New DuPont State Forest Map by Pisgah Map Company

posted in: Indoors | 12

Earlier this year, Pisgah Map Company released another map in the Western North Carolina Trail Guide series, this one of DuPont State (Recreational) Forest. Like the Pisgah Ranger District map published in 2011 (which we also reviewed), this is another fantastic publication made by locals who are not only trail experts, but whose award-winning company is leading the entire industry in the outdoor recreation map space.

Although there isn’t a National Geographic Trails Illustrated map of DuPont like there is of Pisgah, there has been another map of DuPont State Forest available. It’s produced by the Forest Service in conjunction with the Friends of DuPont Forest group, last revised in 2012. While I like both, I think the newer one edges it out when taken head to head. Read on to find out why!

Size & Form Factor

The Trail Guide map is larger, making more room for detail necessary in a dense trail network like this one. Without measuring, I’d say it has more than twice as much area as the smaller one.

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
Both maps unfolded. The Friends map is on top.

However, it folds up into a narrower size than the older map – which fits better in my packs which tend to have narrower compartments, or even a large pants pocket. The Friends map is more square, while the Trail Guide is shaped more like a tri-fold brochure.

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
The two maps folded

More than just a map, both publications feature the main map on one side, with a variety of other information and map insets on the reverse.

Detail & Style

Both maps provide adequate detail for navigating Dupont State Forest’s trails, especially since the trails are well-signed on the ground and easy to follow, so it’s hard to miss a turn.

Style wise, I prefer the Trail Guide when considering text, graphics, and symbology. It feels more like a modern digital version of many government maps – like, for instance, the National Park maps – which in turn are inspired by our old go-to recreational maps: the USGS quads. In keeping with the Pisgah Trail Guide, this one also labels each trail with its name directly on the map.

map_trailguide
Pisgah Map Company’s Trail Guide map sample

Contours are subtle yet crisp; hill shading is provided to give a slightly 3D appearance. Property boundaries are clearly visible without having a thick, distracting border. This is ultimately easier on the eyes and provides more information in the same space.

Meanwhile, some of the symbols and labels on the Friends map are so large that they sometimes cover up nearby details. The trails – which are now more standard dashed lines on the 2012 edition as opposed to the thick solid lines on the 2008 edition – are color-coded and only numbered on the Friends map. This means you have to cross-reference the index each time to find out a trail’s name.

map_fodf
Friends of DuPont’s map sample. You’ll have to reference the index to know what those trails are called.

The contours stand out a bit more on the Friends map, and the elevation labels are unusually large.

On the other hand, those with difficulty reading fine print or seeing fine detail might choose to opt for the Friends map for the reasons above, since the labels are much larger. The descriptive text is in a somewhat larger font, too – handy for casual reading.

Both maps provide insets showing a close-up of the very popular waterfall areas. But the Friends map’s inset is devoid of topographic info, making it a little harder to judge difficulty of the trails.

fodf_inset
Inset in the Friends of DuPont map. It’s a bit devoid of details, but then again, it shows only what you need to get around.

The Trail Guide uses the same styles in its insets as it uses on the main map.

Neither yet shows the new trail completed this year to High Falls, but it’s easy to follow and I suspect future revisions of both maps will include it.

Extras

Both maps feature an attractive cover, full-color photographs, and details about area attractions on the reverse. Either map will guide you to all the major attractions – lakes, waterfalls, summits – within DuPont.

But with more space, the Trail Guide is also able to provide several smaller guides highlighting some great popular mountain bike routes within the larger trail network. These include basic stats, GPS coordinates, a turn-by-turn/cue sheet as well as an elevation profile. If you’re from out-of-town and just want to pick up one map before you go out to ride, this makes it pretty compelling and worth the extra price (see below).

Price and Availability

The Friends map is becoming difficult to find in many stores (especially in the Asheville area), while the Trail Guide is now available nearly everywhere. However, the Friends map does run a good bit less than the Trail Guide if you can find it.

At Mast Store – one of the last places that stocks them in Asheville – the Friends map was $8, while the Trail Guide was $14. A portion of the proceeds from both goes toward trail maintenance and other projects in Dupont.

