Wilderness trails in kmz file?

[69ChrisCraft]

I've been scouring the net looking for a .kmz file to overlay in Google earth that outlines the established wilderness trails in Northern CA. I've found wilderness boundary files on wilderness.net and also trail GPS files (.exe). But can't seem to find a simple trail overlay for google earth?

I'm not particularly tech savy so I'm sure I'm missing something simple. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Beendare]

Good question, i don't know.

FWIW, many of those trails can be seen if you zoom in..


...in fact I'm finding trails/roads in the area we are going into for the first time in Wyo- that aren't on topo or forest maps.

 

[69ChrisCraft]

Beendare,

Oh yeah, I have the .exe files on my Garmin and it includes only the very well established trails. There are several I use that are not identified on the Garmin map file yet can be found on my 7.5' quadrangle paper map.

What I'm trying to do is overlay known trails on the satellite images that correspond to the same coordinates on my 7.5' paper maps (8.5"x11"). Then laminate the two back to back. Essentially giving you a topo on one side and the corresponding aerial image (including trails for quick reference) on the other.

 

[flyinsquirel]

I'm not sure exactly how, but you can overlay 7.5' maps in GE. It will even wrap it over the topography so it appears 3d. A guy I work with showed me, but I'm not sure how he did it. I'll ask next time I see him. You may need to upgrade to GE pro though.

I would think once you had the 7.5' map overplayed you could trace out the trail as a path, then just toggle off the map.

 

[mtnrunner260]

Yes you can overlay the topo and trace. Not bad for a small area but can get out of hand for a big area with lot trails. Its is Forest Service land I assume? You could ask the local office for the data. If they can provide it they may only be able to do it in .shp. If that's the case I can convert it for you.

 

[focker34]

I have looked online for that same data so I can stay as far away from the pct as possible. I just ended up zooming in until I can actually see the trail.

 

[mcr-85]

Try this link. Click View In google earth. It will save the file to your computer. Open this file in Google Earth. It takes a minute to load and I usually have to zoom all the way out and let it load. Zoom in slow and let it keep loading as you zoom. This is a topo map that shows a lot of trails and roads.

http://services.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/rest/services/USA_Topo_Maps/MapServer

 

[69ChrisCraft]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm away on business for a few days but I'll check out the links when I'm back in front of a computer.

Mcr -85,
I assume that's ESRI data?

Thanks mtnrunner...I may take you up on the offer if I go that route.

 

[Lukem]

If you're running a garmin you might be able to load your .exe in Basecamp and save it as a kmz. Been a while since I used Basecamp, can't remember if you can do that or not. Another program to try is DNRGPS from the Minnesota DNR, a pretty useful free tool for working with shapefiles and gps units.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

There is some freeware to convert kml into exe. I will check with my GIS guy on Monday to get you the name of it

 

[69ChrisCraft]

I'm going to give up on this idea, it's more of a pain than it's worth. Do any of you fellas use high resolution satellite or aerial images in the field? I'd love to have topos, aerials, sunlight/shade etc. in the field to pour over at night back in camp. I've only been into the area a few times, enough to know productive areas are few and far between.

 

[muleman]

I'm going to give up on this idea, it's more of a pain than it's worth. Do any of you fellas use high resolution satellite or aerial images in the field? I'd love to have topos, aerials, sunlight/shade etc. in the field to pour over at night back in camp. I've only been into the area a few times, enough to know productive areas are few and far between.

I use high resolution aerial imagery in the field through BackCountry Navigator and the Digital Globe subscription. I find it very helpful when scouting new areas.

 

[69ChrisCraft]

I use high resolution aerial imagery in the field through BackCountry Navigator and the Digital Globe subscription. I find it very helpful when scouting new areas.

Thanks!

This is actually perfect timing! I'll be buying a new phone this month (it appears this is only available for androids?). Do you find that it renders a traditional GPS obsolete?

How does it affect your battery life? Do you utilize a Goal Zero or anything on extended trips?

 

[muleman]

Thanks!

This is actually perfect timing! I'll be buying a new phone this month (it appears this is only available for androids?). Do you find that it renders a traditional GPS obsolete?

How does it affect your battery life? Do you utilize a Goal Zero or anything on extended trips?

Yes, I do believe that it is still only available for android.

I have been using my phone and BCN exclusively since spring of 2013

I do have solar chargers but I prefer either an external battery pack or a spare battery. I like phones (Samsung) that have removable batteries and carry a spare usually. If I put it in airplane mode I can easily get 4 days of use from my phone.

