All sounds very interesting, don't you need permission from Google Earth to modify their image, even if I could mark my own trails and make them viewable for myself it would be good. It sure would be good to see trails that you could zoom down on.
GOOGLE EARTH - Snowmobile Trails Project
- Thread starter christopher
- Start date
There was some interest in the AZ/NM thread then it was shot down as no one wants more riders were we go.
Every time I got back from boondocking all over the UP of Mi I'd google earth the waypoints I had in my GPS. From there I was able to figure out which tiny path through the trees were the trails....and from that the paths and kick *** off-trail places we found. I'd be interested in working on laying out some trails with google earth or whatever from the areas I go to. But all the amazing spots I found are staying secret 
R
Rob1334
ACCOUNT CLOSED
I don't think this is suppose to be intended to show other where you are going and bring in new peeps to your best riding locations.
I see it as a great source for someone coming from out of town to get not only a map in the thread (local trail map maybe?) but also a KML file with the trails marked on it. Would be a good starting point for someone going to a new area, and once lost have something available to them to use. Not sure if some clubs already have their stuff in GIS yet, but you can send me any format and I will get it in the KML needed.
Don't look at this as a way to get people in your area, but maybe a way to promote your trail system in your club, maybe bring more to buy a trail permit, and also a way to share GENERAL locations and routes to people who are new in the area.
I see it as a great source for someone coming from out of town to get not only a map in the thread (local trail map maybe?) but also a KML file with the trails marked on it. Would be a good starting point for someone going to a new area, and once lost have something available to them to use. Not sure if some clubs already have their stuff in GIS yet, but you can send me any format and I will get it in the KML needed.
Don't look at this as a way to get people in your area, but maybe a way to promote your trail system in your club, maybe bring more to buy a trail permit, and also a way to share GENERAL locations and routes to people who are new in the area.
I would have really liked to see some google earth images of McCall before getting there. Same with a coulpe of places in MT.
Also, and I am willing to help, we should have a place that helps identify "wilderness" boundries. I have challenged the local hot shot anti-motorized hiker website to help with this, but of course, they would rather take hikes and play tattle tale instead of up front help.
Also, and I am willing to help, we should have a place that helps identify "wilderness" boundries. I have challenged the local hot shot anti-motorized hiker website to help with this, but of course, they would rather take hikes and play tattle tale instead of up front help.
Right now I am utterly overloaded with working on the forums.
BUT...
I think this is going to become a forum project once things get settled down a bit here on SnoWest.
The possibilities for this are huge for the whole sport.
BUT...
I think this is going to become a forum project once things get settled down a bit here on SnoWest.
The possibilities for this are huge for the whole sport.
A group of us from Minnesota will be coming out their in the beginning of Feburary. So I was doing some looking on google earth and stumbled onto all the snowmobile trails and some ski trails. I dont know who made them or where they came from I just found them searching on google earth. Some of the trails are a little crude but they look right. So who wants to share some secret spots with me?
B
BIGGDAWG
Well-known member
do you have to download google crhrome to get google earth? it doesnt cost right to use google earth?
B
BIGGDAWG
Well-known member
no it don't cost. you can just download google earth free version it works fine.
google earth download
B
BIGGDAWG
Well-known member
cool thanks!
Northwest Trails
Current Version: 1.48
Released September 3, 2009 (revision history)
Download Northwest Trails for PC (17.1 MB)
Download Northwest Trails for Mac (16.7 MB)
[SIZE=-1]Have data to contribute? Visit the Switchbacks Data Submission page.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2]Want to view data on a map and download individual trails in GPX or Google Earth format? Visit Redtrails.com
![/SIZE]
You can contribute to this project!
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Join the Northwest Trails discussion in the Switchbacks.com Forum!
What is Northwest Trails?
In short, Northwest Trails is a mapset of trails designed for upload to any map-enabled Garmin GPS receiver. It is more than just a mapset, though; it is also a community effort initiated to record and collect GPS data for trails in the Northwest (Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, British Columbia and Alaska) and provide that data for general public use.
Background
My GPS usage started out in 1995 as a means to map mountain bike trails in my area. Over time I collected a large quantity of track data recording various paths and routes.
Tracks are very helpful when it comes to navigating a route, but the biggest problem with having a multitude of them is that no GPS can accommodate more than a few at a time. Thus, you need to know beforehand what route you want to take and, if you are talking about even a modestly sized network of trails, you have to decide which trails to cull in order for things to fit into your receiver. That's when I started thinking about custom maps for my receiver.
With custom maps like Northwest Trails, there is no longer a need to limit the number of trails loaded on the GPS (the maps use only a portion of map memory rather than a limited number of dedicated slots like tracks do). I set out making these maps for my own use and before long realized that a lot of other people could probably use them, too. That's why I started this project.
