Dolly Sods Maps

I strongly recommend that you have a USGS-type high quality topo map with trails and other features, at a resolution that is meaningful for the hike you are planning.  

At first I went to topozone.com   where you can create free custom topo maps, or use their link to MyTopo for waterproof, large-size maps ($20 each).   Perfect!  Oops, not perfect:  These are fatally outdated!  The Bear Rocks Trail actually continues past the “T-intersection” indicated on it’s western side on these maps.  And it intersects a trail called Ravens Ridge Trail, also missing!  I had ordered a hardcopy waterproof map from them before I discovered this, and had to cancel my order. 

The nice customer service guy told me where to find topo maps with current trails.   He said to use store.usgs.gov .  Specify Blackbird Knob, and 2016 to get a USGS Topo 7.5 – minute map of the Bear Rocks area.  You can download a free PDF map, as I did here: 

 Blackbird Knob

This map is beautiful!   And, even better, accurate.  You’ll notice that Forest Road 75 is called “American Discovery Trail” here, but you know better. 

The other maps covering Dolly Sods Wilderness are:

 Blackwater Falls

Hopeville

Laneville  

You’ll need to get these wonders onto hardcopy media.  You can buy it on paper directly from USGS.  The sheet size is about 22 x 27 inches .  USGS can take up to 10 days to shuffle down the warehouse, pull your map out, shuffle back, and put it in the mail though.  Peak color is closer than that, so that won’t work.  My thought is to see what kind of paper is offered at the local photo printing companies.