I just purchased the Garmin 66i. I was under the assumption that I didn’t have to download any additional maps, I thought the preloaded maps would be sufficient. Well they are not. Is it worth spending $99 on the BWCA map download from Garmin? Is that even an option to think about? Or is there something better? I’m kind of a novice in the GPS world. I can navigate the actual device just fine, I’m just not sure the best way to set up my new toy.

JC

What is it that you're looking for? If it is waypoints for campsites and tracks for portages, there are .gpx files that you can obtain; some might even be available from users here.
Take a look at this thread for some background info. I'll look around on my iMac to see if I still have these files tucked away somewhere.
...named something like bwca-camp-port-wpt.gpx...

Oh, and I also found my BWCACamps&Portages.img map file, which is probably even a better fit. I could email that file to see if it suits your needs.

It allows you to display the BWCAW's portages and campsites on your device in a background map (can be turned on or off) without having to install all of the individual waypoints and tracks and cluttering up your device, perhaps filling it to its maximum limits.

There are some aspects of the map that are a wee bit annoying... the portages have endpoint icons that seem unnecessary and the names for those endpoints seem overly long, both of which clutter the screen a bit (if you are familiar with the Arch Harris database, you know what I mean). Also, the portage tracks are a bit fat which also takes up more screen space than needed. However, the benefit far outweighs the need to swap out subsets of campsite waypoints and portage tracks for each successive trip.

The campsite names are all in the 'C####' format -- a unique number for each site -- matching the numbers that you see on this site's maps.

see this recent post: https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=1315484&forumID=17&confID=1&vt=1677873866

I bought this mainly for the in-reach. It will stay in the bag the majority of the time. If I do need it I would like to have all the pertinent info; like campsite, portages, lakes, rivers, etc.

grand806: "see this recent post: https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=1315484&forumID=17&confID=1&vt=1677873866
"

This helped. Thanks!

schweady: "Oh, and I also found my BWCACamps&Portages.img map file, which is probably even a better fit. I could email that file to see if it suits your needs.


It allows you to display the BWCAW's portages and campsites on your device in a background map (can be turned on or off) without having to install all of the individual waypoints and tracks and cluttering up your device, perhaps filling it to its maximum limits.


There are some aspects of the map that are a wee bit annoying... the portages have endpoint icons that seem unnecessary and the names for those endpoints seem overly long, both of which clutter the screen a bit (if you are familiar with the Arch Harris database, you know what I mean). Also, the portage tracks are a bit fat which also takes up more screen space than needed. However, the benefit far outweighs the need to swap out subsets of campsite waypoints and portage tracks for each successive trip.


The campsite names are all in the 'C####' format -- a unique number for each site -- matching the numbers that you see on this site's maps.
"

Thanks for the offer! I would take a look at it if you’re willing to send it over. My email is correct with link above.

Papa09: Thanks for the offer! I would take a look at it if you’re willing to send it over. My email is correct with link above. "

Email sent. Cheers.

As my OneDrive has been discontinued. I sent a set of files also.
Hope they work for you.

butthead

Thanks, butthead. That BWCACamps&Portages.img file is one that you originally sent me on a thumb drive and made the rounds here many years back, along with a mntopo map file.

Can't figure out where my original copies of bwca-camp-port-wpt.gpx and bwca-portage-tracks.gpx went off to... Perhaps I figured they had outlived their usefulness and went into the trash.

The Birds eye satellite imagery lifetime subscription was part of your purchase. More technology to figure but that is where the youngsters can practice their skills.

I also have the 66i and use the maps preloaded on the device for the BWCA. On mine, all campsites on the preloaded maps are marked by a "bathroom" symbol. These, along with dotted lines for portages don't show up unless you zoom in on the map. Once you zoom in enough, you should be able to see these symbols and details on the preloaded maps.