Features
Northwest Trails is made to be "transparent", which means that when loaded with other Mapsource products (or the GPSr base map) the trails appear as data laid over the top of the other maps. Northwest Trails can also be loaded directly to the GPSr on its own. Custom type definitions are used to help distinguish trail types and make them easier to see on the map than the default trail lines. There are currently two different sets of these custom types available for those installing the product using the PC version of the installer: "Normal" presents a relatively subtle appearance and works well with most of the newer high-resolution GPS screens, while the "High Visibility" type is intended for those who want a bolder, more obvious look to the trails. This set works best for fast-moving activities during which you can't watch the screen all of the time (like mountain biking) or for lower resolution screens like those on the 60 series receivers.
TRAIL TYPEAPPEARANCENormalHigh VisibilityTrail
Minor Trail
Paved Trail
Motorized Trail
Unpaved Road
Coverage
The mapset currently covers the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska along with a spattering of trails in British Columbia (see coverage map below). However, since government GIS sources of unknown quality and completeness are the source of much of this data, there is a significant need for not only additional data but also verification of virtually all of these trails by GPS-wielding users. The intent is, over time, for the coverage of the mapset to expand to include thorough GPS-verified coverage of all trails located in the Pacific Northwest.
Screenshots
Below are a couple of example screenshots of the maps on a Garmin Colorado 400t (using the "Hi-Res" custom line style set). The first image shows the Riverside State Park area in Spokane with Northwest Trails layered on top of City Navigator 2009. The second shot shows a section of Squak Mountain near Issaquah, WA on top of Topo 2008.
Here is a view of what Northwest Trails looks like from within MapSource (again using the "Hi-Res" custom line style set). Note that the trails will not appear until you zoom in to the 0.5 mile zoom level or below. (This is when the MapSource map detail setting is at its default of "Medium"; setting the map detail level higher or lower will change the zoom level at which the trails appear.)
Installation
The installation of Northwest Trails is straightforward. It can be utilized from within Garmin's MapSource software (on PCs), Garmin's RoadTrip software (for Macs) or uploaded directly to your GPS unit (using freely available utilities).
DISCLAIMER:
The accuracy of the data used to create these maps varies greatly. These maps are to be used for reference purposes only. The author(s) are not responsible for any inaccuracies and no responsibility is assumed for damages or other liabilities due to the accuracy, availability, use or misuse of the data presented. Installation and use of these maps is at your own risk!
What if I don't have MapSource?
MapSource is a free Garmin application, but the downloads available on the Garmin site are upgrades will only install if you have a previous MapSource installation on your computer. The full install is only available from Garmin's map CDs - or, fortunately, if you download and install Garmin's Training Center software.
Steps:
You can then proceed with the download of Northwest Trails as described below.
Download
For use from within Garmin's MapSource (on PCs), download the .zip file from the link at the top of this page, unzip it, and then execute the mapset installer. This program will install the map files and register the mapset with MapSource. Within MapSource a new mapset product entitled "Northwest Trails" will be available in the Product drop down selection list (or from the View | Switch to Product menu option).
For use with Garmin's RoadTrip (on Macs), download the .tgz file from the link at the top of this page, unarchive it into the resulting .tar file, then unpack that to a .gmapi file. This file can then be installed into RoadTrip with MapManager and onto the GPS receiver with MapInstall.
GPS Usage
The Northwest Trails mapset should overlay any other mapset present on your GPS unit. </B>It is important to note that when you upload maps to your receiver, the existing mapset on the unit will be deleted.</B> (Newer firmware versions on the Colorado and Oregon receivers allow for multiple map files to coexist on the units, but unless you remember to rename an already-uploaded map file, the new upload will be given the same default name as the existing one and overwrite it.) This means that if you want Northwest Trails to overlay City Navigator maps, for example, you will need to upload the chosen City Navigator maps along with Northwest Trails all at once. To switch between mapsets (if more than one has been loaded to your GPS) simply toggle the hide/show settings for the desired mapsets on your receiver.
Support this Effort
If you find Northwest Trails useful and would like to see more data added, or new mapsets created, please consider supporting this effort in one (or more) of the following ways:
Feedback & Referrals
All feedback (comments, corrections, questions, etc.) is welcome and encouraged. Please direct all feedback to the email address shown at the top of this page. I try my best to reply to every email I receive but it is not always possible. I do read every email and appreciate the feedback.
If you like this mapset please let others know about it. More people using and supporting this effort means more additions and corrections are possible.
Data Contribution
The core of all of these mapsets is data. The real heart of that data is tracks recorded out in the field with GPS. Since data of this accuracy is hard to come by from government and other agencies, and I cannot possibly get out there and hike all of the trails of the Northwest (although I'd like to try!), that's where you come in! Any track data you can supply is needed and most appreciated, and will be integrated into the Northwest Trails mapset for everyone to use. Data submission is available at the Switchbacks Data Submission page.
