How to maps some trails with a GPS?

December 26, 2008 9:57 AM

How can I create a trail map using a GPS?

I would like to walk (or bike) some old logging roads and generate a map that I can then print. There must be way to do this using a GPS and cartography software, but I have been unable to find a solution. Any recommendations for a GPS that is suitable for this would also be welcome. I currently have a Garmin 250W.

Perhaps there is a solution using Google Earth?

posted by SNACKeR to Technology (14 answers total)

Are you OK with printing from Google Earth? If so you can export your garmin waypoints and convert them to KML/KMZ. There's software (non-free - beer or speech) that will do this for you. Afterwards you can just print from google maps or earth, email the kmz file to friends or link to it if it's hosted somewhere.

I'm sure there are other software alternatives that someone will come along and point out though :). I just don't know of them.
posted by datacenter refugee at 10:09 AM on December 26, 2008

Response by poster: Printing from Google Earth is probably ok. What about collecting the waypoints - must I do that manually, or do some GPS save a waypoint every x seconds?
posted by SNACKeR at 10:16 AM on December 26, 2008

Any GPS device with "route" capability (that is, the ability to trace or plot your progress over ground) will be suitable. Unfortunately, your Nuvi does not store routes.

Just about any of the cheap outdoorsy GPS units will work for you. I run with a last-gen Garmin Forerunner and have transferred my routes into google earth without a hitch. Haven't tried printing a map yet, however.
posted by notyou at 10:19 AM on December 26, 2008

You have the Nuvi 250w?
posted by datacenter refugee at 10:20 AM on December 26, 2008

> your Nuvi does not store routes

Wow, that is stinky but dead on. Sorry about that!
posted by datacenter refugee at 10:25 AM on December 26, 2008

Dang, my boyfriend knows the answer to this, but he just left this morning to go snowshoeing using his GPS and mapping software (He plans his trail using the software, loads it into his GPS, prints out the map, then does the trail. When he returns he uses the GPS to upload the actual route he did and compares the two maps.)

Drop Otis24 a MeMail and he'll get back to you next week. He did a lot of research in picking out his GPS, and I know he didn't spend a lot of money either. He uses Topo! software and GoogleEarth. And who knows what else.
posted by iamkimiam at 10:27 AM on December 26, 2008

I did this for a local conservation area. Actually upgraded my GPS for the purpose. I used a handheld Magellan eXplorist 500 (and the waypoints were manually saved at key points of the trails), exported the coordinates to a text file through the PC cable, then (I don't remember the details) got it into a Google Earth KML file. Took a screenshot of Google Earth, then used a drawing program, most likely InkScape and/or Photoshop, to draw the trails based on the points and memory of the trails.
posted by hungrysquirrels at 10:39 AM on December 26, 2008

if you have a Android phone, the software GPS Tracker makes this dead simple. turn on GPS, start GPS Tracker (after creating an account at instamapper.com). Go on your hike. turn off GPS tracker, and sign into the instamapper.com site. And there is your data points, displayed on a google map. which you could then dump to a .kml file if you wanted to. This can also be done with some other phone hardware they support: http://www.instamapper.com/howto.html
posted by jrishel at 10:48 AM on December 26, 2008 [1 favorite]

You can upload your route from your Garmin unit to MapMyFitness.com, which generates a nice map. If your unit doesn't store routes, I'd suggest getting an inexpensive used Garmin eTrex Vista or similar and using that.
posted by acridrabbit at 11:14 AM on December 26, 2008

If you get a new GPS that will save tracks for you (tracks you create by walking around and having it save waypoints, routes you create off the GPS and upload to it to follow), gpsbabel is great free (in speech and beer) software that will likely do the conversion for you from Garmin's format to KML/KMZ for use with Google Maps/Earth.
posted by thebabelfish at 11:17 AM on December 26, 2008

Hey, I do this all the time... GPS Trackmaker has a free version and is awesome--you can import your tracks and waypoints directly, edit, and export to a kml or even a shapefile. Uploading to Google Maps yields some awesome results, and it has helped me find new routes or add-ons in the area... [here is an example of one of my maps]
posted by zachxman at 1:03 PM on December 26, 2008

I previously described the use of an AMOD AGL3080 data logger for this purpose.
posted by jaimev at 1:03 PM on December 26, 2008

GPS Visualizer is super easy to use and free.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 1:28 PM on December 26, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks all for the great response! Looks like I have lots of software options and a few GPS models to check out. The AMOD AGL3080 sounds interesting as I would like to do geotagging of photos as well.
posted by SNACKeR at 7:17 AM on December 28, 2008