Mapping Adventure


 Follow our tracks and plan your own adventures with the Arizona Backcountry Explorers Adventure Map.



If you're into extreme, multi-day, 4x4 adventures, then you're in the right place.

I love maps. So much so, I spend hours studying them, researching my next journey into the wilderness. The result is a Caltopo map project that will blow your mind. These tracks and points of interest derive from hours of research on historical USGS topo maps and are listed by the US Board of Geographic Names.

You will find abandoned mines, historical ranches and cabins, Indian ruins, petroglyph sites, waterfalls, natural arches, caves, fishing destinations, and many other worthy adventures. I have visited many of these places, and others are on the bucket list. This map continues to be my resource of adventure destinations across Arizona.

This map displays early topo maps from the US Geological Survey with a newer 2016 Forest Service Map overlay. If you click HERE and view the entire map, you can choose from many overlays like land ownership, weather, motor vehicle use maps, sun exposure, and several others.

Difficulty and conditions

These routes consist of maintained county roads to highly technical trails. All users are advised to use caution when navigating these routes. You will find trails with steep hills, rock shelves, mountain shelf roads, deep water crossings, etc. It's important to know that trail conditions can change overnight. Monsoon rains and flash floods can make a trail impassable. You may encounter situations where trail maintenance is required, vehicle damage could occur, or precarious circumstances may apply—BE READY FOR ANYTHING.


Arizona Backcountry Explorers Adventure Map

To view the full-screen map, CLICK HERE.

PLEASE ALLOW A MINUTE FOR THE MAP TO LOAD.

Download this map

There are three ways to explore and download this map.

KML Network Link


The best way to download tracks and browse this map is to use the KML Network Link with Google Earth. 

Along with the contents of this map, you will get all Caltopo layers, including; 24k USGS 7.5 maps, USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map, Forest Service Maps, Land Ownership, Terrain Shading, National Park Visiter Maps, Open Street Maps, and many more. 

The KML Network Link will NOT work in a GPS unit. It must be used in a mapping program such as Google Earth or ArcGIS Earth with an internet connection. Using Google Earth, you can easily browse the map and save individual tracks or waypoints to your GPS.

Both Google Earth and ArcGIS Earth also have mobile apps that will run the KML link.



Download the KML Network Link with all layers HERE.

Caltopo Mobile App


Caltopo has a mobile app that can download tiles and be used offline.  From the app, you can browse the map and download tracks to your mobile device to upload them to your preferred GPS app.

The Caltopo mobile software can also record tracks, save waypoints, and import additional data. You can create a free account and start sharing your own custom online maps. 

Download the app and CLICK HERE to open the map.

Online Map


Tracks can be downloaded through the online map using any web browser on a PC or smartphone. Using the export option, you can download multiple tracks at once in GEOJSON, GPX, KML, and KMZ file formats. 

PC Users


To download the map using a web browser on a desktop PC, follow the steps below.
  1. Open the Caltopo online map.
  2. Select the "EXPORT" option in the toolbar at the top of the screen.
  3. Choose your desired file format.
  4. Select the tracks and waypoints you wish to download.
  5. Select the "EXPORT" button, and your download will begin.
The KML Network Link is only visible when viewing the online map with a desktop PC.

Mobile Users


To download the map using a web browser with a smartphone, follow the steps below.

  1. Open the Caltopo online map.
  2. Select the wrench from the toolbar at the top of the screen.
  3. Choose your desired file format.
  4. Select the tracks and waypoints you wish to download.
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select "EXPORT" in the lower right-hand corner.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us using the form at the bottom of the website.
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