Customer Reviews

Washington Road & Recreation Atlas (Benchmark Map: Washington Road & Recreation Atlas)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I moved to Washington recently and needed to get some good paper maps of the area. Though I have all the USGS maps of the pacific NW, I find the "landscape" style mapping of these types of maps extremely useful and more up-to-date than many USGS quads. I debated between the well-known Delorme and Benchmark. Benchmark won with better detail, easier to read maps, better recreation details, and the fact they're a Pacific NW company.

This map book has large-format maps for the entire state, US map, a full state map, and a pacific NW map. Map details are complete including roads, "off" roads, trails, mountain elevations, place names, political lines, and others. It also has great sections for recreation (camping, hiking, fishing, local attractions, and others), climate data, and other nice details about the areas. Navigation with GPS is made easy by 7'30" latitude and longitude sections.

I do wish the scale was a little smaller - finding trails and off-the-beaten-path roads can be difficult in particularly busy areas. I also desired more accurate elevation details - the scale seems to clump 8,000' and 14,000' peaks together. Overall, these are excellent maps and should help any outdoor lover find their way.

I have purchased both the Washington and Oregon Benchmark Road & Recreation Atlas. These are indispensable if you are going to new places that are off an Interstate Highway. The level of detail is perfect for any outdoors person. Shown are virtually every public campground, forest road, river, stream, and boat launch, and even towns with populations of 50 and less. The editors thought the atlas through so that ANYONE can use it immediately upon receipt. I will never go back to folding maps. An excellent atlas!

Just back from vacation - this was great help. I liked having all the campgrounds on there plus seeing where the mountains are etc. Definitely recommend it. Just the size is not very handy...but it doesn't matter too much, if you have it in your car all the time.

These are absolutely the best map books around. Easy to find places you want to visit and all the roads and sights along the way. We don't travel without them!

These Benchmark atlases are much better than their compeitiors. A tip: I take out the staples and then slice (with a sharp knife) the pages apart, taking care to keep them in order. The cover (not separated) acts like a file folder. Then, when I am going camping or traveling in a certain area, I photocopy those section on my color copier. That way, I can write notes on it if I want, and it is much easier to handle in the car and it's certainly easier to carry on a trail. Even if you don't photocopy a section, it is easier to handle the separated pages unless you do all your map reading on the kitchen table. [When I get home, if my copy has surivied the trip, I throw it away, knowing I have the original if I should ever need another.]

Very, very happy with this Atlas. Excellent detail, large pages that " over lap " the next so it is very easy to follow from page to page. I'm a bit of a map nut, I like to know the lay of the land and I really found this one top shelf. I wish Benchmark would consider doing one for British Columbia! It is that good. 5 stars.

I got this atlas for my boyfriend, and we both love it! We have previously used DeLorme and I would have to say Benchmark really out does them. If you want to be able to get way back in the woods, then this is your book.

This map is great for helping you locate those out of the way gravel roads that are not included on most maps. This is not a good map for city driving. My main dissapointment is that it does not include all of those little lakes in Washington such as all of the seep lakes near Potholes Reservior.

From a hunter's perspective:

This thing is very good for overviewing the state, and figuring out where might be good to hunt. It has the 'GMU' (game management unit) boundaries, national park vs. state park, and other helpful info. If you decide to buy this to help you out while you are hunting, know that it does not go detailed enough to show every little road and whatnot. Buy a specific detailed map of any area you expect to spend a lot of time in. But, for a semi-detailed overview map, this thing is super helpful

I've driven all over Washington's back roads with this map. It's never led me wrong. Mine is so tattered that I'll need to buy another one soon. I'm getting the Idaho and Oregon one right now.