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Smawgunner
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# Posted: 19 May 2018 18:49
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We have 84 acres and I'd love to make a trail map like what you'd get at a state park for example. Something like a brochure. Almost cartoonish. This would be great for friends and such that would want to visit and not get lost. Anyone know of software of a program that would do this?
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Mike 870
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# Posted: 19 May 2018 22:00
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You could start by getting a pdf of where your land is located from usgs topo maps. https://store.usgs.gov/map-locator maybe blow up the bit that has your land and draw in the boundaries and trails.
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bobrok
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# Posted: 19 May 2018 23:11 - Edited by: bobrok
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It sounds as if these trails already exist. If so get yourself a GPS app and walk all the trails. You should be able to save this as a file. Scale it to fit exactly over a map such as Mike 870 suggests. You can overlay your GPS file on the topo file.
This should give you a good base map. A little Photoshop creativity will enable you to dress it up as you want it.
This sounds to me, a former map maker, like it would be a fun project to do!
Edit (because i think this is a cool plan of yours): if you are going for a cartoonish appearance like on those tourist maps try using a Google Earth image as your base instead of a topo. This will give you a clean foundation without contours and other extraneous USGS markings. You might be able to detune this earth view into a more line art base.
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Smawgunner
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# Posted: 20 May 2018 19:01
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I was thinking something like this.
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ICC
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# Posted: 20 May 2018 20:09 - Edited by: ICC
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I have what I believe is ideal. Alas, it has not been available for several years--- National Geographic TOPO! It used USGS maps as a base and you could overlay GPS tracks, then print them. It was not touch screen friendly. I think that is why it was discontinued. I have an old Win7 laptop reserved for only mapping. It's quite handy as a GPS can be plugged into it and give you live tracking and the ability to save all the track info with notes too. I have not yet found a good replacement that does not cost an arm and a leg. Terrain Navigator Pro does the same sort of mapping but the maps are nutsy $$ and they are an annual subscription. Sorry, no better ideas.
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Fanman
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# Posted: 20 May 2018 21:13
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Topo! was a great program (still is, for those of us who have a copy). Unfortunately NG never did any development work on it after buying it from Wildflower, so the interface is pretty archaic. But what bobrock said, put a GPS app on your smartphone (I use Backcountry Navigator on android, dunno about istuff) and record while walking the trails, then export the files into google earth. You can get a topo map overlay for GE (wouldn't you rather have terrain details on your trail map?) and overlay your gps tracks onto it, then print it or export a graphics file.
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justincasei812
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# Posted: 22 May 2018 08:23 - Edited by: justincasei812
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I really like the idea as well. We have just under 300ac and when people come up and take the cart for a ride there have been times when we need to go out and look for them. We started putting up "road" signs with a sense of humor to help friend traverse the woods and not worry about where they are at or how to get back. I think some "you are here" maps that are laminated with the trails outlined and the location of the cabin under the signs would be a great addition. We have a large scale google earth map hanging on the wall at the cabin but it does not help when you are out riding around.
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KelVarnsen
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# Posted: 23 May 2018 08:40
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You could build a custom Google map. It's actually pretty easy. You can use the satellite image as your base layer. You can draw lines, upload photos, add markers and descriptions. That way guests can explore the area from their own devices as well.
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