| Table of contents |
Park List
This is an overview of the map quality and terrain types for most of the Bay Area and Sierra parks that have been mapped by BAOC, GCO, Terraloco, and Get LOST!!. Please see the notes about the Map Standards and Poison Oak that follow after the table. Driving directions to Bay Area parks are available on another page.
Notes:
- The table below is quite out of date. Some of the information is not current, some mapped parks have not yet been added to the list, and, unfortunately, some of the parks are no longer available to us. (Would somebody like to undertake the project of determing the current information? If so, please contact the
. 😉)
- The maps labeled as "ISOM" and "ISSOM" generally align well with the conventions and quality standards of the ISOM and ISSOM international standards, respectively, but may include some "special" mapping conventions that will be documented by the Course Setter's Notes for events that use the maps.
- The map scales listed indicate the "native" scales for the maps. A different scale might be used for any specific event, as given in the Course Setter's Notes for the event.
| Map Name | Region | Map Standard | Scale | Contour Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrain Type | Poison Oak | Steepness | ||
| Almaden-Quicksilver | South Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | High | High | ||
| Annadel | North Bay | ISOM | 1:15000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Anthony Chabot | East Bay | Black & white | 1:10000 | 20 feet |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Arastadero | South Bay | Local color | 1:11000 | 20 feet |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Bedwell Bayfront Park | Peninsula | ISOM | 1:5000 | 10 feet |
| Open | Very low | Low | ||
| Berkeley Marina | East Bay | ISSOM | 1:5000 | 2.5 meter |
| Open | Very low | Low | ||
| Bear Valley | Sierra | ISOM | varies | 40 feet |
| XC ski | None | Moderate | ||
| Big Basin | South Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 20 feet |
| Forest | Very low | High | ||
| Boggs Mountain | Lake County | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Forest | Very low | Moderate | ||
| Bon Tempe | North Bay | Local color | 1:10000 | 40 feet |
| Forest | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Boreal Ridge | Sierra | ISOM | 1:15000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | None | Moderate | ||
| Briones | East Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 7.5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | High | ||
| Burton Creek | Sierra | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | None | Moderate | ||
| Calero | South Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 25 feet |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Castle Rock | South Bay | Black & white | 1:12000 | 40 feet |
| Forest | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| China Camp | North Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Forest | Moderate | High | ||
| Coyote Hills | East Bay | Local color | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Open | Low | Moderate | ||
| CSU Sacramento | Central Valley | Black & white | 1:5000 | |
| Campus | Very low | Flat | ||
| Diablo Valley College | East Bay | ISSOM | 1:5000 | |
| Campus | None | Low | ||
| Dimond Park | East Bay | Black & white | ||
| Streets | None | Moderate | ||
| Doton's Point | Central Valley | Local color | 1:10000 | 10 feet |
| Semi-open | High | Moderate | ||
| Edgewood Park | Peninsula | Local Color | 40 feet | |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Emerald Hills | Peninsula | Local Color | 1:15000 | 20 feet |
| Streets | None | Moderate | ||
| Fallen Leaf Lake | Sierra | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | None | Moderate | ||
| Golden Gate Park | Peninsula | Local color | 1:7500 | 3 meters |
| City park | Low | Low | ||
| Huddart Park | Peninsula | Local color | 1:10000 | 7.5 meters |
| Forest | Low | High | ||
| Indian Gulch | East Bay | Black & white | 1:20000 | 20 feet |
| Streets | None | Moderate | ||
| Indian Valley | North Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Forest | Low | Moderate | ||
| Joaquin Miller | East Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 20 feet |
