The way orienteering maps are made have changed tremendously due to improvements in Internet and mapping technology. It is now possible from your own home computer to access information to create and update maps anywhere in the world. All without leaving home. This virtual mapping trip is just across America.

1. My Orienteering Mapping
Across America
Sitting at a computer, downloading and merging information from Open Street Map files, USGS LiDAR, Strava Heatmaps and air photos to start new
orienteering maps: it is fun and interesting. It is an unusual but satisfying hobby.
Here are some samples from many states.
I hope you enjoy the trip.
Gord Hunter

2. Alabama
This is a potential map for a Boy
Scout camp in southern Alabama
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and free LiDAR data
to show that orienteering maps can be made inexpensively and
easily in these areas.

3. Arkansas
A park on the outskirts
of Little Rock
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map
and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

4. California
This wild park is along
the Pacific Ocean near
Newport Beach CA.
There is room to show
about 2/3 of it here.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and free LiDAR
data to show that orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

5. District of Columbia
Okay, so we may never get to go
orienteering here but it was fun to
study the detail to make this map. The
White House: It is amazing how much
goes on in such a relatively small
building.

6. Florida:
A lot of the terrain in this state is
very flat. Here, I chose a contour
interval of .5 meter to bring out
what contour detail there was. This
ranch is near Green Cove Springs
FL.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and free LiDAR data
to show that orienteering maps can be made inexpensively
and easily in these areas.

7. Florida:
University of Florida. Many colleges
and universities in the United States
have excellent map detail already
on Open Street Map. It makes the
job of creating an orienteering map
so much easier when that
information is available for import
to OCAD.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and free LiDAR data
to show that orienteering maps can be made inexpensively
and easily in these areas.

8. Florida
Epcot at Walt Disney World. Of course, the
orienteering map is oriented to north. The
Disney oblique image is oriented so it looks
best to them.

9. Georgia:
Northern Georgia is quite
hilly, but this is in southern
Georgia. The contour
interval is 1 meter.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and free LiDAR data
to show that orienteering maps can be made inexpensively
and easily in these areas.

10. Hawai’i:
The images of Diamond Head from afar are well
known. The orienteering map of the inside of the
Diamond Head crater is not so well known.

11. Idaho:
City of Rocks. I started this map only
to compare it to another City of Rocks
in another state which you will see
later.

12. Illinois:
Continuing with the
rock theme this is
Rock Cut State Park,
near Rockford IL
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map
and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

13. Indiana:
The University of Notre Dame
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and
free LiDAR data to show that orienteering
maps can be made inexpensively and easily in
these areas.

14. Kentucky:
Davies County High School. The Open
Street Map file yielded very little
information so using the OCAD New
Map Wizard I put the school campus
and surrounding area air photo in
background. The next step is to trace in
details.

15. Massachusetts:
This is only a portion of a huge wooded
area popular with mountain bikers and
hikers. I think it would be great for
orienteering, too. It’s near Fall River MA
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map
and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

16. Maine:
Colby College
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map
and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

17. Michigan:
Iron Mountain. This town is loaded with
terrain. However, orienteers have yet to be
spotted in the area.

18. Minnesota:
St John’s University. I
made this map because I
had seen on the Internet
that the school’s outdoor
ed department had an
orienteering program. I
also saw the map they
were using was awful. I
suggested to a nearby
club that we could give
them something much
better in return for a good
orienteering venue but
the idea went nowhere.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and
free LiDAR data to show that orienteering maps
can be made inexpensively and easily in these
areas.

19. Montana:
Crosscut XC Ski Area. No LiDAR was available, so
contours were traced in from USGS topo sheet.
Note the 40 feet (13 m) interval.
Note: This is not a ‘final’
orienteering map.
It has been made from Open
Street Map and free LiDAR data
to show that orienteering maps
can be made inexpensively and
easily in these areas.

