Golden Goat at Las Trampas (2002)

Permanent Courses

BAOC has a few "trim" orienteering courses—practice courses that have permanent markers. This means you can print or purchase a map, and do the course on your own at any time.

If you print a map yourself, keep in mind that you might end up with a map scale that is different than what is stated on the map.

After you have the map and are at the start location, these Seven Easy Steps (PDF/53KB) will get you going.

BAOC has permanent courses in the following locations:

In addition, there's a master map (3.7MB) that shows all the controls without a prescribed course. You can use this map to create your own course, or perhaps to practice doing a Score-O.
Installing Bayfront Permanent Course
Enlarge
Installing Bayfront Permanent Course
These permanent courses were created in 2010 by Philipp Kopisch as an Eagle Scout Project for Boy Scout Troop 109. A note from Philipp is here. The courses were made possible with support from the Bay Area Orienteering Club, the City of Menlo Park, the Friends of Bedwell Bayfront Park, and many members of Troop 109.
The park map and the physical course markers were updated and repaired, respectively, in 2022 by Hannah Walker (Girl Scout Troop 62415) and Sarah Meyer (Girl Scout Troop 61753) as a Silver Award Project.
Note: The courses start at the Alhambra Creek Valley Entrance on the northeast side of the park.
Comments on the courses are available here.
Note: The courses start at the Sutherland Dr entrance on the southwest side of the park.
Comments on the courses are available here.
Comments on the courses are available here.
In addition, there's an All Controls file (1.5MB) that contains three maps that show all the controls without a prescribed course. You can use these maps to create your own course, or perhaps to practice doing a Score-O.
These All Controls maps include an additional aspect that is sometimes used for Score-O events: The controls are assigned point values, with the more difficult controls given higher values. At such an event, the objective is to score the most points in a given time period (e.g., 60 or 90 minutes). The control point values are shown in the control descriptions and on the map as small numbers next to the control circles. The maximum score is 500 points with the given list of controls.
The All Controls file contains these pages:
1. Map showing all the controls, with a control description sheet listing the controls in alphabetical order by their IDs.
2. Map showing all the controls, with a control description sheet listing the controls in numerical order of their point values.
3. Map with larger scale showing all the controls.
4. Lists of all the controls, in alpha & number orders, with a note regarding their status as of June 24, 2019.
5. Printable copies of the two control description sheets on pages 1 and 2, and a copy of the map legend.
Note: The contour interval was inadvertently omitted from the All Controls maps. It is 5 meters, the same as on the regular course maps.
Instructions for preparing for one of the courses are available here (PDF/76KB).
Comments on the courses are available here.
These Vasona Park permanent courses were originally created in 2012 by Mark Sinks as an Eagle Scout Project for Boy Scout Troop 37. The maps and course markers were updated in 2021 for a Silver Award project by Meaghan Kelleher, Lorien Bower, and Chryssa Karakekes of Girl Scout Troop 62971. Both editions of the courses were made possible with support from the Bay Area Orienteering Club and the Santa Clara County Parks Department.

There is also a beginner permanent course at Newell Open Space (https://www.cityofamericancanyon.org/city-departments/parks-recreation/parks-trails-and-open-space/newell-open-space) in American Canyon. Information about the course is available here (http://www.cityofamericancanyon.org/city-departments/parks-recreation/parks-trails-and-open-space/newell-open-space/orienteering). There is a nice two-page brochure (39MB PDF) (http://www.cityofamericancanyon.org/home/showdocument?id=15840) for the course, and a separate map file (290KB PDF) (http://www.cityofamericancanyon.org/home/showdocument?id=15830). Please note that you must stay on trail throughout the course "to avoid impacts to habitat and wildlife". Also note that dogs are not allowed "at this time" (as of October 2018).

You can find permanent courses across the country by looking here (http://www.us.orienteering.org/new-o/resources/permanent-courses) on the Orienteering USA website.

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¹ PDF files can be viewed and printed with the free Adobe Reader (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html) program.