| Forest | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Joseph Grant | South Bay | ISOM | 1:15000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Knowland Park | East Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 20 ft |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Lafayette Reservoir | East Bay | Local color | 1:10000 | 20 feet |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Lake Elizabeth | East Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 2.5 meters |
| City park | Very low | Very low | ||
| Lake Temescal | East Bay | Black & white | 20 feet | |
| Streets | None | Moderate | ||
| Las Trampas | East Bay | ISOM | 1:15000 | 7.5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | High | ||
| McLaren Park | Peninsula | ISSOM | 1:5000 | 2.5 meters |
| City park | Low | Low | ||
| Mississippi Bar | Central Valley | ISOM | 1:7500 | 2.5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Low | ||
| Monte Bello | South Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Morgan Territory | East Bay | ISOM | 1:15000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Nisene Marks | South Bay | ISOM | 1:15000 | 7.5 meters |
| Forest | High | High | ||
| Northstar Resort | Sierra | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | None | Moderate | ||
| Oyster Bay | East Bay | ISSOM | 1:5000 | 2.5 meters |
| Open | Low | Low | ||
| Pacheco Pass | South Bay | ISOM | 1:15000 | 5 meters |
| Open | Low | Moderate | ||
| Perry Riffle | N. Central Valley | ISOM | 1:10000 | 3 meters |
| Very open | Low | Moderate | ||
| Point Pinole | East Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 2.5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Low | ||
| Presidio of SF | Peninsula | ISOM | 1:10000 | 20 feet |
| City park | Low | Low | ||
| Rancho San Antonio | South Bay | Local color | 1:10000 | 20 feet |
| Semi-open | High | Moderate | ||
| Red Hills | Central Valley | Black & white | 1:30min | 50 feet |
| Semi-open | Low | Moderate | ||
| Redwood Regional | East Bay | Black & white | 1:15000 | 20 feet |
| Semi-open | High | Moderate | ||
| Rossmoor Bar | Central Valley | ISOM | 1:7500 | 5 feet |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Low | ||
| Royal Gorge | Sierra | ISOM | varies | 40 feet |
| XC ski | None | Moderate | ||
| Shell Ridge | East Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | Low | Moderate | ||
| Shoreline Park | South Bay | Local color | 1:5000 | 2 meters |
| City park | Very low | Very low | ||
| Skyline Ridge | South Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Spenceville | Central Valley | Black & white | 1:15000 | 20 feet |
| Semi-open | Low | Moderate | ||
| Spooner Lake | Sierra | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Forest | None | Moderate | ||
| Spring Lake | North Bay | ISSOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| City park | Low | Low | ||
| Stanford | Peninsula | ISOM | 1:7500 | 3 meters |
| Campus | Very low | Very low | ||
| Sugar Bowl | Sierra | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Forest | None | Moderate | ||
| Sunol | East Bay | ISOM | 1:15000 | 7.5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | High | ||
| Tamarancho | North Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | Moderate | High | ||
| Tilden Park | East Bay | ISOM | 1:10000 | 5 meters |
| Semi-open | High | Moderate | ||
| U.C. Berkeley | East Bay | ISSOM | 1:4000 | 2.5 meter |
| Campus | None | Low | ||
| Vasona Lake | South Bay | ISOM | 1:4000 | 10 feet |
| City park | Very low | Very low | ||
| Wildcat Canyon | East Bay | Local Color | 1:15000 | 5 meter |
| Semi-open | Moderate | High | ||
| Wilder Ranch | South Bay | Local color | 1:15000 | 20 feet |
| Semi-open | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Willow Glen | South Bay | Local Color | 1:15000 | 5 feet |
| Streets | None | Very low | ||
| Map Name | Region | Map Standard | Scale | Contour Interval |
| Terrain Type | Poison Oak | Steepness |
Map Standards
- ISOM – International Specification for Orienteering Maps (download [PDF/9.0MB]) is the highest standard for maps in the Bay Area. These maps, which follow international standards for symbols and colors, can support national-level events.
- Notes:
- The version of the standard linked here was published in September 2022. Changes from the previous versions are listed at the end of the file.
- The ISOM 2017-2 PDF file is stored on the BAOC website because it's a much smaller (but identical) file compared to the one on the IOF website (https://orienteering.sport/iof/mapping/).
