What do the trail lines mean, and can you camp along a trail?
A trail line on the map tells you a trail exists and what it's for — hiking, biking, horse, OHV, snow, water, or a national long-trail like the AT, PCT, or CDT. On national-forest land the Forest Service's motorized designations are legal; every other line records that the trail exists and its use-type, not that you may camp along it. A trail is a route, not a permit.
See the live map →Trail lines come from three sources, drawn so they never overlap. USGS The National Map and the Forest Service's EDW cover federal land — and on national-forest land, EDW's National Forest System Trails carry a legal motorized designation for the routes open to motor vehicles. OpenStreetMap fills in community-mapped county, municipal, and state-park trails, clipped out of federal land so the two never double-draw. A trail line tells you the trail exists and its use-type; it is not a camping or access permit, and OSM lines record existence only. Motorized designations from MVUM and EDW are legal; everything else is existence plus use-type, so verify locally. Tread lightly: stay on the trail and yield as posted.
Common questions
- Can you camp along a trail?
- Not automatically. A trail line shows the trail exists and its use-type — it is not a camping permit. Whether you can camp depends on the land the trail crosses and that manager's rules (a national forest, wilderness, and a city park each set their own). Check the underlying land first, then verify locally.
- What do the different trail lines mean?
- Each line carries a use-type: hiker, bike, horse, motorized/OHV, snow, water, or a national designation like the AT, PCT, or CDT. On national-forest land, Forest Service motorized designations from MVUM and EDW are legal; the other lines record that the trail exists and how it's used, not a legal designation.
- Where do the trail lines come from?
- Three sources, partitioned so they don't double-draw: USGS The National Map and the Forest Service's EDW on federal land (EDW's National Forest System Trails are the authoritative legal designation there), plus OpenStreetMap for community-mapped county, municipal, and state-park trails, clipped out of federal land. OSM lines are existence only.
Sources — verify before you camp
- Trail data: USGS The National Map (TNM) and USDA Forest Service EDW — National Forest System Trails (the authoritative legal designation on national-forest land) + EDW trailheads. Public domain. As accessed 2026-06.
- Community-mapped trails: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL — existence and use-type only, clipped out of federal land. As accessed 2026-06.
This page aggregates public data; the linked official pages are authoritative — verify before you camp. The color on our map is the disclaimer, never a permit.