Trying to gather my maps for my trip starting from Magnetic Lake and heading north. Now I know this site has maps that would work just fine after laminating them, but are there any sites that sell the waterproof maps that float? What do you all use for maps?

I like the Fisher Maps . Order 'em straight from the site.

Fisher, McKenzie and now Voyageur all make decent maps. They all have different things that are good and bad about them. Some people swear by a certain brand, but in my experience they all have certain errors. Some have portages that have been swallowed up by the woods. The Fishers in particular have printing errors where the campsites are *close* to where they are supposed to be, but they end up printed on the wrong side of the point or island. So if you can't find that campsite, keep trying it's probably around the bend.

All of the manufacturers (as far as I'm aware) check in with the Forest Service to verify campsite changes from year to year. So if you get an old map, you might want to compare it to a newer one. They all have NOT FOR NAVIGATIONAL USE printed on them in bold letters, but I'm sure the lawyers make them say that. They are good enough for what we are doing.

I use the National Geographic BW maps. Two maps for the entire BW. Almost all the good maps, Fisher and McKenzie among them, are waterproof.

I like to use the DNR lake finder, print off the .pdf, use a highlighter to color the land, fill in the portages and campsites, and use a laminator to make 'em waterproof. I'll bring an extra copy of lakes I plan fishing heavy and write on it to note fishing spots.

Call me crazy but its part of my pre-trip obsessing/planning.

Anyone use the Voyager maps yet? What are your thoughts about them?

I've used voyageur for the last two trips. I like them just fine. They are no more accurate than any other reputable map maker. The main pro in my mind is scale, I get a wide view of the area and can travel further on one map. It's also it's biggest con argueably because it potentially lacks detail. My buddy prefers a different brand though so I figure we are safe having both maps in the boat and hopefully if one omits something the other will have it.

quote Sierra1: "Anyone use the Voyager maps yet? What are your thoughts about them?"

I think they're fine for pre-trip planning and getting a good picture of your overall route. But if you plan on doing any kind of fishing, they just don't have enough detail for me.

quote shsylvester: "I use the National Geographic BW maps. Two maps for the entire BW. Almost all the good maps, Fisher and McKenzie among them, are waterproof."

You use these while out in the Wilderness? You must have great eyes! I use these for planning, and either Fisher or McKenzie for navigating. The REI in my area quit carrying Fishers, and thiose are the maps I started with. I am now closing in a complete set of the McKenzies. One thing I like about them over the Fisher maps is that the scale is the same on all McKenzie maps; not so with Fisher.

I also bought a GPS this year and am looking forward to playiing with it. Of course, I'll also carry maps and compass.

quote Ingvald: "I like to use the DNR lake finder, print off the .pdf, use a highlighter to color the land, fill in the portages and campsites, and use a laminator to make 'em waterproof. I'll bring an extra copy of lakes I plan fishing heavy and write on it to note fishing spots.


Call me crazy but its part of my pre-trip obsessing/planning."

I used to laminate custom maps, now I use waterproof inkjet paper, even print out my licenses and permits on the stuff!

butthead

I've used primarily McKenzie in the past, although looking at the Voyageur ones on their web site I'm thinking of picking up a set of those next.

Fisher and McKenzie. I prefer the Fisher only because of the brighter yellow for land.
I also print off the DNR maps from the lake finder page and write notes on them for fishing areas. I don't bother laminating the DNR print-offs, a big zip-lok works just fine for me.

I did like the map machine that REI Bloomington used to have. It was nice to be able to zoom in on an area and be able to print out a larger map. I think that was a National Geographic/USGS mapping system. I don't recall. I don't think it was McKenzie though. I will have to find one and look at it. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

I will put notes on my maps from any information I find here or other places on the web.

Fisher. I have some Makenzies, but if you are going any distance it requires more maps.

My oldest onion skin Fisher is blue and white and cost a quarter.

quote butthead: "

quote Ingvald: "I like to use the DNR lake finder, print off the .pdf, use a highlighter to color the land, fill in the portages and campsites, and use a laminator to make 'em waterproof. I'll bring an extra copy of lakes I plan fishing heavy and write on it to note fishing spots.

Call me crazy but its part of my pre-trip obsessing/planning."

I used to laminate custom maps, now I use waterproof inkjet paper, even print out my licenses and permits on the stuff!

butthead"

Cool. Always ahead of the curve, BH.

Mckenzie for me

I've come to really like the Voyagers and it's all I've used the past three seasons. I like the idea that 10 maps cover the whole BWCA. And they make great reading while on the throne. Lots of cool info including history and geology of the area, fish species, sizes and numbers in the lakes of the area and water clarity. Also like that they include a small scale map of the whole BWCA on the back.

quote gutmon: "I've come to really like the Voyagers and it's all I've used the past three seasons. I like the idea that 10 maps cover the whole BWCA. And they make great reading while on the throne. Lots of cool info including history and geology of the area, fish species, sizes and numbers in the lakes of the area and water clarity. Also like that they include a small scale map of the whole BWCA on the back."

Yup. I use Voyageur maps too.

Fisher maps

I guess I'm just familiar with them!

No other reason.

quote Sierra1: "Anyone use the Voyager maps yet? What are your thoughts about them?"

I did last year. It may sound silly but I really liked the choice of colors. Better contrast than the mckenzie maps without frying your retinas. I liked the level of detail and they are a good deal heavier. There are more of these in my future.

Another vote for the Voyageur Maps, but then the only other set I've used are the Fisher maps.

I like the scale of the Voyageur just a bit better (more area to see at one time). The detail seems fine, and accuracy for me around EP37 and points North has been good.

Always have liked McKenzie's the best for Q. I also have the Chrismar for a great overview map.

