City maps to topographical maps on the Nuvi 260

You can purchase and load Garmin's TOPO maps to your nuvi, however, the US Topo maps don't route. Meaning that although there are roads shown on the maps, the routing algorithm of the unit won't follow them.

Whether you have the TOPO maps or not, once you leave the roads, you will need to use point-to-point routing (or off-road routing - not sure if the 260 has this) in order to get to the cache location.

Or you can just visually follow the map.

Be aware that depending upon where you would go caching the nuvis may not be suited for those locations. They aren't waterproof and are fairly fragile, so I'd be careful taken them in the woods, for example.

Yes - you can load topographical maps. They then show you a lot more detail of off-road areas (contour lines are the most striking new feature). But I don't think Garmin's own Topo maps contain any routing information at all - so I don't think it helps in that respect. You just set 'off-road' mode and it tells you to go "North" etc and draws a straight line on the map, for your route.

No expert on this topic though

I stumbled across geocaching as well, and i wouldnt recommend bringing your nuvi into the woods. I would recommend getting a different unit such as an e-trex model that are waterproof and are very durable. I have dropped my e-trex several times and it has held up really well. I use it for my field research all the time. oh just so you know, in order to load the geocaching locations on to the etrex you will have to get another cable if your computer doesnt have a serial port. I believe that you can purchase this cable for like 15 or 20 dollars a circuit city or best buy.

I have the Garmin Etrex Venture, but honestly, I can't figure it out. I have no idea how to find anything with it. The compass seems to turn with me, and never has a true north. I'm sure it's easy, I've just never figured it out.

I love the Nuvi and figured it really wasn't "hicking" durable, but thought with a bit of care it could work. I just need something that tells me, turn right, go straight, etc... (GPS for dummies!)

Phil, I just tried it on my 650 and Garmin's Topo 24k National Parks East does contain routing information - both on and off-road.
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i would be concerned about using the nuvi for anything but light duty off-road work, but then I have the GPSMap 60CSx for that.

Yes, the National Parks Topo contains routing information, but the US TOPO does not.

I have dabbled with geocaching and my Nuvi 350's accuracy of 10 feet or so is enough to get a taste for the hobby. Yes, there's no display of terrain features, but direction and distance can be enough.

The biggest problem I see is that the pointer is too big for this. Zoomed all the way in, even the arrow is around 6-8 feet wide in relation to the display. Anyone ever see a cross-hair "vehicle" for the Nuvi's?

The e-trex was my first gps, and I have been using it for at least 5 years now and it really is a life saver for me. It isnt the most user friendly unit out there but I think it is simple enough to use.
Just a suggestion they have video's out there that will tell you how to use it, that might help you sir.

No i havent seen a cross hair for the nuvi.

"Just a suggestion they have video's out there that will tell you how to use it, that might help you sir."

Where do I find this video?

Also, while on the topic of maps. Is there a waterway map for the garmins? It would be great to use this in my boat... however I don't think the road map will be of great help.

you can go to bass pro shops to find all of the information that you requested as well as gander mountain and a good sporting goods store near where you live. your etrex already comes with a base map but it is very limited as to what water ways are on it and the information that is there. oh and by the way if you want lakes and rivers you have to purchase 2 seperate cd's and its limited to the amount of data that you can put on it. I dont know how much your unit can handle but i know my e-trex legend will hold the state of virginia and partials of the surrounding states for the lakes and rivers that are on the border.

I looked into buying these cd's but i didnt really see the need for me because i bought a lowrance 520c gps for my boat and had it installed in the console of the boat. the only time i really use my etrex on the water is when im with someone else and i see something that is interesting and i mark it on my etrex and then come back to it and mark it on my lowrance unit.

You can get Garmin's BlueCharts for your GPS unit, but they tend to be very expensive.

last time i checked on the blue chart they were well over 100 dollars. and i believe that blue charts are for off shore waterways but dont quote me on that.

Does anyone else make maps that will work on the Garmin? Even Garmin's TOPO maps for Canada are quite limited. (I've read you can make custom maps but I'm not inclined to even attempt something like that)

not sure, your best bet is to talk to garmin but they will probably tell you to use their maps.

national geographic makes topo maps.

http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/national-geographic-topo.sh...

The eTrex Legend accepts up to 8 MB of map data from MetroGuide, Points of Interest, Fishing Hot Spots, Topographic maps, Roads and Recreation, and WorldMap mapping guides. I dont know about your unit. Just google it to find out.

Before I got my eTrex vista for geocaching I used the 360 on the satellite info page, the only problem was I had to remember the coordinates or have a printout in hand. It worked...

Are you sure TOPO Maps can be installed on a Nuvi? When I called to get MapSource for my Nuvi 350 I asked and the CSR said that there were no TOPO maps available for a Nuvi.

Yes, absolutely. People have done it.

And to the OP, since you are talking about Canada, the Canada TOPO does support auto-routing.

Here's a screen shot of Topo 2008 & old Topo's on my nuvi 660.

http://www.catalina42.org/photos/nuvi660topo.jpg

I have the TOPO 2008 on my Nuvi 370 and I had the previous mapsource TOPO software on my Nuvi 350 and Garmin Quest. I use Garmin Mapsource to add which TOPO maps I want. You can go to the settings screen, then map, then press map info to see the different map sets on your NUVI. I only have City Navigator North America checked for normal driving. When Off-Road I check Topo U.S. 2008. Not amazingly detailed but certainly good enough for 4 wheeling.