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TAKE A HIKE GPS Posting Page
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
A nice feature of many Garmin handheld GPS units is the ability for even relatively non-technical people (like myself) to create custom maps and load them on the GPS unit. If you have a Garmin GPS unit that is compatible with custom maps, you should definitely try this feature out.

The procedure is fairly simple, but you'll need to have a few things ready before we get started.

1. A compatible Garmin GPS unit: Compatible units include the Dakota 10, Dakota 20, Oregon 450, Oregon 450t, Oregon 550, Oregon 550t, GPSmap 62, GPSmap 62S, GPSmap 62st, GPSmap 78, Garmin GPSmap 78s, GPSmap 78sc, the Garmin Colorado series units, and the Edge 800 GPS.

2. The Google Earth Software: You can download Google Earth for free from the official website.

3. A map to use for your custom map, saved as a JPG file on your computer. If you have a paper map, you can simply scan it and save it as a JPG file. For digital maps, you'll have to convert it to a JPG file. There are many ways and many programs available for this, such as GIMP.

Once you've assembled all of these materials, connect the GPS to your computer and turn it on. Now, watch the video below and follow along as you create your first Garmin GPS custom map!



Now that you know how to create custom maps, the next question is where you can get maps to put on your GPS. Well, there's actually quite a few places, but here's a few ideas to get you started:
  • USGS: Free downloadable topo maps courtesy of Uncle Sam
  • GPS file depot: Probably the number one site on the internet for custom GPS maps
  • National Park Service: Visiting a National Park? Get the official maps here
  • NOAA: Get official nautical charts from the NOAA
  • Historical Charts and maps: Get free historical maps from the NOAA, including Civil War maps, survey maps, and more

Start with small, simple maps, and then work your way up. If you have any problems, leave a comment on this blog and we'll try to help you out. Also, if you've found this tutorial helpful, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get more GPS tips, tricks and techniques delivered right to your inbox.


by: TAKE A HIKE GPS

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