How to Use CalTopo / CalTopo for Beginners

In this short video I'll show you around the CalTopo mapping software. We'll create a hike, send it to our phone, navigate with the CalTopo mobile app, and then review our hike on the computer afterward.

PLEASE LIKE if you found the video helpful or enjoyable. If you think it could be better, please leave me a comment with feedback instead of downvoting it.

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[BuckMckawtheotherone]

Thanks for the excellent demo. I also use Caltopo to print very accurate pdf maps in 8-1/2" x 11". It allows you to print them at many scales, including your own custom scale (say, 1:10, 000) for any location in N. America. It allows up to 5 maps in series, with an additional overview map (say, 5 maps in 1:25, 000 with the overview of perhaps 1:87, 000). This is great if you want to practice actual map and compass navigation without GPS, a skill we should always have in case batteries die, or reception fails. And, we have back-up paper maps to bring on a canoe trip or hiking expedition. They can reference Lat-Long, or UTM, or even Military coordinates on these maps for easy navigation references.

[pete]

Nice work on this video, really clear and concise. You answered a couple of questions I had about CalTopo and you earned them another customer as a result. I hope you can get a commission! Thanks for your video.

[calebw]

More people need to now about this! It’s so nice you can print to scale maps. So if I had to I can break out my protractor and compass to get back to civilization. If Gaia had the fixed scale feature it would be a game changer.

[whatswiththesepeople]

Great overview of creating and using tracks. I’ve been using CalTopo for about a year and half and I learned a couple things here that I had been missing.

[williamthone]

Thank you! Some differences as I see it: Gaia Premium subscription this week was $27 for the year, and has been allowing me to synch/create on my iMac, iPad, and phone. Not sure if Caltopo is matching that. Another difference is that CalTopo allows for better map printing, I think; if I cared about print maps I would lean Caltopo. Gaia just came out in Beta form for iOS suggested map bundle layers and preset settings for different activiities (hike, bike, ski, etc.). In Gaia, making folders with a naming hierarchy is super-important; you put all your waypoints, routes in specific folders to avoid being overwhelmed. I was able to download gpx tracks from Caltopo (everybody’s shared ideas, thousands of them good and bad) and bring them into Gaia; Gaia has them, too.

[BearWhoWalksAlone]

Great video! Today you gave me a new navigation tool which looks very promising to me.👍🙂 I thank you for that. Greetings from Bodø, Norway. 🇳🇴

[dorindaalberthal]

Thanks so much Chris for sharing your knowledge with all of us. Also want to say thank you for all your videos they entertained me as well as taught me so so much as I healed from from covid. I’m back out hiking and grateful to be, life is good!! God is great!!
Happy & Safe hiking to you and all your followers🥾

[ArbitraryLifestyle]

Holy map sheets batman!! Thanks for that tip :D :D

[VinceCurtis]

Great job Cris ! Love your website also.... I got a subscription and I have it ! Thanks again

[chuckrozner]

Chris, This is a very good beginning tutorial for Cal Topo. The Professional version, SARTOPO has become the standard for mountain rescue teams . I also use both SarTopo and GAIA for different trips. In SarTopo I normally use the Forest Service map as my main base layer since it shows campsites, picnic areas, and Fire Road numbers. I then add the MapBuilder layer at 50% to show the more accurate trails.

[jss]

Thanks for the intro. what Im trying to do is find trails near me that I can use More so than make trials at least at this point. I did find a trail in a location that I know but I’m not seeing a way to download it to my phone or watch. I did find an article on your site about downing to a Garmin device but I'm not sure if the same procedures work with Garmin watches.

[damonsmith]

Thoroughly described. Thank you ! Question, on the feee version my grid lines are not printing. Just the map and overlays. Is this a paid option or am I doing something wrong ? Thanks !

[TimKaseyMythHealer]

I did as you said, but I only get strait lines. GPS type option doesn’t exist on my Cal Topo App.

[ChristianBlouin-bm]

Great video! Just signed up for the free account and fiddled around. It seems the interface is the same as in your video, however the NPS overlay just isn't there. I am puzzled. It is available only with a paid subscription or is there some settings to turn on to activate this option?

[rickpozzitacuptraining]

Thank for the video. Quick question, how do you orient and lock the map in the direction of your route?

[wanyingtian]

Is there a way to change the "starting" point of a line/track or I just have to redraw it on the map?

[antben]

Great intro, but try Open Route Service. As powerful, but much more user-friendly.

[rogergranquist]

Sounds like caltopo is better for team planning of treks more so than Gaia, is that an accurate assessment?

[jjsteel]

How do you download it to a file on your computer after drawing and saving the route you drew?

[lilianm]

Between Gaia and Caltopo which one has the better satellite maps?