This site has many other map resources including instructions for the creation of custom maps for use with Garmin units. This limitation shouldn't be too big a problem for shorter trips newer unit that have expandable memory (microSD chips) should have plenty of room for the many maps required for longer trails. The two maps required to cover the area around Swan Creek are 538KB and 383KB in Garmin's Topo2008 the GPSFileDepot 1:24,000 topo file sizes are.

For example, I have visited Allegan State Game Area in Michigan a couple of times in the last month. The one drawback, especially on older units with limited memory, is that the file sizes are considerably larger. The GPSFileDepot maps upload to the unit just fine and seem to work just like the Garmin mapset except they display considerably more detail. Garmin's Topo2008 maps are simplified and not true 1:24,000 topos. I have a Garmin Legend (grey-scale with 8MB memory) and have been using it to record tracks and trip waypoints which I later transfer to Garmin's Mapsource Topo2008 software on the PC. The GPSFileDepot maps have considerably more detail and contour lines than the Garmin maps.Īlthough the site mentions testing these maps with newer Garmin units, I tried them with my early-model GPS.

Switching between Garmin's Topo2008 and one of the 1:24,000 topos is seamless. img files this also registers them with MapSource so that they are listed in MapSource's upper left corner 'Select a Product' drop-down box. I have downloaded several individual state topos and installed the. GPSFileDepot has individual state 1:24,000 topos as well as a large number of other maps that are designed for use with Garmin GPS units. I ran across this site mentioned on another forum (White Blaze, I think) and am enthused about the capabilities of these free maps.

Garmin custom maps size limit