In 2010, the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) began producing the new US Topo map series. The first maps were relatively simple, but quality and content have continually improved. Recreational features, especially trails, are among the most often requested features, but have been difficult to add due to lack of national datasets. Some trails in National Forests were added in 2014. In 2015 the USGS partnered with the International Mountain Biking Association (REI-Adventure Projects) to include trails outside of Federal lands. A pilot project with the National Park Service in 2016 added trails, visitor centers, trailheads, and campgrounds to US Topo maps covering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 2018 US Topo maps include trails, trailheads, campgrounds, picnic areas, visitor centers, and other recreation information on selected Federal lands, using data provided by the relevant agencies. Continuing into the future, the USGS is working on partnerships with states and other organizations including The National Map Corps to expand recreational features to non-Federal lands. All such data will be in the public domain and published in The National Map geospatial databases.

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Date 9/20/2018
Elizabeth McCartney
Partnerships Lead to
Additional Recreational
Content on US Topo
Maps

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Introduction
● US Topo content over time
● Protected lands
● Partners
● Trails
● Recreational Points of Interest
● Data access
● Future Steps

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US Topo Map
https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic
/?basemap=b1&category=histtopo,u
stopo&title=Map%20View
US Topo

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US Topo Content Over Time
2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016,
2017, 2018, 2019
▪ Ortho-rectified Aerial Imagery
▪ Roads (Commercial Source)
▪ Names
▪ Elevation Contours
▪ Hydrography
▪ State/County/USFS Boundaries
▪ Runways, Woodlands
▪ Railroads
▪ Public Land Survey System
▪ Fire Stations, Hospitals, Schools
▪ USFS Roads
▪ Military Boundaries
▪ Cemeteries, Post Offices
▪ State Capito
▪ Shaded Relief
▪ USFS Trails
▪ FWS Boundaries
▪ State Capital Buildings
▪ Police Stations
▪ Correctional Facilities
▪ Alaska State Park Trails
▪ IMBA Trails
▪ National Scenic Trails
▪ Additional state trails
▪ Recreational features pilot (trailheads,
visitor centers, campgrounds)
▪ Additional state trails
▪ Trailheads, visitor centers,
campgrounds
▪ Historic Sites, Memorials, Monuments
▪ Headquarters, Ranger stations,
Cabins
▪ FWS Wetlands (Freshwater Emergent
and Freshwater Forested/Shrub

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USGS Products Over Time
2011 2013 2016
Eldorado Springs Quad in Colorado - Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Eldorado
Canyon State Park.

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Protected Areas Database of United States
(PAD-US)

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+ 7Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
U.S. Forest Service
109,264 miles of trails

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+ 8Uncompahgre
National
Forest

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+ 9Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Fish and Wildlife Service
3,980 miles of trails

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+ 10Tamarac National
Wildlife Refuge

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+ 11Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
National Park Service
13,167 miles of trails

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+ 12Yellowstone
National
Park

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+ 13Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Bureau of Land Management
479 miles of trails

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+ 14Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
National Scenic Trail System
Combined 12,685 miles of trails

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+ 15Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Appalachian National
Scenic Trail
Appalachian Trail
Conservancy (NPS)
2,125 miles of trails

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+ 16Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
North Country National Scenic Trail
North County Trail Organization (NPS) 2,223 miles of trails

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Trail Collaboration
Efforts - Partners
Continental Divide
National
Scenic Trail
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
(USFS)
2,170 miles of trails

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Trail Collaboration
Efforts - Partners
New England National
Scenic Trail
Appalachian Mountain Club and
Connecticut Forest & Park
Association (NPS)
226 miles of trails

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+ 19Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Arizona National Scenic Trail
Arizona Trail
Association (USFS)
785 miles of trails

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+ 20Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail
USFS Region 6 1,204 miles of trails

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Trail Collaboration
Efforts - Partners
Pacific Crest National
Scenic Trail
US Forest Service
2,570 miles of trails

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Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Florida National Scenic Trail
US Forest Service 1,130 miles of trails

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+ 23Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Ice Age Trail Alliance (NPS) 668 miles of trails

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+ 24Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
States
Combined 12,847 mi

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+ 25Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Alaska
Alaska Department of Natural Resources 716 miles of trails

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+ 26Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Alaska DNR 716 mi
West Virginia
West Virginia GIS Technical Center 2,491 miles of trails

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+ 27Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Michigan
Michigan Department of Natural Resources 9,027 miles of trails

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+ 28Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Colorado
Colorado Department of Natural Resources 621 miles of trails

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+ 29Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Adventure Projects / International Mountain Bike
Association
22,222 miles of trails

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+ 30Colorado Front Range

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+ 31Trail Collaboration Efforts - Partners
Aggregated Trails - USGS
~200,000 mi

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Recreational Points of Interest
Features

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+ 34Data Access - USGS Products & Services
The National Map Viewer
https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/advanced-viewer/

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Data Download - The National Map Viewer / FTP
ftp://rockyftp.cr.usgs.gov/vdelivery/Datasets/Staged/
https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/
Data Access - USGS Products & Services

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Services - REST, WMS, ArcGIS, ArcMap
US Topo Map
https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/services/
Data Access - USGS Products & Services

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Future Steps
The USGS is the only aggregated source of public
domain trails and recreation data over
public/protected lands
● Increase partnerships
● Streamline data integration
● Leverage Crowdsourcing
○ TNMCorps
○ Other Partners

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The End
Questions / Comments / Ideas
Elizabeth McCartney
emccartney@USGS.GOV
Greg Matthews
gdmatthews@usgs.gov

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Recreational Points of Interest
Examples
In the following comparison, you can see the addition of six trailhead symbols, two picnic areas,
several new trail systems, and the Little River Gorge Road. The map looks much more complete
thanks to the addition of the new National Park Service features.

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Recreational Points of Interest
Examples
In the following comparison, you can see the addition of four recreational symbols, including a
picnic area, campground, trailhead and observation tower. The Great Smoky Mountain National
Park boundary is now bounding the Foothills Parkway road.

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Recreational Points of Interest
Examples
In the following comparison, you can see the addition of a campground along the newly
acquired Cane Creek Trail. Also, the park boundary is now present along with the new title of
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.