Customer Reviews

Benchmark Idaho Road & Recreation Atlas

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Living in Spokane, I find myself doing recreational activities in northern Idaho rather often. Though I own the USGS maps for northern Ideaho, I needed some portable, high quality, and up-to-date maps of the areas I visit. Between Delorme and Benchmark providing these types of maps, I found that Benchmark was easier to navigate from and had slightly better features.

I find the "landscape" style mapping very easy to read and it gives an immediate impression of the landscape - something I find difficult to achieve with standard topographical maps. Major and minor roads, 4x4 trails, hiking trails, and many other through-ways can be found on these sets of maps. Combine that with 7'30" GPS grids, a GPS, and some navigational experience and it's difficult to not know right where you are. It's also nice to see political map features such as forest and county boundaries.

I particularly enjoy the expansive recreation sections that provide additional details about campgrounds, ski locations, hiking trails, fishing spots, local attractions, micro-regional climate data, and many other features.

The only drawbacks to these maps are the higher elevations between 8,000' and 14,000' use the same color index, so it's difficult to guage elvation. The other is that I do wish the scale was slightly smaller as it can be difficult to navigate particularly busy areas - though this is less problematic in Idaho as compared to Washington, Oregon, and other states with denser recreational areas. Overall I feel this set of maps was an excellent investment and has helped me to find my way many times - it should do the same for you.

I live in North Central Idaho. I purchased this atlas because I wanted an up-to-date reference to local roads and recreation sites. I already own an old DeLorme atlas.

When I initially reviewed the maps for my local area, I found numerous errors. Most particularly road names and paved roads being indicated as unpaved. The cover claims that the atlas was "field checked for accuracy." I do not know how much checking was done, or how long ago, but in my area many of these details are incorrect.

In all fairness, the DeLorme atlas also has some errors, but it is copyrighted 1998. I would expect the Benchmark atlas with a 2007 copyright (and claims of field checking) to at least indicate as paved roads that were paved over ten years ago.

I do particularly like the topographical shading and the overlap at the edges of every map.

A friend and I recently drove the better part of three days over secondary roads from Fall Creek to Pine, Featherville, Rocky Bar, Steel Mountain, down Phipher Creek, across the Middle and North Forks of the Boise River. Also climbed up to Trinity Peak, Trinity Lakes; up the South Fork of the Boise River and over Dollarhide Summit to Ketchum. Was constantly delighted at the volume of detail that helped us through places we'd never been, and the accuracy of the information about places we knew well. Even showed a narrow, almost impassible track leading to some remote family-owned mining claims. Bravo!

This is a poor atlas I will not buy "Benchmark" in the future. I bought this one because I thought it would show more (it had a newer publication date). The DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer is much better for explorers, hikers, ghost towners, sportsment, hunters, fishermen etc.

Finally, Idaho gets the Benchmark treatment! Benchmark maps are easy to read. The topography is great, and the roads, mountains, and streams are all clearly labeled. (Especially useful is the differentiating between paved, gravel, and 4-wheel drive roads.) Yes, there are a few small mistakes (such as labeling Pocatello's new Century High School as "Central High School"), but they are easy to overlook because of all the things they get right. If you like maps, you'll love this one!

Another fine example that there was never any mining done in Idaho. For a full review check out my Oregon and New Mexico reviews. I'm through giving money to Benchmark until they start placing their contents and legend items, actually on their maps.

This map book is amazing! Shows intimate detail of each region of Idaho. Things you would not see or find on a regular map. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to hike, camp and explore new areas.

This is my first use of a Benchmark Maps Atlas and I must say it is a must for the vast wilderness areas of Idaho. Use of a state highway map (say an AAA version) would be a disaster if traveling into the Idaho "outback". Benchmark is fully detailed, and accurate and provides topographical information as well. Organization of this atlas is exceptional. It proceeds from the macro (regional maps) to the micro (detailed Idaho sections) relating to recreational guides and landscape maps. It also includes detail of the greater Boise area. The comprehensive Index includes counties and county seats, cities and towns, physical features, rivers and lakes, and parks, wildlife, wilderness and recreation areas. A great atlas, masterfully done.

Overall a nice map book, but I needed a detailed street map, so I am disappointed; it has been somewhat helpful, I just need a lot more street detail. Idaho is changing fast though; a detailed map today would be outdated tomorrow.

Having moved from Alaska to Idaho about 6 years ago I've wanted to get back into enjoying the outdoors, unfortunately I'm not yet that familiar with Idaho.

I purchased this book to help identify outdoor locations as well as navigate them once they are selected. This book has a lot of detail and fully meets my needs.

It is well indexed and seems up to date.