How to Locate a Topographic Map by Latitude and Longitude on Trails.com

If you find yourself getting lost in the enormous array of topographic maps available on Trails.com, you can use the site's search features to locate a map using its latitude and longitude coordinates. You'll then find a highly detailed topographic map of your region, including scale, elevation and terrain information.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Valid Trails.com membership (highly recommended)
• Credit card (if purchasing a membership)
• Computer with Internet access

Find Maps by Latitude and Longitude

1. Load the Trails.com homepage in your Web browser (see Resources below).

2. Access your Trails.com account via the 'Log In' link on the homepage, or simply enter your email address and password in the 'Member Login' section. Deselect the 'Remember Me' option unless you're using your own private computer.

3. Consider signing up for a trial membership to Trails.com, if you haven't already. You don't need one to locate a topographic map by latitude and longitude on Trails.com, but access to your map will be restricted without one.

4. Click the 'Topo Finder' link when you've logged in.

5. Click the 'Locate by Latitude & Longitude Coordinates' link from the 'Select a State on The Map or a Link Below' menu. Alternatively, you may scroll down the page, where you will find the 'Locate a Topo Map by Latitude and Longitude' feature.

6. Enter the 'UTM Zone' of the region you wish to search in the field provided.

7. Provide the 'Easting' and 'Northing' coordinates (in meters) of the area you wish to locate a topographic map of in the fields provided. Click the 'Locate' button. Your results will appear on a new page.

8. Fill in the 'Latitude' fields (divided into 'Degrees,' 'Minutes' and 'Seconds'). Repeat this process for the 'Longitude' fields.

9. Click 'Locate.' A new page will display your results.

Tips & Warnings

• Click on the 'Help' link from any page on Trails.com, or see Resources below, if you get lost and need help.

• Find the exact latitude and longitude of the area you want to locate a topographic map for by conducting an Internet search for the area's co-ordinates using your favorite search engine.

• Sign up for a Trails.com trial membership. This will allow you to view your topographic map without a Trails.com watermark on it.

• Protect your Trails.com account by logging out at the end of each and every Trails.com session you finish. Never share your password with anyone.

• Erase your Web browser's cache and history if you make a credit card transaction via the Internet. Do this immediately upon the successful completion of your transaction. Check the index in your browser's 'Help' feature if you don't know how.