National Park Trail Maps
OBJECTIVES
- To be able to navigate the NPS.gov website to acquire different maps.
- To become familiar and confident with reading National Park trail maps.
- To be knowledgeable enough to safely navigate a trail.
MATERIALS
- Trail map of Rocky Mountains NP, Colorado, Ruler, Pencil, Calculator
INTRODUCTION
There are many ways to explore National Parks. The National Parks website (nps.gov) offers photo galleries, historical documents, conservation information, geologic backgrounds as well as 3600 video tours. Yet, in-person exploration still serves as the ultimate experience. In this lab we will explore how to read and navigate the NPS website in order to find and understand trail maps. We will emphasize safety and map reading skills.
Maps come in a wide variety. There are some very simple directional guides to complex Topographic, Geologic and Interactive maps, such as Google maps for directions from your mobile device (figure 1). What all maps have in common is the ability to represent an area of interest at a different scale than is present. Some maps represent an area in a larger scale to magnify a feature, but most maps are useful because they represent a large area in a smaller image. Always keep in mind that a map is a representation of an area and may not include all or the most current features. The ability to safely navigate a National Park trail successfully and confidently will allow you to enjoy the ultimate National Park experience.
Figure 1. A very generalized directional map and the modern interactive google map of Temple University. Image: (left) https://www.nps.gov/poex/planyourvisit/maps.htm. Right: Google maps https://www.google.com/search?q=Map&sa=X&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS765US765&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgecS4n5Fb4OWPe8JSWxknrTl5jXEdIxdXcEZ-uWteSWZJpZAVFxuUJcXFI8Whn6tvYBJfkqTBIMXFBecZiXDx6qfrGxpmFRQZZCcVJAk8fDuDUSnYyH3XpWnn2BwFGYCgjyPEQUpTS4iL3bPYJz85MUfwkejJo-J1EfZawlwcIYkV-Xn5uZWCfs2_7RnOvrdX4uQE6fqd-c5ei6Fp34pDbCwcjAIMQfxQq9JyK4uyMjKKeBaxMvsmFgAAmwVpo8sAAAA&biw=1920&bih=937&sxsrf=ALeKk03g80m2yB0dsKhKxy2JyNHTh06ctQ:1623953462234&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=gi8gu4WoLWELXM%252CqykhcD20QiP0zM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSG_qYR5IobzrrOFXdj5yyMHHdMXw&ved=2ahUKEwjcyv2Jop_xAhUDsDEKHQUhCF4Q_h16BAhHEAE#imgrc=5IW3DS1_uM_HOM
This lab will focus on two National Parks: The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona as a model for practicing trail maps and the Rocky Mountains National Park in Colorado for personal/group practice. All maps can be downloaded free of charge from the NPS.gov website. Below are screen shots from the website that should help you find many maps.
Navigate to the NPS.gov website to find maps. https://www.nps.gov/index.htm
Use the FIND A PARK drop down (lower center) or type into the search (upper right) or search bar the state or park name.
Use the Plan Your Visit dropdown to activate Directions & Transportation – click on Maps. There are many types from Larger Area maps to Panorama maps to Backcountry Hiking Brochures to Interactive geologic maps. Most are free.
Figure 2. Hiking and generalized Trail map of the Grand Canyon NP, Arizona. Image: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/intro-bc-hike.pdf https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/directions.htm
FIRST THING TO LOOK AT ON A MAP: Location
All maps have unique and traditional features. When you first look at a map notice the overall location (figure 3). Where is it in the world, USA, State, or County. Some maps will orient you to a larger region.
Figure 3. An overview map of the southwest USA featuring the Grand Canyon NP, Arizona as well as many other parks. Image: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/directions.htm
PRACTICE ON THIS MAP BY ANSWERING A FEW QUESTIONS:
Take a good look at this map section above (figure 3). How many states or parts of states are represented? Name them. With a pencil trace over the boundaries.
List the many National parks featured.
Have you been to any of the parks marked on this map? Which ones?
The use of color to distinguish areas is a powerful map tool. How many different colors do you see? What does each represent?
Locate the North symbol, which should traditionally point to the top of the map.
