New Topo Maps

This one is primarily for New Hampshire folks or people who visit. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has created topographic maps for the entire state that you can download at their website: http://www.wildnh.com/maps/. At that site click on "New Topo maps."

From there you will see a list of New Hampshire towns. Click on a town of interest and you will get a list of topographic maps and associated 2009 aerial photos for that town. Select a map or photo -- to view you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader version 8 or newer.

The maps can be printed on a 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper. The resolution is a little low, but still a pretty nice tool.

According to NH Fish and Game:

The background scanned images of U.S. Geological Survey paper topographic maps are from the National Geographic Society provided through ArcGIS Online, a map service with land cover imagery for the world and detailed topographic maps for the United States at multiple scales. The photography (2009) is from the National Agriculture Imagery Program. The other data layers are from NH GRANIT, the statewide geographic information system clearinghouse.

The conserved lands data that is included on these maps is not quite up to date even though it says October 2010. There are more conserved lands than the maps show, and some lands are open to the public and some are not. It is helpful to look at the legend before clicking on a map. The map legend is accessible on the page listing all the towns.

Click here to see a sample map and here to see the corresponding photo. For the example I chose the Mt. Chocorua  area in the White Mountain National Forest, a favorite hiking destination.