A few weeks ago we hiked Anti-Aircraft Peak and brought along a Green Trails Map with us (Map No. 203S). This was our first opportunity to use one of their maps and we were very pleased with the detail and information provided.
Founded in 1973, Green Trails, Inc. has over 140 published maps, including the Cascade Mountains in Washington and Oregon, the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, Spring Mountains of Nevada, Parks of Phoenix, and Sky Islands in Tucson. The maps are available to order online through there website (a minimum order of 6 maps is required) or from local outdoor retailers like REI.
While most of the maps for the Pacific Northwest are set up on a grid and come in a very easy to manage 12×18 inch size, the specific map we used was one of their ‘S’ designated maps, which vary in size, depending on the map’s area (our’s was 18×24 inches in size). While dealing with a large map can be unwieldy and difficult on the trail, the area we were hiking was conveniently in view when the map was folded.
The detail provided in Green Trail’s maps is great—contour intervals are every 20 feet, clear designations of trails (including distances between junctions), and even indicating viewpoints, picnic areas, waterfalls, and marshes. The only complaint we had about the Green Trails Map we used is that it is not printed on waterproof material. (However, that just gives us more of a reason to try out the AquaSeal Map Seal—look for a review soon!).
But with that being the only detractor (and one with a solution), we’ll definitely be using more Green Trails Maps for future hikes here in the Pacific Northwest.
