Nearly all current USGS topos are available only as color plots on water resistant synthetic paper, for $14.99. A few sheets are available as litho-printed paper maps as the USGS sells off its current printed inventory.
We stock all USGS 1:24,000 and 1:100,000 & 1:250,000 topo maps for all of the USA.
Plotted on water-resistant, tear-resistant synthetic paper
Index Maps. Index maps for the 1:100,000 and 1:250,000 scales are available on-line for viewing. Indexes for the 1:24,000 series are available on-line for downloading to your PC. Please note that the index map files are very large and are downloaded in compressed format. You will need PKUNZIP, or some other compression program to decompress the files. The files are in .tif format, and you will need an appropriate viewer, such as PhotoShop, to view the indexes; Netscape cannot handle the large file sizes. Index maps are also available by mail for a $5 charge per index, credited to your next order for USGS topos, of $25 or more.
Click here for USGS 1:24,000 index maps
Symbols. A list of symbols used on U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Maps.
Sample Images Below are sample images from the three main USGS map scales - 1:24,000 - 1:100,000 - 1:250,000. The sample images cover the same spot, an interstate exit just north of Charlotte that is marked with a circle, so that you can see the difference in the level of detail in the three scales. In general, 1:24,000 are ideal for hiking, 1:100,000 for bicycling or backroad car driving, and 1:250,000 for backpacking/bicycling trip planning or a general overview of an area.
Typically, a 1:24,000 map covers about 7 x 8.75 (E-W x N-S) miles, a 1:100,000 map covers about 50 x 30 (E-W x N-S) miles, and a 1:250,000 map covers about 120 x 70 (E-W x N-S) miles.