As posted in my RZR Forums intro, I'm a Can-Am owner based in the central mountains of AZ. I'm an active member on the Can-Am Maverick forums with username DirtDawg (name already taken here, thus username version chosen). I'm re-posting this here as likewise did there last week simply as a courtesy to Polaris owners whom visit the Tonto NF for recreation in your OHVs, including UTV/ATV, jeeps etc. Also noting as outlined below, the subject new map is a no-cost download option for both the app and the comprehensive TRaL map. With me only having posted my mentioned intro, I figured it prudent to state this, i.e., I'm not selling anything! Feel free to share this with other users and please report any issues or problems you might encounter.
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As an active volunteer member of Tonto Recreation Alliance (aka - TRaL), this topic is meant as notification of an advanced GPS-enabled navigation tool now being offered to public users. A little background on that is outlined below.
Tonto Recreation Alliance (TRaL's weblink within the message below) considered a means a few years ago to produce a read-only version of the comprehensive Tonto NF trail system map database TRaL volunteer crews developed over several years in anticipation of Tonto NF's Travel Management Plan subsequently finalized and published in late 2021 as outlined here: Tonto National Forest - Planning
Announced recently by Rich Smith (President and founding member of TRaL), a map product has been produced and released in "beta" format utilizing ArcGIS Field Maps as the host software utility. TRaL previously produced and published several area maps downloadable in Avenza app map format for not much $$, with those maps still available primarily intended for limited-use visitors to those specific areas. On the other hand, TRaL's Field Maps version is much more feature rich. Just as with the live map used by TRaL Crew Leaders, it incorporates layers with significant attribute data available displayed as a pop-up simply by touching a specific trail feature. ArcGIS Field Maps is a no-cost app download on Google Play for Android or Apple Store for iOS devices, which then uses the device's built-in GPS (active WiFi not required during navigation) to pinpoint specific position within the map system plus direction of travel when in motion on any trail shown.
Also noting, this isn't a "once and done" mapping product but instead subject to periodic updates on trail attributes, conditions and POIs, thus users can "refresh" their map version periodically to obtain the latest updates free of charge.
Please post or PM any questions or problems accessing, which I can either answer or defer to those better suited. I'm personally excited about this development and announcement and hope others within this region share my enthusiasm!
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After years of getting the OHV trails in the Tonto inspected and marked, there is finally a map of the forest created and published by TRAL. I wanted to let all of you as TRAL volunteers know about the map first.
This map is brand new and just released so there might be some minor problems which is why we are calling it a Beta release. if you find issues, please let us know at info@tralaz.org.
This map is an interactive one that runs on a free app called Field Maps. It is downloadable to your Apple or Android phone or tablet and works with no connection once it’s downloaded. Here’s some brief information about the map and then a link to where you can find download instructions.
Some quick information about the map:
The trails shown on the map are all designated as open by the Tonto from their Travel Management process. They were created from GPS tracks recorded by TRAL while traveling these open routes.
Not every trail that is open is shown on this map at this time. There are some where the data has issues and they need to be reviewed with the forest. They will show up on the map at a later date.
There is information for each of the trails like it’s number, name if it has one, length, elevation, etc. that you can see by touching the trail.
There are highlighted trips called Best of the Tonto by OHV. These are a few that you’ll probably recognize as ones we’ve been going on as TRAL events over the last year. They are popular trips and for the most part this first set are not too technical to help people newer to off-roading and the area to find some time tested trips to get started. We’ll be adding more of these Best of Trips over time.
We’ll also be adding lots more good stuff over the next year or more like information layers and points of interest through regular updates of the map.
So, check out the map by going to the TRAL Site and clicking on Interactive Trail Map.
***
As an active volunteer member of Tonto Recreation Alliance (aka - TRaL), this topic is meant as notification of an advanced GPS-enabled navigation tool now being offered to public users. A little background on that is outlined below.
Tonto Recreation Alliance (TRaL's weblink within the message below) considered a means a few years ago to produce a read-only version of the comprehensive Tonto NF trail system map database TRaL volunteer crews developed over several years in anticipation of Tonto NF's Travel Management Plan subsequently finalized and published in late 2021 as outlined here: Tonto National Forest - Planning
Announced recently by Rich Smith (President and founding member of TRaL), a map product has been produced and released in "beta" format utilizing ArcGIS Field Maps as the host software utility. TRaL previously produced and published several area maps downloadable in Avenza app map format for not much $$, with those maps still available primarily intended for limited-use visitors to those specific areas. On the other hand, TRaL's Field Maps version is much more feature rich. Just as with the live map used by TRaL Crew Leaders, it incorporates layers with significant attribute data available displayed as a pop-up simply by touching a specific trail feature. ArcGIS Field Maps is a no-cost app download on Google Play for Android or Apple Store for iOS devices, which then uses the device's built-in GPS (active WiFi not required during navigation) to pinpoint specific position within the map system plus direction of travel when in motion on any trail shown.
Also noting, this isn't a "once and done" mapping product but instead subject to periodic updates on trail attributes, conditions and POIs, thus users can "refresh" their map version periodically to obtain the latest updates free of charge.
Please post or PM any questions or problems accessing, which I can either answer or defer to those better suited. I'm personally excited about this development and announcement and hope others within this region share my enthusiasm!
****
After years of getting the OHV trails in the Tonto inspected and marked, there is finally a map of the forest created and published by TRAL. I wanted to let all of you as TRAL volunteers know about the map first.
This map is brand new and just released so there might be some minor problems which is why we are calling it a Beta release. if you find issues, please let us know at info@tralaz.org.
This map is an interactive one that runs on a free app called Field Maps. It is downloadable to your Apple or Android phone or tablet and works with no connection once it’s downloaded. Here’s some brief information about the map and then a link to where you can find download instructions.
Some quick information about the map:
The trails shown on the map are all designated as open by the Tonto from their Travel Management process. They were created from GPS tracks recorded by TRAL while traveling these open routes.
Not every trail that is open is shown on this map at this time. There are some where the data has issues and they need to be reviewed with the forest. They will show up on the map at a later date.
There is information for each of the trails like it’s number, name if it has one, length, elevation, etc. that you can see by touching the trail.
There are highlighted trips called Best of the Tonto by OHV. These are a few that you’ll probably recognize as ones we’ve been going on as TRAL events over the last year. They are popular trips and for the most part this first set are not too technical to help people newer to off-roading and the area to find some time tested trips to get started. We’ll be adding more of these Best of Trips over time.
We’ll also be adding lots more good stuff over the next year or more like information layers and points of interest through regular updates of the map.
So, check out the map by going to the TRAL Site and clicking on Interactive Trail Map.
