When would I use USDA Forest Service maps?

USDA Forest Service Visitor Maps are best used to view an entire National Forest. They are great for driving through or planning a trip to the forest  and for showing recreational sites, campgrounds, public information sites, and other attractions in the forest.

Forest Service Wilderness Maps are topographic maps that show natural features such as mountains, valleys, plains, lakes, rivers, and vegetation. Each map covers all or part of one wilderness area and the scale is generally 1 inch per mile (1:63,360). These maps typically provide more detail than the Forest Visitor map and are used for hiking and other activities.

National Forest Atlases are full color atlases containing 8.5-inch by 11-inch topographic quadrangle maps at a scale of 1 inch to the mile (1:63,360). Atlases are only available for selected forests in California.

Order paper maps for individual national forests using the online USGS Store. Enter the name of the forest in the search window at the top of the website or in the Find a Map section, or select Forest Service Visitor Maps from the Products/Maps and Publications section. 

Download free digital Forest Service maps from the USDA Forest Service Maps website.  

Learn more: Interactive Forest Service Visitor Map