Map Scales

Map scale tells you how much ground is represented by the map.

How To Read A Scale

A scale of 1:25,000 means 1 unit on the map equals 25,000 of the same units on the ground.

Common Outdoor Scales

• 1:25,000 shows more local detail and is often preferred for walking and fine navigation
• 1:50,000 covers more area on each screen or page and is often useful for broader planning
• smaller-scale maps such as road mapping cover much larger areas with less local detail

Choosing The Right Scale

• use a larger-scale map, such as 1:25,000, when you want more detail
• use a smaller-scale map, such as 1:50,000 or road mapping, when you want to see a bigger area at once

Scale affects readability and context, but it does not change your route or track data.