Most USFS, BLM map prices to rise Jan. 1

The price of most hard-copy Pacific Northwest Recreation Series, Wilderness, Ranger District, and Special Area maps will increase Jan. 1, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management announced Friday. This is the first price increase for these maps in seven years.

Meanwhile, purchasing maps is becoming easier through online, retail outlet, and credit card options.

The current price of hard-copy Pacific Northwest Recreation Series, Wilderness, Ranger District, and Special Area maps was established in 2007. Since then, costs to produce, distribute, and print maps have increased. Some Forest Service and BLM map prices will remain unchanged.

The new price for most hard copy Pacific Northwest Recreation Series, Wilderness, Ranger District, and Special Area maps will be $9 for paper and $10 for plastic.

Customers can purchase maps online or by phone through the National Forest Store http://www.nationalforeststore.com/, online though Discover Your Northwest http://www.discovernw.org/, and at Forest Service offices in Oregon and Washington. Most Forest Service offices can now accept credit cards.

Hard-copy Pacific Northwest Recreation Series, Wilderness, Ranger District, and Special Area maps are also available at commercial retail outlets, though prices may be higher.

The Forest Service and BLM continually update maps. Historically, maps have been updated—or revised—every 15-20 years. The agencies expect to shorten the revision cycle to every 5-10 years as cartographers continue to apply new digital technology to the map revision process.

Digital versions of some maps for mobile applications are available through the Avenza map store. http://www.avenza.com/pdf-maps/store Digital maps are $4.99 per side; many maps have two sides. The agencies are working to increase the availability of digital maps.

Maps may be purchased at their current prices before the increase takes effect Jan. 1, 2014.