This article lists most of the Gaia GPS map legends. Legends help show information that is presented on a map. You can also find a map's legend in the following locations:
Map Legends - Click to View
Aviation Maps
Click here to view the user guide for these map sources: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/aero_guide/
Air Quality
Backroads Mapbooks
Map
Trails
Paddling
Bedrock Geology
Cell Phone Coverage
Finland Topo
Click here to view a larger preview:
Gaia Topo
Japan Topo
Mines and Mineral Resources
MVUM (USFS) - Motor Vehicle Use Maps
National Geographic
NatGeo Trails
NatGeo Baja
New Zealand Topo
OpenCycleMap HD
OpenStreetMap-Based Sources
Some maps in Gaia GPS are OpenStreetMap-based sources, such as Outdoors and Landscape.
These maps will include some or all of the features shown here:
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Map_Features
Precip Forecast
Public Land (US)
Queensland Topo
Slope Angle
Snow Depth
Snow Forecast
Spain IGN Topo
USFS Classic + 2016 Topo Maps
You can go to https://data.fs.usda.gov/geodata/rastergateway/states-regions/states.php to view and download individual USFS PDF maps. Each PDF download will include a map legend. Here is a sample legend from the Bowen Mountain Quad in Colorado:
USFS Recreation Sites
USFS Roads and Trails
USGS Topo
Victoria Topo
Wildfires
| Canada Historic | US Historic |
UK Streets 1:10K
Comments
69 comments
Will you consider including a legend tab within the app itself that would include legend info for any currently loaded maps for easy reference?
Edit: Didn't see the comment from a few days ago somewhat above here. Still, would be great to have this feature on a tab similar to the maps tab!
Does Gaia Maps plan to integrate keys into the maps? Having to keep a downloded copy of this thred is not the best way to use a key. Also, individual maps via National Geographic seem to have variances which makes map reading difficult. Do you have a time estimate for when keys will be integrated?
I love the app, I really do. But I find it annoying that I have to come to this post to look at the legends when I am planning, and even worse that I really can't find legends when in the field. Since each layer has different legend, will there be a development whereby we can access the legend in the field, you know, when you need it? Each is so different, it's hard to remember which Gaia trail is which, alongside understanding NFS trails, MVUM, etc.
Or am I blatantly missing something?
Hi Jeremy,
Here is what the symbols stand for:
Binoculars = Scenic Overlook
Mountain = Peak Summit
Tent = Campsite
Coal Cart = Mine
P = Parking area
I am trying to find a legend for the "Roads and Trails USFS" layer. I can only find information on the MVUM layer. I would like to know what the different colors represent.
@FrankSmithson
We are discussing how to surface the map legends in the app, however, I don't have an ETA for this right now.
@osdom
I have an open a bug report for the missing coverage of the White Mountain National Forest in the USFS MUVUM overlay and I apologize for the trouble. The USFS Classic and the USFS 2016 map layers do include coverage for theWhite Mountain Nationa Forest.
@euckilla
The USFS MVUM overlay can be found within the Premium Overlays section of the Layers menu. Follow these instructions to find and add more maps: iOS/Android.
I'm grateful I found this post, as I've been struggling to decipher the meanings of the icons and other graphics on the map. It would be VERY nice to have the key information integrated into the app/map somehow. Maybe I'm just overlooking it, but on my phone and on the web, I don't see any key information.
@dbender
The purple sections of the trail represent steps and the black with red dashes sections are bridges.
@misterjones & @brian.calvery
We are working on surfacing legends and making them accessible from the main map.
@NinaRose the grey shading on Gaia Topo represents bare rock.
@emolafebre
Thanks for posting - we definitely understand the importance of having this information readily available.
We are currently working to add them to the iOS app so you will be able to view the map legend by tapping 'i' in the bottom corner of the map screen.
If you would like to become a beta tester and try this addition out before it is released. Follow these steps to join the Beta program:
https://help.gaiagps.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003639548-iOS-Beta-Testers
What are the green/white and yellow/white dashed lines on MVUM mostly in Colorado and Utah?
question what does the unimproved, 4wd mean on NFS map mean/entail i.e. dirt road, heavy trail
@nikrap
Unfortunately, the scaled quail habitat data is in WMS and Gaia GPS only supports TMS or WTMS files. Sorry about that.
However, you can download the USGS's scaled quail range as a shapefile here: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/59f5e299e4b063d5d307df8d.
Then, follow these steps to import it as a custom map source through Mapbox Studio.
@nathan with a premium membership can i import the quail maps found here:
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/items?filter=browseType%3DOGC+WMS+Layer&q=quail
which format would i download for instance from this page:
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/58fa5742e4b0b7ea545253fd
@MasonBerry
Thanks for posting.
The green/white and the yellow/white dashed roads on the MVUM overlay are single track trails open to motorcycles only.
@nikarp
We are looking into adding more map sources which will include big game winter and summer ranges.
Is there a game distribution overlay (quail, dove, etc.)? It's the only think onX seems to have when planning scouting areas that I can't find in my trail of gaia
@josham
Done.
@Dakotat797
Map legends on Android are available through the Help Center section of the app:
Although, you will need cell service to view it.
I can definitely see how this would be valuable information to have while offline. For now, you can save this the legends you need for offline by right-clicking the image> Save Image and save it to your phone.
If you have any questions, send a note to support@gaiagps.com - we are happy to help.
Please add a link to the NeoTreks legend on this page. I found it on a different Gaia GPS help page but it would be nice to have them all in one place. http://neotreks.com/maps/legend/
@garretseal
The Roads & Trails (USFS) overlay is colored coded by the road/trail classification level and I have updated this article to include the legend for this map source. Sorry for the inconvenience.
@nathan thanks for the help!!!!
Is there a legend available for the Features overlay?
The Gaia POI's don't match what is available to me when marking waypoints. The waterfall icon is not available for one...
@ampancini
The symbols used in the Features overlays are similar to the USGS legend.
If you have a question about a specific symbol, please let me know.
I just downloaded this app for the primary purpose of printing maps to practice land nav. Is there a way to set the scale for 1:50000? I want to be able to make my own courses and use the standard protractors. Again, is this possible, if so how?
While it would be great to have keys/legends integrated into maps (separate tabs, pop-ups, hovers, etc.), I didn’t even know about this page until I stumbled into it just now. I converted it to PDF and cached a local (iBooks) copy on my iPhone. Beats having to get out a paper map just to read the legend!
For the Gaia Topo map, I am curious about what is represented by the line decorations on the trail feature in the map below? There are segments of the trail shaded in a thick purple line and other segments that are decorated with a dashed black and red line. What are they? Thanks!
Article is closed for comments.