This threads may interest you:
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/show...ry-Navigator-(How-I-made-it-do-what-I-wanted)

 

[69ChrisCraft]

Yes, I do believe that it is still only available for android.

I have been using my phone and BCN exclusively since spring of 2013

I do have solar chargers but I prefer either an external battery pack or a spare battery. I like phones (Samsung) that have removable batteries and carry a spare usually. If I but it in airplane mode I can easily get 4 days of use from my phone.

This threads may interest you:
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/show...ry-Navigator-(How-I-made-it-do-what-I-wanted)

I committed the cardinal sin and posted before using the search function.... Thanks MuleMan

 

[ScottP]

I've been scouring the net looking for a .kmz file to overlay in Google earth that outlines the established wilderness trails in Northern CA. I've found wilderness boundary files on wilderness.net and also trail GPS files (.exe). But can't seem to find a simple trail overlay for google earth?

I'm not particularly tech savy so I'm sure I'm missing something simple. Any help is greatly appreciated.

It seems to depend on the National Forest whether there are KMZ files for their spatial data layers. Try searching for your forest name + GIS + data. You might find a table that has a KMZ download in addition to the normal GIS data formats. I have many of the wilderness trails for NF in CO and OR in KMZ format. Usually each forest region (or sub-region) will have a data gateway or such where all of the boundary, roads, admin stuff can be found. Good luck.

 

[ScottP]

It seems to depend on the National Forest whether there are KMZ files for their spatial data layers. Try searching for your forest name + GIS + data. You might find a table that has a KMZ download in addition to the normal GIS data formats. I have many of the wilderness trails for NF in CO and OR in KMZ format. Usually each forest region (or sub-region) will have a data gateway or such where all of the boundary, roads, admin stuff can be found. Good luck.

If you find the data you are looking for but no KMZ, PM me. I will make a KMZ for you.

 

[69ChrisCraft]

If you find the data you are looking for but no KMZ, PM me. I will make a KMZ for you.

Very generous of you Scott, thank you!

 

[wapitibob]

I'm going to give up on this idea, it's more of a pain than it's worth. Do any of you fellas use high resolution satellite or aerial images in the field? I'd love to have topos, aerials, sunlight/shade etc. in the field to pour over at night back in camp. I've only been into the area a few times, enough to know productive areas are few and far between.

There is no perfect solution. Android locked out the sd card recently, the iPhone app maps don't look that good to me and Apple has locked out the directory, none of the phone apps have good PC front ends to use for Internet scouting then allow seamless transfer of maps and waypoints to the gps. The pc app I use to transfer sat imagery to my gps requires 3rd party conversion to jnx so the imagery can be used in the garmin Birdseye folder and the garmin bios needs to be hacked.
After years of messing around I use a laptop for my main scouting tool and always have it in camp, obviously a packin hunt won't work. For my gps I have used mytopo and the huntinggps maps and have settled on the hunt sd card. I then load the hunt unit worth of sat images into the Birdseye folder and set them to become visible at 800'. That setup works well for me but as mentioned, I usually have a laptop back at camp for night time scouting and waypoint transfer. For packin hunts your clearest imagery will be a phone app or the garmin Montera that's runs android. The sat imagery is very good and the maps will be raster based.
I have asked the huntinggps guys about a pc front end but have not heard back.

 

[69ChrisCraft]

There is no perfect solution. Android locked out the sd card recently, the iPhone app maps don't look that good to me and Apple has locked out the directory, none of the phone apps have good PC front ends to use for Internet scouting then allow seamless transfer of maps and waypoints to the gps. The pc app I use to transfer sat imagery to my gps requires 3rd party conversion to jnx so the imagery can be used in the garmin Birdseye folder and the garmin bios needs to be hacked.
After years of messing around I use a laptop for my main scouting tool and always have it in camp, obviously a packin hunt won't work. For my gps I have used mytopo and the huntinggps maps and have settled on the hunt sd card. I then load the hunt unit worth of sat images into the Birdseye folder and set them to become visible at 800'. That setup works well for me but as mentioned, I usually have a laptop back at camp for night time scouting and waypoint transfer. For packin hunts your clearest imagery will be a phone app or the garmin Montera that's runs android. The sat imagery is very good and the maps will be raster based.
I have asked the huntinggps guys about a pc front end but have not heard back.

Thanks Bob. I think an Android OS with the BCN is my best options for the time being. A future in law actually works for ESRI as a GIS specialist... I have sent a request his way for some recommendations.