MAKE CUSTOM BACKCOUNTRY MAPS for AVENZA MAPS // Make offline maps using Caltopo to use in Avenza

Avenza Maps is a powerful navigation app for hikers to use offline maps. It uses Geospatial PDFs, GeoPDFs, or GeoTIFF to create offline maps for route navigation. In this video, I show you how to make your own Geospatial PDFs using Caltopo and how to import it into Avenza Maps. We take it a step further to create KML/GPX layers and link them to high resolution, free USGS maps.

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[OutsideChronicles]

Avenza Maps is a great app for backcountry, offline maps. We have been using it in WNY Hiking Challenge with huge success. I have used it in the Adirondacks this winter, this video shows you how to make the same maps I used.

[gregparrott]

This video is a great supplement to your one on Caltopo! A friend, who is unfamiliar with Caltopo used to run Avenza. But he has since preferentially switched to OnX. He gave three reasons. First, he did not like the effort it took just to find and download multiple map segments over which a trail might travel. Second, while traveling, he did not like his marked position going off of one map with him then having to manually identify, select, and load the next appropriate map. Third, he values that OnX also enable one to have a satellite view, which can be helpful. I'm still too much of a newbie to ascertain what's best.

[timothytrofe]

I use Caltopo to make custom maps while hiking in the Gila National Forest and Wilderness. Instead of using the FT Outdoors Overlay I use MapBuilder Overlay and set the contours to 40 ft. Im able to print and export the map on to Avenza without exporting the layers on to USGS maps. It gives me enough detail.

[flipyour]

Just used this video and Caltopo (1st time) to create my ADK maps for next week. QR upload to Avenza. I feel like a total bad ass right now. Thanks!

[toddwmac]

I wish I could buy you a beer...or other refreshing beverage of your choice. This answered a ton of questions and simplified things considerably. Thank you!

[deborahsmith]

This is great, thank you! I somehow missed when you posted it.

[stevezelazny]

Great video. Hadn't thought of exporting tracks/waypoints from caltopo and then importing them back into avenza. This will have the benefit that you can use the Avenza "navigate to" feature to navigate to your imported waypoints and answer your "are we there yet" questions from your hiking party with some precision.

[lscanlon]

Nice, thanks for the informative walkthrough. I was drawn to Avenza because of the less invasive privacy policy compared to the other big mobile GPS apps like Gaia

[MrBAM]

Great work, and thanks for the walkthrough. It seems the only the pro version will generate the QR or a KMZ. If I send the url to Avenza I just get the print preview.

[thislifesadventures.]

Great video. Thank you. I need to create one for the newly completed empire state trail, because non of the apps have the new trail mapped.