I prefer Mac over Fisher. Didn't used to be that way years ago,, but when the wind is blowing and it's tough navigating that straight course to the next port,,, I like the bigger scale. Not as big as area covered,, but whats another map??/ Your going to have to open up your map case and flip it anyway,,, why not another map ?

I've preferred McKenzie's but bought my first Voyager map this spring. Like people have said, they contain some good reading material.

Really like Voyager maps online for pre-trip planning, entire b-dub at your fingertips.

Have used Fisher, McKenzie, and Voyageur. Like the extra info on Voyageur. For me, often times it boils down to the trip I am planning and the layout of the maps, as they are different. If I can get the majority of my info to fit on one map vs. two (or two vs three), that's usually what I go with. Or maybe a Voyageur for the bigger picture and one of the others for more detail...

I usually get a canoe from an outfitter and they've been great about marking / correcting whatever map I have with (they all seem to have some inaccuracies...)

I have used all three brands of maps. I usually just get the ones that I have to buy the least of for my trip. They all have errors (as I have found from experience), so keep that in mind. I prefer to use McKenzie because of the greater detail, but all three brands are great.

Someone mentioned that Voyageur has a smaller scale (zoomed out) than the other maps. Voyageur maps actually have the same scale as Fisher maps (1:42,240). The reason there are only 10 Voyageur maps covering the BWCA is that the maps are much bigger. Fisher maps are 22-1/2" x 28-1/2" while Voyageur maps are 38 3/4" x 28 3/4".

Ok I am high-jacking this thread for a minute. Where can I find voyageur maps in the twin cities? I have seen them somewhere. I have read that lattitudes in st. louis park has them but I have seen them somewhere else. Can anyone help??

quote pswith5: "Ok I am high-jacking this thread for a minute. Where can I find voyageur maps in the twin cities? I have seen them somewhere. I have read that lattitudes in st. louis park has them but I have seen them somewhere else. Can anyone help??"

Where to buy.

I use them all too but I like voyager because the have lake depths on the maps

They all work.
I prefer McKenzies for the Q - even though I have to carry more maps, which ticks me off.
Why the hell Fisher doesn't put contours on their Q maps is beyond me.
I like the look of the Voyager maps for the dub, though I haven't bought any because I'm full up on Fisher and Mckenzie.

quote LazyLefty: "I've used voyageur for the last two trips. I like them just fine. They are no more accurate than any other reputable map maker. The main pro in my mind is scale, I get a wide view of the area and can travel further on one map. It's also it's biggest con argueably because it potentially lacks detail. My buddy prefers a different brand though so I figure we are safe having both maps in the boat and hopefully if one omits something the other will have it."

The scale of Voyageur maps is the same as Fisher maps. The maps are just printed on bigger paper, which is why 10 maps cover the entire BWCA.

Between the three brands (Fisher, Voyageur, and McKenzie), I just choose the one where I have to buy the least number of maps. They are all good. I do like the McKenzie, though, because of the smaller scale. It is easier to pick out details on McKenzie than the other two because of it.

quote IBFLY: "They all work.
I prefer McKenzies for the Q - even though I have to carry more maps, whcih ticks me off.
Why the hell Fisher doesn't put contours on their Q maps is beyond me.
I like the look of the Voyager maps for the dub, though I haven't bought any because I'm full up on Fisher and Mckenzie. "

Does McKenzie or any other mapmaker have lake contours on their Quetico maps? As far as I know, no lake contour maps are available for the Quetico. I have never been able to find any - except for the border lakes. On the border lakes, the MN DNR included both the MN and ON parts of the lake in the maps in the LakeFinder.

Own and have used both. The majority of what I own are fisher. I have no preference. I've seen the voyeguer - looks largely the same, aside from slighhty different scale. I find neither to be more or less accurate than the others.

I have Fisher, but use this Voyageur website when planning. On Voyageur maps, the topo lines for the lakes are handy, especially when paired with any Lakefinder info/printoffs. I don't have any experience with Mckenzie.

If you want the order to be delivered with the wrong maps and then if you want the owner to tell you that we will not sent the correct maps until you send back their mistake, don't ever waste money on McKenzie maps. They must be broke and going under to treat customer so bad after their execution is flawed "big time"!

If you want the order to be delivered with the wrong maps and then if you want the owner to tell you that we will not sent the correct maps until you send back their mistake, don't ever waste money on McKenzie maps. They must be broke and going under to treat customer so bad after their execution is flawed "big time"!

If you want the order to be delivered with the wrong maps and then if you want the owner to tell you that we will not sent the correct maps until you send back their mistake, don't ever waste money on McKenzie maps. They must be broke and going under to treat customer so bad after their execution is flawed "big time"!

Wow, dig up an old thread 2012 - then triple post - just to bash McKenzie. Hmmmm

i like using all the maps. for the granite river i prefer the mckenzie #5 as it covers the entire route from gunflint lake to the sag public landing. there are other routes that are all on one map but we'll also take the other map company to compare. one trip we used mckenzie, fisher and voyageur maps. throughout that trip we found inconsistencies and errors on all. just use what you like for the situation.

quote shsylvester: "I use the National Geographic BW maps. Two maps for the entire BW. Almost all the good maps, Fisher and McKenzie among them, are waterproof."

I use these maps to plan my trips and see the whole BWCA but they never leave my house. I've found that they aren't accurate in terms of portage length and campsite location, (some sites aren't in use but are still on the map). I too swear by these maps but I wouldn't want to be getting a compass bearing off of them. I buy Fischer maps, or Mackenzie, whichever can get my trip in as few of map shuffles as possible.

I usually buy them from the outfitter anyway, not directly from McKenzie.