Topo

Try here:

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/

Thanks for sharing.

And, if one doesnt need the maps to be installable to the GPS, there is also maps.google.com and choose the Terrain option.

It isnt as usable, and requires a Google My Maps account if you want to save your locations, but it is free.

You can upload some destinations to your Garmin unit if you have the Garmin Communicator plugin installed.

See this thread for usage instructions:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/12132

Vanman

Yep, go here. His little program will download Topos or Sat pictures. http://jdmcox.com/
http://jdmcox.com/USAPhotoMaps.exe

to all for the help!!!!

Best free topo maps of USA are likely the ones put out by Dale Atkin of Calgary Alberta. He made up a set for Canada and they are more accurate than the Garmin Topos. These are free at www.gpsfiledepot.com
under the name of "Ibycus"

What program is used to open and display the topo maps?

MapSource

Look in the Tutorials section of that website for instructions.

Has anyone compared these maps to Garmin TOPO maps? Do they have the same detail?
Jen

For AZ topo maps, this site has the free AZ topo download and screenshots of it vs. two Garmin products:

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/1/

I believe the Garmin Topo USA has the detail of a USGS 1:100k map while the free AZ topo offers about 1:24k detail.

It's one way to get something back for all that tax money we send them (sort of).

FROM: http://nationalmap.gov/ (part of USGS web site)
As one of the cornerstones of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Geospatial Program, The National Map is a collaborative effort among the USGS and other Federal, State, and local partners to improve and deliver topographic information for the Nation. It has many uses ranging from recreation to scientific analysis to emergency response. The National Map is easily accessible for display on the Web, as products and services, and as downloadable data. The geographic information available from The National Map includes orthoimagery (aerial photographs), elevation, geographic names, hydrography, boundaries, transportation, structures, and land cover. Other types of geographic information can be added within the viewer or brought in with The National Map data into a Geographic Information System to create specific types of maps or map views. The National Map is a significant contribution to the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and currently is being transformed to better serve the geospatial community by providing high quality, integrated geospatial data and improved products and services including new generation digital topographic maps.