Updated USFU Online Map

[josh13]

Does the new USFS online Maps have less trails on them compared to the old topo maps? Looking at some old topo maps for a wilderness in colorado and it has a lot more trails listed than the online system. I have reached out to the local RD to see if it was due to maintenance.

 

[EdP]

I see that a lot on a variety of maps from official sources, and is why I always keep my old maps. My belief is that they don't want anyone to know about the old "abandoned" trails so they won't use them. In some cases the old trails were abandoned or rerouted due to serious erosion issues and are better off not being used. In other cases I think it is just about control.

 

[Yoteassasin]

Man I miss walking in to the old map stores with chart drawers and every usgs quad you could ever want . This maps had details that were gold . Old Mine sites, abandoned roads and trails … now you order them online and they are scrubbed of most useful information

 

[Pony Soldier]

The early usgs series had the most accurate civil structures of the early years but were never finished. The 15 minute series were accurate and were field checked so you got roads, trails, cabins and topo but again were never finished.

The most recent 7.5 series were finished but left out most of the civil structures and weren't field checked. The topo was more accurate and complete but trails completely went away or were placed in wierd places. When the fs quit maintaining them in the 70s, they just ceased to exist over time at least in montana.