My New Backpacking Map - for the Western Uplands Trail
I’m excited to share a brand new backpacking map, for the Western Uplands Trail!
It's designed specifically for backpackers – completely reimagined from the ground up.
So, what makes it different?
— Key features —
It combines two views of the trail:
- An overhead map for understanding how the trail is laid out
- A terrain profile to help you visualize elevation and difficulty
• Distance is built into every part of the maps:
- Each trail segment has its distance marked
- There’s a point-to-point distance chart showing the distance between any two campsites/starting points
- I’ve added a scale ruler printed along the map border for measuring arbitrary distances
• Hills:
The slope of a trail segment plays a huge role in dictating how easy/tough it will be. That’s where the colour-coded hill icons come in. For each hill, they show:
- How long it is
- How steep it is
- How tough it is (Steep, Very Steep or Crazy Steep)
And if you want even more detail, elevation shading and prominent 5m contour lines make it easy to understand terrain anywhere along the trail
• Landmarks:
When you’re deep in the forest, it’s easy to lose your bearings. To help, each map highlights key landmarks along the way – distinct spots like creeks, campsites and side trails, so you can check them off as you pass and always know where you are
• Helpful Notes:
Some of the most useful trail information doesn't fit neatly into an icon. That’s why I’ve sprinkled helpful notes throughout the maps – highlighting everything from spots where the trail isn’t immediately obvious, to campsites with difficult water access, and other useful details.
• Points of Interest:
As always, these maps are jam-packed with points of interest along the way – spots like waterfalls, lookout points, and old logging ruins
Compared to my paddling maps, these are significantly more detailed and zoomed in:
- Overhead View – 30%+ more zoomed in (1:32,500)
- Side View – 150%+ more zoomed in (1:16,750)
Practical details:
- 39g, printed on waterproof plastic (no map case needed)
- Of course, the maps come with digital versions too – for iOS/Android (ArcGIS Earth & Avenza Maps), Garmin GPS, and Mac/PC (JPEG, Google Earth Pro & GeoTIFF)
As always, it’s completely free to view it online.
Let me know if you ever have any questions or feedback. I’m always here to help!