Digital Version

The Trail Guide map is also available in the Avenza PDF Maps Store as a digital download for your iPhone (and soon, Android phones & tablets as well). It’s the same map as the printed version, without the ride guides on the map (and with some collar information rearranged). We’ve been testing the Avenza app beta on Android and it’s very nice, and allows you to track your position on the map in real-time using GPS. It also allows you to add your own annotations and export them as a KML file for sharing. This is a compelling new development, and I think having access to a digital map consistent with the printed version makes the Trail Guide even more attractive.

Keep checking back for more specific reviews of the digital map offerings including this one!

Bottom Line

Both maps are worth the money, and both will get you around just fine within DuPont State Forest. But the WNC Trail Guide has a more comfortable size, nicer style, and a few extras that make it my recommendation if you’re looking to make a choice between the two to buy.

For more information, visit the publisher’s web sites:
Pisgah Map Company
Friends of DuPont Forest

A quick note in the interest of full disclosure: Pisgah Map Company used some of our own photos on the Trail Guide. They were provided free of charge – and anyone else is also welcome to use them as such 🙂

12 Responses

  1. Cliff

    Thanks for this review. I’ve never liked the size of the Friends map. Map designers who use that form factor are either obviously non-hikers or else they have bigger pockets than most others do! 😉

    Also, I’ve been a huge fan of the PMC South Pisgah map. It is a huge improvement over the NatGeo map covering the same area. It would be nice if they could do a map for either North Pisgah or Nantahala NF next (hint, hint)

    • Pete Kennedy

      Thanks for the comment Cliff! North Pisgah currently under development :-). It’s being field tested this weekend! If you know the area well and would like to review the new map and provide input, let me know.

    • jack

      We are actively exploring, collecting gps data in the field and producing preliminary layouts and designs for a Nantahala map. The North Pisgah map is further along in development

  2. Jerry Clouse

    I purchased this map expecting to see a wonderful, accurate and well thought-out product. However, after noticing over 12 misspelled words within this map I wonder how much care went into proof reading. In fact, I am disappointed you did not mention this problem in your review. If the company is this careless in promoting their map, I wonder how much of it can be trusted. This is a disappointing product for which I paid a premium price. I want my money back and I will not recommend this map to my hiking/biking friends!

    • jordan

      I’m Sorry you found the map disappointing, Jerry. I honestly didn’t notice any misspellings myself or I would’ve mentioned it to Pisgah Map Company – certainly nothing that affected my use of the map. Let them know and I’m sure they’ll get it corrected in short order!

    • Pete Kennedy

      Jerry,

      I too am very sorry you are disappointed in our DuPont map. I assure you, we work very hard to make our maps the best they can be. To that end, we welcome and request any input on our maps from users so we can continually make them better. As all maps do have some errors in them, I am confident the trails data on our DuPont map is more accurate and up-to-date than any other map of the area as I rode and/or hiked every trail to collect the data and produce the map. If you would kindly share the errors (misspellings) with me I will correct them for the next revision. Otherwise, I will search them out on my own and correct them. I would also be very interested to know if you find any errors in the accuracy of the actual data on the map outside of misspellings. You can contact me through our contact page on our website here with the errors. http://pisgahmapcompany.com/company-information/contact/

      Also, once I have your email through the contact page, I will refund your money via PayPal. If you do not use PayPal, please provide a physical address and I will send you a check for the full amount you paid for the map.

      Thank you for your input and again I am sorry you are disappointed.

  3. Chris Drennen

    Maybe off subject, I am interested in finding a map of the future Headwaters state park. Any help would be appreciated.

    • jordan

      Chris – Pisgah Map Company’s new map of the Upstate SC/southern NC area called “The Blue Wall” will cover that area, as well as Jocassee and Gorges, Table Rock, and Mountain Bridge Wilderness. They’re available at many local outdoor retailers.

      Headwaters is, of course, still off-limits to the public for now.

    • Pete Kennedy

      Chris,

      Like Jordan mentioned, the new Headwaters State Forest is included on our newest map that was just released this week. It is slowly being distributed to local retailers. At this time, the boundary of the forest is on the map but it is not open to the public. The opening date depends on how quickly the remaining land can be acquired and a management plan put in place. If you have any other specific questions, please send an email to info@pisgahmapcompany.com.

  4. Chris Drennen

    Thanks guys, I own property that boarders the future state park and would like to see an area map. I look forward to the Headwaters park.

Leave a Reply