If this topic has been covered extensively in the past I apologize but I am posting this as I love maps and can sit for hours just looking at them and I always have them on trail. (I don't rely on them fancy GPS devices lol)
So question is what maps are your favorites and what do you use them for?

Myself on trail I always use the green trails maps when hiking in Washington can't beat it in my opinion.
Trip planing in Washington I like the maps they sell at the ranger stations way to big to be practical on the trail though.

I trip planned 2 hikes this summer with the National geographic trails illustrated maps and they worked fine for that it seems, I will be using them on trail as well this summer ( glacier, and black hills) and will report how well I like them.
Thanks for any input

Doing lots of off-trail travel, I primarily use 7.5 minute USGS maps. I would not think of using anything else when in the field. I have a set of paper USGS quads (fortunately purchased when they were still $2.50 per map -now nearly $9!). These are well used - notes on the back and route lines drawn.

I also have the no-longer-supported TOPO software and print 7.5-minute maps for trail use. I use the most recent Forest Service maps for access roads. BLM also has some good maps of roads. FS maps show trails that are maintained, but the scale is not sufficient for use in the field.

For planning I have the two-series maps (100-foot contours) of the Sierra and Wind Rivers - I use these for general trip planning at home - it is nice to see everything all spread out in front of my eyes.

Some areas have changed so much (new trails) that you need specific trail maps - for example Henry Coe State Park and Point Reyes National Seashore -absolutely need their map for the trails - thick brush in the coastal ranges preclude much off-trail hiking.

I am also an old-timer -- do not use GPS.

I use the maps off the internet and print the ones of the specific area I will be going to. I also will throw in a Google satellite view for good measure sometimes.


caltopo

I have never used gps in the past, but have one now that I plan to start using...more for fun than actual navigation.

I'm a map lover too. I mostly print my own now. You can download all the USGS maps that Wondering_Daisy uses online at these sites:

USGS Map Site

I thought they only sold them there, but I just checked the site and they're all free to download now. I just downloaded one and they are very nice.

http://libremap.org. has scanned versions of the older printed versions the USGS used to sell. I donated to this project years ago and have used a lot of them, but the ones at the USGS site linked above are much better now.

I was just looking around for better maps of the Grouse Ridge region in the Sierra Nevada mountains here in California, and couldn't find any better than 7.5' quads, which I'm very familiar with. The quad map shows a trail going east toward Glacier Lake, then it just dies there. Just to the north is 5 lakes basin, where I'd like to hike, but no trails are shown. I'm sure something exists down there, but I don't know where to look for better trail maps. Unless anyone knows of any, I'm just going to rely on a combination of trails.com guides, 7.5' quads, and Google Maps imagery to plan my route through there.

-Rodney

You might try searching for GPX trail files.

Here's a link to one I found in that area.

No formal trail to Five~Lakes, but there are a few ducked routes connecting bits of trail. Not difficult travel.

Cheers,