS if I want. I don't know if that is due to questionable tracks submitted or trail rerouting, Probably some combination of both. Some trails are spot on, some I find have sections that don't quite match up with my tracks (a section of Crystal Peak and Marmot Pass come to mind It is really only good to show you where the trails likely go give or take a little. NW trails has little if any detail which makes sense since it is normally used as an overlay anyway. As mentioned either above, or elsewhere, there are trails you can load onto the GPS, but without a mapping GPS it's not that useful. In any case, given the winters recently, you are better off checking with the FS about roads rather than relying on either map source.Īs for trails IMO both routes are a toss up.
I think FS roads are updated more recently with one of the NG map programs and I'm not sure that is included with the state series topo. The NG topo will only be as updated as the maps were when they were scanned. I'm also used to looking at USGS maps and NGtopo is easier on my eyes.
I have both of the products you mention and use NGtopo all the time because I find it easier to create maps with text and annotation which I carry with me. Then you can print a map with the waypoints to bring with you. It allows you to mark waypoints, etc, and then put them into your GPS. Since you have a non mapping GPS I'd go with NG Topo. Transfer waypoints to a (non-mapping) GPS. To some extent I have found the Garmin 24K will sometimes try and route you on a trail it contains, but that works spotty at best so I don't really use it. There are some trails indicated in the Garmin 24K card but not all and it is easier to plan on the computer anyway. I have found these trails in NW trails are not always 100% accurate either but a good starting point. NW trails is nice to beta routes/put in waypoints beforehand then send to your GPS. I say generally because sometimes it gets confused on the forest service roads, so you have to at least have an idea of where you are trying to get.Īn real example is that when trying to navigate to the 8 mile lake trailhead it wants you to turn into the campground before the actual 8 mile creek road you are supposed to turn to. The downside of course is the Garmin card cost about $100 (maybe cheaper on line, I bought mine when they first came out from Garmin directly). No need to have two sets of maps for the GPS. One thing I like about the Garmin 24K topo card is it also does street routing so if you plug in a trailhead waypoint it will generally guide you there in the car. Basically what RickZman said is kind of what I do.