20. North Carolina:
Shoal Falls. The purple
lines in the background
are from Strava Heatmap.
They show the cumulative
tracks of folks visiting the
area who were recording
their route with gps
devices.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and
free LiDAR data to show that orienteering
maps can be made inexpensively and easily
in these areas.

21. New Jersey:
Norval Green. This seems to have
outstanding orienteering potential. It
reminds me of the nearby Harriman
State Park in New York
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map
and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

22. New Mexico:
City of Rocks (the other one)
Those tight brown circles besides being
contour lines they are rock pillars.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map
and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

23. New Mexico:
A picnic area and surrounding open
terrain outside of Albuquerque, NM

24. New York:
Part of Wellesley Island State
Park in the St Lawrence River.
(This is one I have visited. It has
great terrain)

25. Ohio:
Ohio University. Those air photos fall
into the correct place on demand
using the OCAD New Map Wizard and
On-line Map Service function.

26. Ohio:
Dow Lake Park near Athens OH.
I was in an orienteering competition here back in
1974. These LiDAR contours would add
considerably more detail to a new map if anyone
ever wanted to make one.
New
Contours
1974
map
Air Photo

27. Oklahoma
Sequoyah State Park, near Tulsa. Just
waiting to be discovered by orienteering.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering
map.
It has been made from Open Street Map
and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

28. Rhode Island:
The Open Street Map base with
the LiDAR contours and
additional detail make for an
interesting start to a new map if
anyone wants it.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering
map.
It has been made from Open Street Map
and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

29. Tennessee:
Have you heard of
‘Dollywood’? It is a popular
theme park. Looks as if it has
some pretty good spur/ re-
entrant terrain, too. (The main
part of the Dollywood Theme
Park is not on this snippet of
map.)
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and
free LiDAR data to show that orienteering
maps can be made inexpensively and easily
in these areas.

30. Texas:
Southwest Regional Park. A Facebook
friend lived until recently in a home
on this map. It looks like a nice area
for orienteering but . . . . no apparent
interest.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map and
free LiDAR data to show that orienteering
maps can be made inexpensively and easily in
these areas.

31. Texas
Forney Park. Credit the late Ed Hicks for the
start of this map. A young map working on
an Eagle Scout project had reached out for
help. Ed helped and I tried to step in to
extend that help. Unfortunately, local
advice did not come forward and the scout
ended up discarding the map and setting
compass bearing courses.

32. Texas
River Ranch County Park. ‘Why isn’t this
already an orienteering venue?’ you might ask.
I don’t know. I think it is a new park but it is
well-located 25 miles from Austin, 40 miles
from Ft Hood. The park extends beyond the
boundaries of this map.

33. Texas:
Bastrop State Park, east of Austin. I was in an
orienteering event here back in 1995.It was well
worth the trip. Unfortunately, the park suffered a
devastating fire back a few years ago. The park is
coming back very slowly.

34. Virginia:
First Landing State Park.
I wonder what those
flat areas between the
ridges are like. Swampy,
I bet.

35. Vermont:
Part of Colchester Pond map.
A group of ESL students are
learning some orienteering
on this map this summer.
Note: This is not a ‘final’ orienteering map.
It has been made from Open Street Map
and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

36. Washington:
Carkeek Park. Contour lines traced from
USGS topo. One of my nephews went on
a fitness kick and was running these
trails. I sent him a map to aid his
exploring.

37. Wisconsin:
UW Arboretum in Madison
Wisconsin:
Milwaukee County Park
Note: These are not a ‘final’ orienteering
map.
They have been made from Open Street
Map and free LiDAR data to show that
orienteering maps can be made
inexpensively and easily in these areas.

38. Want to start your own map? There are lots of ways to do it but one of the best aids I have
found is the USGS National Map Viewer. This map will tell you where their free LiDAR is
located. If the area is green the LiDAR is there. There are other, locally based sources of LiDAR,
too. For instance, in Florida I check with the counties and the Water Management Districts.