If you would like to collect and submit your track data to the project, please follow these pointers so that your effort can be as useful as possible:
Since it will be a while until we record all of the trails in the Northwest, it is useful to include other sources of trail data to help fill in the holes in the meantime. Thus, any information, links, etc. to any detailed trail maps or GIS datasets would be greatly appreciated. In order to use such data in the Northwest Trails project, the data should be:
This mapset is free to download and use but if you find these maps useful please consider making a donation to help offset the costs incurred in producing and offering them (software licenses, website hosting, etc.).
References
Software
Several software applications are used in the production of Northwest Trails. ArcGIS is used to merge and cull datasets and edit fields. GlobalMapper is used for the majority of data manipulation and for digitizing of paper maps. cGPSmapper is the primary tool for compiling the data into a Garmin map file.
Current Version: 1.48
Released September 3, 2009 (revision history)
Download Northwest Trails for PC (17.1 MB)
Download Northwest Trails for Mac (16.7 MB)
[SIZE=-1]Have data to contribute? Visit the Switchbacks Data Submission page.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2]Want to view data on a map and download individual trails in GPX or Google Earth format? Visit Redtrails.com
![/SIZE] You can contribute to this project!
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Join the Northwest Trails discussion in the Switchbacks.com Forum!
What is Northwest Trails?
In short, Northwest Trails is a mapset of trails designed for upload to any map-enabled Garmin GPS receiver. It is more than just a mapset, though; it is also a community effort initiated to record and collect GPS data for trails in the Northwest (Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, British Columbia and Alaska) and provide that data for general public use.
Background
My GPS usage started out in 1995 as a means to map mountain bike trails in my area. Over time I collected a large quantity of track data recording various paths and routes.
Tracks are very helpful when it comes to navigating a route, but the biggest problem with having a multitude of them is that no GPS can accommodate more than a few at a time. Thus, you need to know beforehand what route you want to take and, if you are talking about even a modestly sized network of trails, you have to decide which trails to cull in order for things to fit into your receiver. That's when I started thinking about custom maps for my receiver.
With custom maps like Northwest Trails, there is no longer a need to limit the number of trails loaded on the GPS (the maps use only a portion of map memory rather than a limited number of dedicated slots like tracks do). I set out making these maps for my own use and before long realized that a lot of other people could probably use them, too. That's why I started this project.
Features
Northwest Trails is made to be "transparent", which means that when loaded with other Mapsource products (or the GPSr base map) the trails appear as data laid over the top of the other maps. Northwest Trails can also be loaded directly to the GPSr on its own. Custom type definitions are used to help distinguish trail types and make them easier to see on the map than the default trail lines. There are currently two different sets of these custom types available for those installing the product using the PC version of the installer: "Normal" presents a relatively subtle appearance and works well with most of the newer high-resolution GPS screens, while the "High Visibility" type is intended for those who want a bolder, more obvious look to the trails. This set works best for fast-moving activities during which you can't watch the screen all of the time (like mountain biking) or for lower resolution screens like those on the 60 series receivers.
TRAIL TYPEAPPEARANCENormalHigh VisibilityTrail
Coverage
The mapset currently covers the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska along with a spattering of trails in British Columbia (see coverage map below). However, since government GIS sources of unknown quality and completeness are the source of much of this data, there is a significant need for not only additional data but also verification of virtually all of these trails by GPS-wielding users. The intent is, over time, for the coverage of the mapset to expand to include thorough GPS-verified coverage of all trails located in the Pacific Northwest.
Screenshots
Below are a couple of example screenshots of the maps on a Garmin Colorado 400t (using the "Hi-Res" custom line style set). The first image shows the Riverside State Park area in Spokane with Northwest Trails layered on top of City Navigator 2009. The second shot shows a section of Squak Mountain near Issaquah, WA on top of Topo 2008.
Here is a view of what Northwest Trails looks like from within MapSource (again using the "Hi-Res" custom line style set). Note that the trails will not appear until you zoom in to the 0.5 mile zoom level or below. (This is when the MapSource map detail setting is at its default of "Medium"; setting the map detail level higher or lower will change the zoom level at which the trails appear.)
Installation
The installation of Northwest Trails is straightforward. It can be utilized from within Garmin's MapSource software (on PCs), Garmin's RoadTrip
software (for Macs) or uploaded directly to your GPS unit (using freely available utilities). DISCLAIMER:
The accuracy of the data used to create these maps varies greatly. These maps are to be used for reference purposes only. The author(s) are not responsible for any inaccuracies and no responsibility is assumed for damages or other liabilities due to the accuracy, availability, use or misuse of the data presented. Installation and use of these maps is at your own risk!
What if I don't have MapSource?
