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how often is it that Typography maps are incorrect? I recently went searching for a waterfall that was labeled on the map. I have seen logs of people in the area but never seen a picture of this location. From satellite view I couldn't see the fall but I did see one upstream. I ended up searching all over that canyon but never found the labeled waterfall. even-though there is one upstream and down steam...

The Labeled falls where about 1/8th mile down stream and around a bend then the actual waterfall.

Has this ever happened to you guys before?

Lots of things on topo maps aren't correct. Marked trails are the most obvious inaccuracy! There are a lot of springs that are either mismarked or don't exist anymore, and probably countless other features as well.

I've seen many waterfalls that are not marked on maps despite being huge, and I've seen waterfalls that are marked that are barely a cascade. I'm not sure what prompted some geographic features to be indicated while others were not.

But my favorite is the enormous 500 foot spire in the Kofas that is completely ignored on topo maps.
Compare this http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ID=397871 to this GE http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=397957 which GE rendered based on this topo map http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=397955

So yes, it happens.

Very little is highly accurate on most topo maps. Most of the layered data (roads, trails, springs, waterfalls, etc.) comes from a pre-GPS era and so when compared with modern precision is not particularly accurate. Trails were often sketched in and only loosely resemble reality, if at all. It also varies wildly across the country as some agencies/forests/districts have put more effort into updating and modernizing their maps while others are still just outputting digitized versions of the original hand-drawn maps. Many are a hybrid of both.

Topographic errors are less frequent but definitely exist.

Having dealt with them for many years back when I was employed, the best topo map story I have concerns a piece of land SW of Sheridan, Wyoming. As always when dealing with paper maps (pre internet) the project spanned at least two paper maps (quads). On this project a section was the normal 1 mile square on one of the paper quads, on the other it was over a mile and a half north-to-south. I never did find an explanation.

I have a large collection of USGS topographical map that I utilize and have served me well and I have not had any problems or have noted any errors with the exception of a missile silo complex not identified on the map that I was using while on a night hike north of Oracle Junction but the security detail was very enthusiastic about "correcting" this error. For the most part they are very accurate but note since the maps have been made in some areas the ground has subsided, water sources have dried up for various reasons. Man made features such as trails roads ect have been removed , relocated and yes some have been mis labled or located on the map. The township and range and section lines labled on a map are not all one mile squares. They have to account for the curvature of the earth and that is why we have correction township, range and sections.

I've seen countless small errors on topos, mostly with names. A good example that's been cited here before are named features on the San Francisco Peaks. The locations of waterfalls isn't so easy to judge, because there are so many places that could be deemed waterfalls and the actual flow of water can be so extremely localized and ephemeral.

For all the errors noted, consider how many are correct! I don't consider them wrong lightly, it is a rare "find" when they are. These maps are in incredible public resource.

Dammed gummit again.

You all, stop complaining as mistakes on the topo's makes the trips just that more exciting.

chumley wrote:Lots of things on topo maps aren't correct. Marked trails are the most obvious inaccuracy! There are a lot of springs that are either mismarked or don't exist anymore, and probably countless other features as well.

I've seen many waterfalls that are not marked on maps despite being huge, and I've seen waterfalls that are marked that are barely a cascade. I'm not sure what prompted some geographic features to be indicated while others were not.

But my favorite is the enormous 500 foot spire in the Kofas that is completely ignored on topo maps.
Compare this http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ID=397871 to this GE http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=397957 which GE rendered based on this topo map http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=397955

So yes, it happens.

Apropos of nothing but OMG is that some rugged country... Wowza.

I enjoyed looking down at Coffee Flat Mtn. from the shorter peak next to it

I am very thankful for the wonderful resource of topo maps so many things on them that you could never find from Sat view. I just think its interesting to note thanks that are off and wondered if you guys had any stories. Which you did! Thanks for sharing guys!

pyro4lif wrote:the wonderful resource of topo maps so many things on them that you could never find from Sat view.

Spoken like a true 25-year old!

I think you've got those two switched around! <insert> old man with cane emoji </>
;)

@chumley Hey I am almost 26!