- ISSOM – International Specification for Sprint Orienteering Maps (download [PDF/284KB]) was the international standard for maps for Sprint events through December 31, 2019. Like ISOM maps, these maps can support national-level events.
- Notes:
- The ISSOM 2007 PDF file is stored on the BAOC website because it's a much smaller (but identical) file compared to the one on the IOF website (https://orienteering.sport/iof/mapping/).
- This edition of the Sprint Map standard was superceded on January 1, 2020 by the ISSprOM standard described below.
- In addition to there being special map symbols used on ISSOM maps, special competition rules apply at Sprint events. Be sure you know about them to avoid being disqualified (or jeopardizing our relationship with the venue administration).
- ISSprOM – International Specification for Sprint Orienteering Maps (this file [8.0MB PDF]) is the current international standard for maps for Sprint events. Like ISOM maps, these maps can support national-level events.
- Notes:
- The version of the standard linked here was published in September 2022. Changes from the previous versions are listed at the end of the file.
- The ISSprOM 2019 PDF file is stored on the BAOC website because it's a much smaller (but identical) file compared to the one on the IOF website (https://orienteering.sport/iof/mapping/).
- The ISSprOM went into effect on January 1, 2020. The changes in the new standard (i.e., as compared to the ISSOM) are described in this file (PDF/765KB).
- In addition to there being special map symbols used on ISSprOM maps, special competition rules apply at Sprint events. Be sure you know about them to avoid being disqualified (or jeopardizing our relationship with the venue administration).
- The IOF has published a supplement (PDF/2.6MB) to the ISSprOM standard that provides guidelines for mapping of, and course setting for Sprint events in, complex urban structures. (This is new in January 2022.)
- Local color maps aren't quite as nice as the ISOM maps, but they generally use very similar symbols and may be lacking only somewhat in the number of colors or level of detail.
- Black & white maps are often slightly improved USGS map copies. While these can be good enough for Street-O and other simple events, you shouldn't expect a nice map to put up on your wall.
Poison Oak
- None: There is no known poison oak in the orienteering area covered by the map. If even a single sprig has been seen, the area is classified as Very low.
- Very low: It is unlikely that an orienteer will encounter poison oak. There may have been one or two sprigs or bushes spotted in a few areas of the park, but no fields of poison oak have been reported.
- Low: There may be a few bushes here or there, but not many. The map may be mostly open areas without poison oak, and a few spots of woods with moderate poison oak, which averages out to "low." A typical Orange- or advanced-course orienteer would encounter only a little poison oak, in only a handful of spots on the course, and even then it should be below knee height and avoidable. A typical beginning orienteer would encounter almost no poison oak.
- Moderate: This covers a fairly wide range. It should be possible to set an advanced course where it isn't absolutely required that the competitors go through poison oak, although the better route may go through a bit. Some Orange and advanced courses on these maps could go through substantial amounts of poison oak (above knee height, and maybe bushes) if the course setter does not specifically try to avoid these areas.
- High: It is nearly impossible to set an Orange or advanced course that entirely avoids poison oak. Courses that go off-trail in these parks are likely to have substantial portions where orienteers will be in waist-high (or higher!) poison oak. Often, reentrants or entire hillsides may be nearly uncrossable without brushing against or pushing through poison oak.
Note the pictures of poison oak above. Poison oak is green in the summer and yellow or red in the fall. In the winter there are no leaves at all, just the vine stems (which still pose a hazard). For more information on this bane of orienteers, see our FAQ page, the Poison Oak FAQ (http://www.knoledge.org/oak/), or the Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Information Center (http://poisonivy.aesir.com/).
_______________
Wyatt Riley created this table 2/13/97 and updated it 7/25/98. Abby Wolf updated it 2/26/00. Van Boughner updated it 12/2/03 and placed it in the wiki on 1/15/06. Various people have made updates since then.