Re: Magic Earth app

croy wrote on Sun, 11 Aug 2024 17:51:06 -0700 :

I'm just getting used to using a "smart" phone, and was quick to install a
hiking-based map app, and chose GPS Tracker, but it seems to not use
offline maps as far as I can tell.
 
I'm extremely interested to know which app you use to work with USFS topo
maps.  That sounds perfect.

There are fire service geoPDFs, but I think that was a typo on your part.

For USGS topo maps, mostly I use Avenza, which has a free limit of 3 maps
(you can combine them & swap them in & out so it's not a real limit).
 <https://www.avenza.com/avenza-maps/>

Avenza is recommended by the USGS and it works on both mobile platforms:
 <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id388424049>
 <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Avenza>

Given Avenza can swap out USGS geoPDFs, I don't need Paper Maps but it will
handle any number of geoPDFs but rarely you need more than 3 quadrangles.
 <https://www.paper-maps.com/>
PaperMaps works on both iOS and Android just like Avenza does.
 <https://apps.apple.com/app/nextmap/id1147385120>
 <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.abbro.androidmap>

The USGS keeps changing their web site for how to download the free PDFs
so any instructions I provide will change - but they're easy enough to get.
<https://www.usgs.gov/programs/national-geospatial-program/topographic-maps>

You can go back to the 1800s to hike along old logging roads if any are in
your area, where I generally find the 1:24K 7.5-minute quadrangles best.