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Wilderness hikers:
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A wilderness trail may not be signed or passable or even followable
Check the current trail conditions rating |
Big Sur Trailmap Geospatial PDF Maps
High-resolution PDF map for the Ventana/SilverPeak region
This map not being updated during USFS Forest closure
Map accuracy:
This geospatial PDF map from the on-line Big Sur Trailmap provides accurate trail and camp locations
based on local knowledge (mostly GPS'd), locally-known "use
trails", water sources, waterfalls, and other features in the Ventana
and Silver Peak Wilderness areas and in Big Sur state parks.
Resolution is 4.4 m/pixel.
[last map update: Apr 18, 2024]
Smartphone GPS apps Avenza Maps (free for 3 maps, else $40/yr) and CalTopo (pro=$50/yr) can utilize this geospatial PDF file (more info)
Also Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing - but it is not a GPS app and cannot display your current location
(Note: this file is too large for some PDF apps to display. It was usable in Adobe Reader on my desktop and android smartphone but I've encountered difficulties on an iphone.)
If you know of other apps with the same capability, let me know so they can also be listed here
Sample Avenza map displays
With trail conditions & closures
Sans trail conditions & closures
First select version desired:
(Valid until conditions/closures change)
(Valid for indefinite period)
Then load PDF map file into app:
Method 1: Import map URL into app
(recommended, since no download file stored)
1. Click button below to "Copy Big Sur PDF URL to clipboard"
(or: use mouse to copy URL from window below)
2. Paste URL into app "Import" page
OR (recommended, since no download file stored)
1. Click button below to "Copy Big Sur PDF URL to clipboard"
(or: use mouse to copy URL from window below)
URL for Geospatial PDF
2. Paste URL into app "Import" page
Avenza Notes: use "My Maps +" to import
• Import using Avenza's "My Maps" page: tap on orange "+" icon, then "Download or Import a Map"→"Web Resource", then "Paste"
• Import using Avenza's "My Maps" page: tap on orange "+" icon, then "Download or Import a Map"→"Web Resource", then "Paste"
Method 2: Download map file to smartphone "Download" folder
1. Click button below to "Download Big Sur PDF file" to smartphone
Download Big Sur PDF file
2. Import into App using app "Import" page
OR: after download, smartphone may offer to automatically import map directly into Avenza
3. Delete download file from smartphone
1. Click button below to "Download Big Sur PDF file" to smartphone
Download Big Sur PDF file
2. Import into App using app "Import" page
OR: after download, smartphone may offer to automatically import map directly into Avenza
3. Delete download file from smartphone
Avenza Notes: use "My Maps +" to import
• Import using Avenza's "My Maps" page: tap on orange "+" icon, then "Download or Import a Map"→"Cloud or Device Storage" and select file.
• Smartphone may try to automatically display the PDF file in a PDF viewer app (Iphones are wont to do this) - if so, must import using Avenza's My Maps, as described above.
• Import using Avenza's "My Maps" page: tap on orange "+" icon, then "Download or Import a Map"→"Cloud or Device Storage" and select file.
• Smartphone may try to automatically display the PDF file in a PDF viewer app (Iphones are wont to do this) - if so, must import using Avenza's My Maps, as described above.
Avenza Processing Note
• If Avenza stuck on "Waiting to download", press "Pause", then "Retry"
• If Avenza stuck on "Waiting to download", press "Pause", then "Retry"
Avenza Usage Note
• Avenza scale normally hidden on map
- will appear for short period when map is resized
• Avenza scale normally hidden on map
- will appear for short period when map is resized
GeoPDF trailmaps do not display any hiking closures !
(due to the ephemeral nature of closures)
Trail and road closure information must be obtained from the on-line interactive maps,
e.g. trail conditions interactive map
(due to the ephemeral nature of closures)
Trail and road closure information must be obtained from the on-line interactive maps,
e.g. trail conditions interactive map
Avenza Users can optionally add a "searchable features" KMZ layer
With this feature added to Avenza, you can search for any map "Feature" (eg: trailhead, camp, summit, water source, point of interest, etc), with the map then displaying its location with a popup - and if that popup is tapped, additional feature-specific
information is shown.
The Big Sur PDF has over 1000 named features. To use that data, you must "import" the "Big Sur Trailmap Features" KMZ file as a "layer" and then "link" that layer to the corresponding PDF map.
Avenza "Feature Search" Example
These searchable KMZ layers are new - if you notice a problem, let me know so it can get fixed!
The Big Sur PDF has over 1000 named features. To use that data, you must "import" the "Big Sur Trailmap Features" KMZ file as a "layer" and then "link" that layer to the corresponding PDF map.
Avenza "Feature Search" Example
Request
Result
Feature-specific Info
To install in Avenza:
1. Click button to "Copy Big Sur Features URL clipboard" button
(or use mouse to copy URL from window below)
2. In Avenza's "Layers" page
menu,
select the "Import Layers" option
choose "Web Resource", and "Paste" the URL.
3a. If prompted to "Link" the file to a map,
tap/select the associated PDF map checkbox,
then tap "check" icon at page top (not "back" arrow).
3b. If not prompted to "Link" the file to a map,
must "Edit" imported layer (may have to tap "info" icon)
then tap "Link to Maps" and select Big Sur Trailmap map.