Is there a scale bar on this map? What units are present.
How much overall area is represented, make an estimate? Recall that area is width x length.
What is the difference between the road symbols?
Scale, Legends and Symbols
Determining how much area is represented on a map is essential if you are to safely begin any walk-around (figure 4). Being able to estimate distances will allow you to safely travel about while being mindful of daylight hours and budgeting your time. Legends and map symbols have some consistency and legibility with little to no language requirement. Due to the international interest in the National Parks clear understanding of non-language signs is essential.
Figure 4. A more detailed trail map located in the Grand Canyon NP, Arizona, Grand Canyon Village Zone. Image: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm
Find the Colorado River. Describe the use of coloring to enhance the maps features.
Find/circle the Market Plaza in the middle of the map. What services are present at the Plaza?
What types of roads are on this map? How are they distinguished?
Can you drive on all of them?
Find the scale bar. How many cm are in a km?
How many cm in a mile?
Choose one unit of measure and determine how many km or miles are in 6.2 cm.
What types of lodging are present?
Find the Campground symbol, the medical symbol, and the visitor centers. Circle them.
How many visitor centers do you see on this map?
If you are staying in the Mather Campground how far is the walk to Bright Angel Trail head?
From this map can I mail a letter or package?
Road types are often also distinct on maps. Notice the grey and white road to the left versus the trailer village road distinctions versus the rim trail designation. Do you think that you can drive a car on the Rim trail?
Can you drive your car on Hermit Road all year long?
Find a few interesting features on the map. Name them.
Are there elevation markers? Name two.
Elevation and Topography will be the focus of the next National Parks map unit.
Figures 5 and 6 are Hiking maps with three specific trails into the Colorado River at the base of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Use both figures to answer the following questions. Note, these maps represent the trails from both sides of the Colorado river.
Identify (circle) several locations for bathrooms.
Where can you obtain a reliable water source, year-round?
Can you stay in lodgings along the trails into the canyon? If so which trails?
What is the elevation change from the North rim vs the South rim to the Colorado river?
What is the mileage from the North rim vs the South rim to the Colorado river?
Circle medical support symbols.
Compare the three trail options for yearlong accessibility.
What lodging and services are available at or near the base of the River?
What is the elevation change along all three trails?
Is there water along the South Kaibaba Trailhead?
Figures 5 and 6 are free downloadable maps from the NPS.gov website.
Let’s look at the Rocky Mountains NP in Colorado Trail map for practice reading trail maps. You instructor will provide this map for hands on experience.
Figure 7. Small image of the full Trail map from Rocky Mountains NP in Colorado. Image is free from the NPS.gov website.
Now that you have explored the Grand Canyon NP trail map what is the first thing you notice about the Rocky Mountain NP Trail map?
Find the Park outline. How is it drawn?
What do the blue features represent?
Looking at the scale bar determine a few ratios.
Cm per km and cm per mile
Inches per km inches per mile.
Measure the distance that represents the width of the park.
Looking at the legend determine the location of several ranger stations, restrooms and other features.
What is the Continental Divide? Find it on the map.
Using the red triangular distance indicator markers determine how far is it between Finch Lake trail head and Wild basin Entrance station (lower right).
If I start at the East Inland Trailhead, how long is the hike (there and back) to visit Spirit Lake.
If I want to visit Fern Falls, what trail do I take?
We will learn about elevation in the Topographic map lab, but this specific map contains elevation markers. What is the highest Elevation point that you can find?
Using the legend what units of measurement are given?
Find the longest trail marked on this map.
Identify some of the safety issues that you may encounter while hiking.
Find Bear Lake (middle). How long are some of the hiking trails in the area?
Identify a few interesting features from those hikes.
Find the symbols on the map that are shown in the lower portion.
THE FOLLOWING TWO DOCUMENTS ARE FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN NP TRAILS: BEAR LAKE REGION (they are free at nps.gov). Carefully read them and identify safety tips for a great hike or two.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE PRACTICED READING TRAIL MAPS FIND THE TRAIL MAPS THAT BELONG TO YOUR SPECIFIC NATIONAL PARK.
HAPPY TRAILING!!