Boundary Waters East Map [Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, 752)

You should always have a back-up map with you in the BWCA, in case something happens to your main set. But many trips can involve multiple Fisher or Mckenzie maps to cover your whole route. Carrying a duplicate of multiple maps is a hassle. This series has one map for the entire East BWCA section, and another for the West. So on most trips all you need to carry is one of these maps for back-up. They are not as detailed as a larger scale map, but they should almost always show enough for you to navigate home, and that is what's important. Made of durable waterproof paper. Folds compactly. Just leave one in the bottom of your personal pack and you're good to go.As others have said, these are also good for overall initial route planning. But once you pick a route you still need to vet it against one of the smaller (or is is considered larger? I can never remember the semantics of that one) scale maps, such as Fisher or McKenzie.Don't recommend this as your main map. Fisher, Mckenzie, or Voyageur maps are better for showing more detail, which is occasionally crucial in navigating, but this is well suited as a backup map.The reviewer who was dissing McKenzie maps... was off base. I can't speak to their customer service, or the accuracy of their summary views, never had to use either, but their maps are first rate (as are Fisher and Voyageur, I have all of them). The fact that three McKenzie maps were required to show your trip... is a function of the particular trip route that you chose. It isn't McKenzies fault that you needed to purchase more than one map (and is just as likely to happen with Fisher or Voyageur). Multiple maps are required because they show more detail. That is a feature, not a bug, when you are in the wilderness with nobody to get you home but yourself, your map, and your compass. The fact that you don't seem to understand that, and throw a tantrum in public, making blanket allegations ("crap products"), shows you to likely be the kind of sloppy and immature person others should avoid entering the wilderness with. Take if from someone who has done 20 BWCA trips. Having a competent non-whiner for a traveling companion is almost as important as having a good map. You need to grow up.

National Geographics great name but... there are better more detailed maps available, as I now learned.

In fact, it's too much information. This map is overly busy with colors, boundaries, extraneous notes. I wanted a map for navigating on a canoe trip. There are better maps out there for that purpose. Ask your outfitter for recommendations. On the other hand, there are no maps as well made or as detailed as Trails Illustrated maps. I wouldn't buy it again for navigation purposes but I certainly am glad I own it.

I like this map. Used it for planning. As others have noted, may not be the best for navigation in the BWCA (and doesn't claim to be), in fact I wouldn't recommend it for that - though in a pinch it would work. But great at getting the big picture, planning or just showing people where you are going, where you have been. Lasted in the exposed pocket of dry bag and is good as new.

This is a very nice map of the entire BWCA. I will use it to plan many trips.It is good and sturdy so it will hold up for a long time.

Great navigational map. I have purchased other Narional Explorer maps and this one was no different. Updated to show current portages and camp sites.

Great map

This is great for planning trips and routes. You still gotta get the detailed maps for navigation on your trip, but this is perfect for planning.