1. Click button to "Copy Big Sur Features URL clipboard" button
(or use mouse to copy URL from window below)
URL for Big Sur Features KMZ
2. In Avenza's "Layers" page
menu,select the "Import Layers" option
choose "Web Resource", and "Paste" the URL.
3a. If prompted to "Link" the file to a map,
tap/select the associated PDF map checkbox,
then tap "check" icon at page top (not "back" arrow).
3b. If not prompted to "Link" the file to a map,
must "Edit" imported layer (may have to tap "info" icon)
then tap "Link to Maps" and select Big Sur Trailmap map.
Some phones, possibly all iphones, may want to restrict the number of places allowed, to prevent
possible map unresponsiveness.
If so, you should find this feature in "Settings" and reverse it to allow
all places to be found.
On an old iphone, I have not seen any map slowdowns with all places enabled.
To use:
Click the search icon (magnifying glass) icon,
then enter a name.
[Alternatively, on the "Layers" screen, click "Big Sur Trailmap Features",
then click one of the categories, e.g. "Camps", to see a list of feature names.]
Click the search icon (magnifying glass) icon,
then enter a name.
[Alternatively, on the "Layers" screen, click "Big Sur Trailmap Features",
then click one of the categories, e.g. "Camps", to see a list of feature names.]
Installation notes
• If the PDF map is updated, then the "Features" file must also be updated.
• If you get a message saying the number of features has been limited for responsiveness but wish to over-ride that, to ensure all features will be found in a search, on "My Maps" screen, click menu icon (3 vertical dots), then "Settings" → "Map View" → "Show Unlimited Number of Features"
• For more info, see Avenza help for articles on "Importing Map Features" and "Searching a Map".
• If you get a message saying the number of features has been limited for responsiveness but wish to over-ride that, to ensure all features will be found in a search, on "My Maps" screen, click menu icon (3 vertical dots), then "Settings" → "Map View" → "Show Unlimited Number of Features"
• For more info, see Avenza help for articles on "Importing Map Features" and "Searching a Map".
Usage notes
• For a "linked" map, a separate "Feature" icon (small) is displayed atop the underlying Trailmap icons (unless made "Hidden" - see Note below) - such icons can be touched to display their name and, if the name popup is then touched, a description with additional information. FYI, I have included trail/road end points as "Features" so you can also search for trails (note: for those, no icon will be visible).
• Longer loading: a downside of using this layer is its linked map taking longer to load. If that is a problem for you, it can be mitigated by toggling the "Visibility" of the layer (using the "Layers" menu) so all features are "Hidden" and so not automatically loaded and displayed - then when searching for a feature, before moving the map to a found "Hidden" feature Avenza will ask if you want to make that feature "Visible" on the map, which is needed for the search to succeed. Having only previously selected features "Visible" greatly speeds up map loading time.
• For a "linked" map, a separate "Feature" icon (small) is displayed atop the underlying Trailmap icons (unless made "Hidden" - see Note below) - such icons can be touched to display their name and, if the name popup is then touched, a description with additional information. FYI, I have included trail/road end points as "Features" so you can also search for trails (note: for those, no icon will be visible).
• Longer loading: a downside of using this layer is its linked map taking longer to load. If that is a problem for you, it can be mitigated by toggling the "Visibility" of the layer (using the "Layers" menu) so all features are "Hidden" and so not automatically loaded and displayed - then when searching for a feature, before moving the map to a found "Hidden" feature Avenza will ask if you want to make that feature "Visible" on the map, which is needed for the search to succeed. Having only previously selected features "Visible" greatly speeds up map loading time.
These searchable KMZ layers are new - if you notice a problem, let me know so it can get fixed!
Technical notes
• Resolution ~4.4 meters/pixel
• PDF size: 32 Mb
• Over 1000 feature names in KMZ file
•
dots mark intersections - mileages between are displayed near mid-point (if greater than 0.2 mi)
•
icons mark stream crossings on trails which cross the same stream multiple times (e.g., the Carmel River Trail crosses the Carmel River 27 times), since
knowing whether the next crossing is near can be useful.
To distinguish between close-together stream crossings the map must be at its highest zoom level, else only a single icon is seen (this is also why the icon must be small).
• Resolution ~4.4 meters/pixel
• PDF size: 32 Mb
• Over 1000 feature names in KMZ file
•
dots mark intersections - mileages between are displayed near mid-point (if greater than 0.2 mi) •
icons mark stream crossings on trails which cross the same stream multiple times (e.g., the Carmel River Trail crosses the Carmel River 27 times), since
knowing whether the next crossing is near can be useful.
To distinguish between close-together stream crossings the map must be at its highest zoom level, else only a single icon is seen (this is also why the icon must be small).
Background map FYI
The PDF background map is the modern USGS "shaded terrain" National Map, which is the default for my on-line interactive maps,
rather than the venerable USGS quadrangle map. The modern USGS map has a cleaner and more attractive look and does not have the often-incorrect trail lines
found on the venerable quadrangle maps.
Movable Overview Map
(Magenta indicates PDF map boundary)
(Use mouse/finger drag to move)
(Magenta indicates PDF map boundary)
(Use mouse/finger drag to move)
