How to Create and Download Garmin Custom Maps

If you have a Garmin GPS unit, you can create and download custom maps onto your unit. Today, using CalTopo, creating custom maps is dead easy. In this guide I'll show you how to create the maps, download them to your Garmin, and view them in Google Earth to visualize the topography.

In this Guide:

Creating a Custom Map To Fit Your Needs
Downloading a Custom Map to Your Garmin GPS
Using Basecamp to Plan With Custom Maps
3D Custom Map Viewing in Google Earth

Update: You now need a CalTopo Pro account to create custom maps this way. If you need custom maps, I consider it worth the subscription cost. Additionally, CalTopo is a powerful tool that probably has many other potential uses for you. So I'd strongly consider a subscription. If you want to do it for free, you can follow Garmin's instructions here.

Step 1: Create the Map in CalTopo

First off, visit the free CalTopo website and find the area that you'd like to create a map for.

You can explore the tools and layers of CalTopo on their tutorial page.

Caltopo Layers — You can choose from many map layers and also overlay maps on top of other maps.

There are hundreds of permutations of maps you can create in CalTopo. My favorites are:

Base layer of MapBuilder Topo (with lots of trails) and overlay (40-50% opacity) of scanned topographic maps.
Base layer of MapBuilder Topo and overlay (40-50% opacity) of Forest Service 2016
NPS visitor map

Caltopo To Kmz — Once you have the map you want, go to **Print > Download KMZ**

Caltopo Export Kmz Setup — Choose the scale and bounds of the map to save.

After that, note where the KMZ file is saved. You'll be transferring this to your Garmin.

The KMZ file is the format that a Garmin GPS unit reads as a custom map.

What is a KMZ file?

A KMZ file is a compressed KML file in a format specified by Google Earth. So what is a KML file? It's a collection of map presentation elements. In the case of these custom maps, it's a series of JPEG image files that have a latitude and longitude associated with each corner. Those coordinates are used by your Garmin GPS to overlay the images when you look at it on the unit.

Inside Of A Kmz File — Here's a KMZ that I've cracked open in Google Earth. The list on the left hand side is each JPEG image tile. I've switched one JPEG tile off, and you can see it disappears from the display.

If you run into issues with your custom map (KMZ file) not working on your Garmin GPS, make sure that you haven't exceeded any of the limits found here on Garmin's custom map guidelines page.

Step 2: Download to Your Garmin GPS

The second step is very easy. You are going to simply copy the KMZ file from step 1 onto your device. So plug your Garmin GPS into your computer, wait a few seconds, and it should appear as a disk drive called GARMIN.

Garmin Gps Usb Mode — Look for the three-pronged USB symbol on the screen that indicates the GPS is in USB mode.

If you can't get the Garmin to connect, make sure it's in USB Mass Storage Mode.

Garmin Custom Maps Directory — Once you've got the GPS plugged in, copy the KMZ file to the **Garmin > CustomMaps** folder.

And that's it; it's on your device!

Step 3: View the Custom Map on Your GPS

So this step might be a little different on every GPS depending on the interface. Go to your map or settings page, then bring up the Map Setup screen.

Garmin Gps Configure Maps — Choose the option to configure maps.

Garmin Gps Custom Maps Selection — You should see "Custom Maps" listed with your other onboard maps. Select it.

Want to load general free maps for entire regions on your Garmin GPS? Check out this article about downloading free OSM maps for Garmin GPS.

Custom Map On Garmin Gps — You should see the file we created along with the map image.

Once you've confirmed that the custom map is downloaded to you device, you're all set. When you're in that area the custom map will supersede any built-in maps that you have on the device. If you don't want to see it, you just return to this screen and disable it. You can also plug in the device and delete the file when you're done with it.

Viewing Custom Maps in Garmin Basecamp

One of the cool things about these custom KMZ maps is that you can view them in the free Garmin Basecamp program. I'm not going to deep dive into the features of Basecamp, but you can check out my article "What is a GPX File?" if you want to learn more.

Custom Map In Garmin Basecamp — Simply drag the KMZ custom map file that yo created in Step 1 into Garmin Basecamp to open it. The map will overlay onto whatever other maps you have loaded.

Once your custom map is open in Garmin Basecamp you can mark waypoints and draw tracks using it. Note that custom maps are not routable (more on routes versus tracks here).

Export Custom Map Basecamp — You can also transfer the map to your device directly from Garmin Basecamp, allowing you to skip the manual file copy in Step 2.

Custom Map 3d Relief Viewing in Google Earth

When it comes to the cool factor, this is up at the top on my list. Because the custom map KMZ file that you created is the (free) Google Earth format, you can also open it there. Once you've opened the flat KMZ map tiles in Google Earth, it will "wrap" the flat tiles onto the 3D geographic relief model it has of the earth. It's easier to show you, so take a look at the images below.

Kmz Overlaid On Google Earth — Here's my custom map overlaid onto Google Earth's 3D relief model. You can see by the edge of the map how it's been overlaid onto the 3d topography.

Kmz 3d In Google Earth — Once you have the map in Google Earth you can use it's tools to pan and zoom around. The elevation changes on the trails come to life in this 3D view.

Whenever I'm planning a new hike and want to do some "armchair exploring," I'll always bring my custom map and GPX file into Google Earth and move around the area in 3D. It helps me bring the topographic contours to life.

This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.