On every decent map, a map scale should be provided near the legend. Map scale can be used to determine the level of detail a map will possess and is expressed as a fraction formula, such as 1:100,000. What this means is that every 1 unit (inch, foot, etc.) is representative of 100,000 of the same unit on the ground. For example, 1 inch in this case is representative of 100,000 inches in real life. Map scale can get a bit confusing. A small scale map will have a larger fraction and a large scale map a smaller fraction. Regardless, we need not crunch any formulas to determine the best map scale and it may be best to throw out the words large and small when it comes to scales entirely and just focus on the number. Your map should also do a little math for you and show you, no matter what scale the map is, what an inch and centimeter on the map equals out to in the field.

When it comes to map scale, finding the right balance between detail and a big picture view is needed.

Hiking Map Scale: Pros and Cons

The benefit of maps 1:100,000 or higher is that they will show larger areas on the same size map. Thus, if you’re looking to plan a trip at home these types of maps are very helpful for gaining a “big picture” view of your hike and where you’ll actually be going. When you’re “boots on the ground” however, 1:100,000 can be lacking in detail and for me, I might still take a 1:100,000 map if I had to, but this is where I start to get a little uncomfortable. Moving to a map that shows less overall area but is more detailed for navigation on or off the trail is preferred here.

This comes down to whatever you’re comfortable with. I find around a 1:50,000 map to be a good balance, although I’ll frequently have to take two maps to get through a trip at this scale. Many hikers, especially those that hike offtrail using map and compass navigation, like USGS 7.5 maps with an even more detailed 1:24,000 scale. I’m in agreement that maps with this amount of detail are extremely helpful, but for longer trips you’d have to pack a literal stack of maps at this scale. Thus, I use something around a 1:50,000 map almost all the time, backing it up with USGS topos…but stored on my phone rather than in a binder.

In Conclusion

In the end, experiment to determine what works best for you and for your style of hiking – a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail vs. an offtrail expedition into the Alaskan Wilderness will require two different approaches, for example. USGS topos are great for their detail, but they can show some age with data and take some practice to read. Large overview maps are perfect for planning out trips. Somewhere in the middle is a nice balance and many of these maps will offer updated data and shaded relief to make reading the map at a glance easier and easier on the eyes. That said if I'm between two scales the choice is easy, I always take the more detailed version and take multiple maps instead of one, if they’ll be needed for complete coverage of the trip at hand.

For our full guide on backcountry navigation see Beyond the Blaze: A Backpacking & Hiking Navigation Guide in the Premium PDF version of Issue 56 of TrailGroove Magazine ($10 download or all included with an active Premium Subscription). You can also find some additional navigation tips here on the TrailGroove Blog.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 56 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here.