Customer Reviews

Garmin US TOPO! 24K Topographical Maps of Western United States National Parks (CD ROM)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

The maps are high resolution and very usable, but only cover the National Parks and no topo information for areas outside of the parks.

Six weeks after purchasing US Topo National Parks, I called Garmin technical support with a problem. I was informed the version 2 sold to me by Amazon had been upgraded to version 3 in April 2006. Garmin also said they would not upgrade my software to version 3 because I had not paid the MSRP. Since it was over 30 days, Amazon does not provide an return option or upgrade to make this right.

With other Garmin products on Amazon's web pages, it is stated that there is a more recent version of the product. This is not the case with Amazon's webpage for the US Topo National Parks. The web page does not identify the version of the mapping software.

Buyer Beware !! Amazon is selling a back level version of this mapping software.

First of all this product is just unbelievable!

Let me address the other reviews quickly:

- Go to the Garmin website and look at exactly what you are buying

it details what parks, etc are included

- I bought V2 from Amazon. V3 came out maybe a couple months later.

I contacted Garmin and they actually sent me a COPY of V3 before

it was even available to the public. Garmin customer service is

just amazing!

- This is going to be outdated? Um, huh? What are you talking about?

Look at a USGS 7.5 map. THAT is what you are getting! The trails

have not moved in literally centuries. Some trails are re-routed

for various reasons but the topo ain't gonna change in your

lifetime. I have hike nearly all the trails in Yosemite (no kidding)

and the trails on the maps will get you there my friend.

OK...

So, IF YOU HIKE IN: Lassen, Glacier, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, or

a few other in the West (actually quite a few others). Then you

want this!

With an eTrex Venture Cx or equivalent you can:

- Load these maps

- AUTO-ROUTE the TRAILS on the maps

- see the profile of a trail that you auto-routed on the GPS

- Have the entire park maps (7.5 degree) (20 ft. elevetion between

topo lines) IN YOUR HAND

I hike extensively in Yosemite and this product is one of those

gadgets that I would buy over and over again.

My wife and I also spent a week in Glacier NP and it was the bomb

there too!

Now if only Garmin would release a TOPO with this detail for the

entire state..

Hope this was helpful to you.

Excellent product if you hike in one of the areas covered by this electronic map. Contrary to the name, it covers much more than just National Parks. It covers many National Forests and State Parks as well. Just check the coverage against your area of interest and if you have a match, it is well worth the purchase.

I was forced to purchase this since it is the only product usable for hiking trails which can upload to my GPS unit. However my initial impression viewing the maps on the computer screen is very disappointing. At least in Big South Fork where I am planning a trip, the trails are very incomplete. The ones which are present are very difficult to see in dotted grey on a white back ground. They do not contrast well with the road (solid grey) and jeep trails (hatched grey) or the contour lines (brown). The only use of color is blue for streams.

Unless you have to purchase this for use with a Garmin GPS unit, I recommend DeLorme's Topo USA which gives you the same level of detail for the whole US for the same price as this one region. Plus you get more up to date trail information, much better legibility, vertical profiling, and 3-D views!

This is a product that Garmin should be ashamed of. The trail data is at least ten to fifteen years old. I purchased it to use for the Appalachian Trail monitoring that I perform as a volunteer for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The maps do not show trail relocations that are in some instances fifteen years old. The official USGS Topo maps show these relocations, but why not this set?

This mapset provides detailed topo maps for Eastern National parks only. Be sure it includes the parks you want maps for. It includes NO topo maps of the areas surrounding the parks.

The mapset has excellent detail and is up to date but the first map you should purchase is USA topo. If you want more detail for National Parks, then purchase this series of maps.

This map set does what it advertises but it is strictly limited to the national parks and forests that it lists. A much more useful mapset would be one that covers a broad range of 24k topos such as provided by Maptech or National Geographic.

The maps that are included are very useful for hiking in the covered parks. The trails are very accurate and auto routing support makes it comfortable. But im my opinion the price is too high for that small amount of parks. Usually you visit 1..2 parks a year, so the maps become outdated by time and there is no free update.

The description, "covering national parks, national forests, and some state parks in the Eastern U.S" is not true. Unlike Garmin's website, which does give the full list of locations (below), Amazon is not forthcoming. Too bad. Back it goes.

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Arizona

* Grand Canyon NP

* Petrified Forest NP

* Saguaro NP

California

* Channel Islands NP

* Death Valley NP

* Joshua Tree NP

* Lassen Volcanic NP

* Mojave NP

* Redwood NP

* San Bernadino NF

* Santa Monica Mountains NRA

* Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP

* Yosemite NP

Colorado

* Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP

* Colorado NM

* Dinosaur NM

* Great Sand Dunes NM and Pres.

* Mesa Verde NP

* Rocky Mountain NP

Hawaii

* Haleakala NP

* Hawaii Volcanoes NP

Montana

* Glacier NP

New Mexico

* Bandelier NM

* Carlsbad Caverns NP

Nevada

* Great Basin NP

Oregon

* Crater Lake NP

Texas

* Guadalupe Mountains NP

Utah

* Arches NP

* Bryce Canyon NP

* Canyonlands NP

* Capitol Reef NP

* Glen Canyon NRA

* Grand Staircase - Escalante NM

* Moab NP

* Zion NP

Washington

* Mount Ranier NP

* North Cascades, including:

Lake Chelan NRA

Ross Lake NRA

* Olympic NP

Wyoming

* Grand Teton NP

* Yellowstone