MapSource is a free Garmin application, but the downloads available on the Garmin site are upgrades will only install if you have a previous MapSource installation on your computer. The full install is only available from Garmin's map CDs - or, fortunately, if you download and install Garmin's Training Center software.
Steps:
- Download and install Garmin Training Center
- Download and install Garmin MapSource
You can then proceed with the download of Northwest Trails as described below.
Download
For use from within Garmin's MapSource (on PCs), download the .zip file from the link at the top of this page, unzip it, and then execute the mapset installer. This program will install the map files and register the mapset with MapSource. Within MapSource a new mapset product entitled "Northwest Trails" will be available in the Product drop down selection list (or from the View | Switch to Product menu option).
For use with Garmin's RoadTrip (on Macs), download the .tgz file from the link at the top of this page, unarchive it into the resulting .tar file, then unpack that to a .gmapi file. This file can then be installed into RoadTrip with MapManager and onto the GPS receiver with MapInstall.
GPS Usage
The Northwest Trails mapset should overlay any other mapset present on your GPS unit. </B>It is important to note that when you upload maps to your receiver, the existing mapset on the unit will be deleted.</B> (Newer firmware versions on the Colorado and Oregon receivers allow for multiple map files to coexist on the units, but unless you remember to rename an already-uploaded map file, the new upload will be given the same default name as the existing one and overwrite it.) This means that if you want Northwest Trails to overlay City Navigator maps, for example, you will need to upload the chosen City Navigator maps along with Northwest Trails all at once. To switch between mapsets (if more than one has been loaded to your GPS) simply toggle the hide/show settings for the desired mapsets on your receiver.
Support this Effort
If you find Northwest Trails useful and would like to see more data added, or new mapsets created, please consider supporting this effort in one (or more) of the following ways:
Feedback & Referrals
All feedback (comments, corrections, questions, etc.) is welcome and encouraged. Please direct all feedback to the email address shown at the top of this page. I try my best to reply to every email I receive but it is not always possible. I do read every email and appreciate the feedback.
If you like this mapset please let others know about it. More people using and supporting this effort means more additions and corrections are possible.
Data Contribution
The core of all of these mapsets is data. The real heart of that data is tracks recorded out in the field with GPS. Since data of this accuracy is hard to come by from government and other agencies, and I cannot possibly get out there and hike all of the trails of the Northwest (although I'd like to try!), that's where you come in! Any track data you can supply is needed and most appreciated, and will be integrated into the Northwest Trails mapset for everyone to use. Data submission is available at the Switchbacks Data Submission page.
If you would like to collect and submit your track data to the project, please follow these pointers so that your effort can be as useful as possible:
- Before you start recording track data, access the Setup menu for your GPS receiver and adjust the recording frequency and quality set of your track recording to the best available. On my unit I generally set the recording method to "Auto" and the recording interval to "Most Often".
- Turn on the GPS receiver and allow it to have a clear view of the sky for at least 15 minutes before you begin recording. This allows the unit to connect with as many satellites as possible, which increases accuracy and helps it to maintain satellite lock.
- Hold or place the receiver in a location where it can best receive satellite signals as you travel. Be aware of where the antenna is located and the best orientation of the GPSr for signal strength. Patch antennas like those on the eTrex models work best when oriented horizontally, while quad helix antennas like those on the 60 series receivers tend to work best when pointed straight up.
- Avoid saving the track to the unit's internal memory before downloading. That reduces the number of points in the data and subsequently reduces the precision of the track.
- Send me the track log with the name of the trail(s) recorded and information on the type of trail (e.g. paved trail, dirt trail, unpaved road, etc.). GPX is the preferred format, but I can convert most formats.
- Also send along any waypoints along the route like trailheads, attractions, or summits.
Since it will be a while until we record all of the trails in the Northwest, it is useful to include other sources of trail data to help fill in the holes in the meantime. Thus, any information, links, etc. to any detailed trail maps or GIS datasets would be greatly appreciated. In order to use such data in the Northwest Trails project, the data should be:
- Publicly available and free to use
- Easy to obtain
- Accurate and fully classified (for example, trails should have names and surface attributes, etc.)
This mapset is free to download and use but if you find these maps useful please consider making a donation to help offset the costs incurred in producing and offering them (software licenses, website hosting, etc.).
References
Software
Several software applications are used in the production of Northwest Trails. ArcGIS
is used to merge and cull datasets and edit fields. GlobalMapper is used for the majority of data manipulation and for digitizing of paper maps. cGPSmapper is the primary tool for compiling the data into a Garmin map file.anther thaught is your localDepartment of natural resources, the have maps of your whole state mountain road system and topo for fires, iam currently working on getting this for my trip to mccall. they have it dump directly into mapsource which it what Garmin uses, then just add your waypoints.
V
volcano buster
Well-known member
Is this project completed yet?
technology made this project unnecessary
Similar threads
