Greg Smith of Adirondack Mountain Club’s Iroquois Chapter published this handy set of trip planning links in the recent club newsletter. You can also see them on his web site at http://www.adirondack-park.net/education/trip_planning/
Where To Go
Adirondack Mountain Club Forest Preserve Series Trail Guides (Information and ordering only) http://adk.org/trails/ForestPreserve.aspx
Discover the Adirondacks Series Guides (Information and ordering only) http://www.HikeTheAdirondacks.com/
DEC Map Collection- Fishing access sites,boat launches,ski trails,state forest maps,etc. http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/4735.html
DEC State Lands Interactive Mapper –Online recreation map showing parking areas,trails,and other points of interest. Note that not all trails are shown! http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/45478.htm
Topographic Map Viewing Software
MapTech Terrain Navigator $100 for coverage of New York http://maptech.mytopo.com/land/TerrainNavigator/index.cfm
National Geographic Topo! $100 for coverage of New York &New Jersey http://www.natgeomaps.com/topo.html
Online Topographic Map Viewing
ACME Mapper -View topo maps and aerial photos http://mapper.acme.com/
MapTech MapServer View topo maps. Nautical charts are also available for coastal areas. Capability to search for lakes,mountains,etc. rather than just towns and addresses. http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm
TerraServer View topo maps and aerial photos http://terraserver-usa.com/
Greg’s work-in-progress:Topo map viewing with USGS place name search. Shading of private land in the Adirondacks (note that the private land data is several years out of date) http://www.adirondack-park.net/topo/
Topographic Map Downloads
New York State Geographic Information Systems Clearinghouse –Quads for New York in TIFF format http://www.nysgis.state.ny.us/gisdata/quads/
USGS Quads for entire country in PDF format http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/maplocator/(layout=6_1_61_48&uiarea=2&ctype=areaDetails&carea=%24ROOT)/.do
Ordering Custom Topo Maps
MyTopo http://www.mytopo.com
Viewing Public vs Private Land
Adirondack Park Agency View public/private land boundaries and wilderness/wild forest/etc designation of state land http://www.apa.state.ny.us/gis/FacsimileMap.html
Current Trail Conditions
DEC Region 5 Information on trail closures,flooding,bridge washouts,bad blowdown,etc. Only covers DEC Region 5 lands in the Adirondacks,so the western Adirondacks are not covered! http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html
Discussion Forums
Adirondack Forum http://www.adkforum.com/
Adirondack High Peaks Forums http://forums.adkhighpeaks.com/
Views From The Top Membership requires referral from existing member http://viewsfromthetop.com/forums/
Weather
National Weather Service Enter nearest town,then click the map on that town’s forecast page to get a forecast for where you’ll be hiking http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
