# Topo Reader — USGS Topographical Maps > Offline USGS topographical map viewer and importer with GPS and measurement tools. (iPhone/iPad app by Delcartes LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-reader/id940309979 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Delcartes LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/909846659) - Category: Navigation, Reference - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.60/5 from 174 App Store ratings · 14 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 9+ - Requires: iOS 14.0 · 29 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2014-11-17 - Data updated: 2026-09-06 - Monetization: subscription - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-reader/id940309979/reviews.md ## What is Topo Reader? Download all available USGS topographic maps and import Geospatial PDF maps for off-line use at full undistorted resolution. Topo Reader is designed for road trips, camping, hiking, exploration and geographical history. Map images are accurately center aligned regardless of datum and placed on top of Apple's map kit for easy referencing and intuitive touch navigation. This software utilizes the latest capabilities of IOS with a fast start up, map rotating, unbeatable full detail resolution. Map downloads dispatch in the background so you can continue using the app. Topo Reader can install for use 422,664 U.S. Geological Survey current and historical topographical maps describing the topography of every region and island territories of the United States of America. Historical versions date as far back as year 1879. Install a map quad by pressing and holding a point on the reference map and discover the maps available at that location and the unique names given to every quad by the cartographers. Import geospatial PDF maps from the web, AirDrop, Finder, iTunes and email. Even at trailheads there are QRCode for maps that copy and install onto this app! Local and national park services offer PDF maps from their web sites. Even aeronautical sectional maps with embedded geospatial metadata that you can download in installed into Topo Reader. Easy see all your installed maps by zooming out and they all become a colorful violet and partially transparent so you can spot your map. Installed maps are managed in a table format which can be sorted by name, distance, and scale. Multiple versions of the same map can be stacked on top of one another and made visible or hidden using two finger swipes. Planning a hike somewhere and want to know the distance of your jaunt. Download the map and use the dual mode ruler to measure the path distance. Select the create Route option and draw and record your planned route. Purchase a subscription for unlimited map downloading. A subscription stops ads and doesn't auto-renew. The first few map download are complementary.‡ Features: • No need for cellular service to use • Use the GPS on downloaded topo maps while offline* • Dual mode ruler with orthographic line and path measuring • Waypoints with Augmented Reality finder • Routes path creation • Tracks/bread-crumb GPS location recording* • Full app usability while maps download in the background • Displays footprint grid and quad names • Aligns map datums to WGS84 (GPS) coordinates • Dynamic map stitching • Cropping of map margins for one big map grid • Automatic USGS topographic map download for your current location • Uses GPS location service to identify your location on a topo map* • Miles, Feet, Kilometers, Meters, Nautical Miles units • MGRS, UTM, and geodetic latitude and longitude coordinates • Import geospatial PDF maps downloaded from the USGS and other sources in zip or regular file formats • Enter coordinates in decimal, minutes and second formats • Map rotation and orients map to follow your heading • Imports GPX file formats waypoints • Email, AirDrop and SMS text waypoints, tracks and routes as GPX files (one subscription purchase required to permanently enable). Not currently supported: Geo TIFF; OCG layer selection used in current USTopo USGS maps. Not all geospatial metadata formats and datums are supported for imported PDF maps. Limited KML features supported. * Not preloaded with maps. WiFi recommended. Downloading queue does cap at around 36 maps. ** Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Location feature may not function on iPod and wifi-only iPad devices without GPS hardware. ‡ After a subscription period expires, advertisement may resume from usage of the import features. ## Key features - Download USGS topographical maps offline - Import geospatial PDF maps - Offline GPS usage on downloaded maps - Dual mode ruler for distance measurement - Route creation and GPS track recording - Augmented Reality waypoints ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | 90 Day | $2.99 | one-time | | 1 Year | $5.99 | one-time | | Lifetime | $23.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 14) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-reader/id940309979/reviews.md ### 3/5 — Basique *2026-03-21* Peu d’outils mais fonctionne bien pour une navigation simple. ### 3/5 — Random zooming *2025-11-08, version 8.1* Overall a good app. However, it randomly zooms out. It would also be nice to be able to lock the nav modes, which change every time the screen is touched. Map uploading is easy, but have difficulty keeping them on top. ### 5/5 — Topo Reader is my 5th iPhone Mapping App *2025-08-09, version 8.1* Living in a remote rural area of the West, surrounded in every direction by public land, iPhone mapping and navigation apps are very useful. Topo Reader is the 5th such App that I have tried and used over a number of years. I find myself using it more than any other. Where others with more layers and features have inexplicably failed, it has functioned flawlessly. The beauty of this App is its simplicity. I signed up for lifetime use and that cost was a fraction of the $60-100 a year that some Apps are pushing now. ### 1/5 — Premium isn’t permanent *2020-09-21, version 7.2* I paid for premium, and now I can’t use it anymore!!! ### 5/5 — Real estate *2019-12-17, version 7.2* Great ### 5/5 — Great App *2019-05-15, version 7.2* Very useful! ### 5/5 — Great *2019-04-23, version 7.2* view Maps Old and New ### 4/5 — Good app and cheap! *2017-06-28, version 5.2* Seams to work well. Recommend the 3 month option. ### 1/5 — CRASH *2015-08-24* Sorry guys, but this app looks promising but keeps crashing on latest iOS iphone 6. ### 5/5 — A brilliant topo app!!! *2015-06-08, version 2.1* This is a marvelous free topo-map reader that's chocked full of powerful special features not found in many similar but expensive paid apps. The interface is brilliantly designed for maximum control and flexibility, and the extensive integrated help file makes this app a joy to use. The developers are to be congratulated for providing the public with free access to historical USGS topo maps through such a logical, powerful, and appealing tool. This topo reader has quickly become indispensable to me in planning hiking and climbing trips. I absolutely LOVE this app and would give it 10 stars if I could. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ## Frequently asked questions about Topo Reader ### What does Topo Reader do? Topo Reader allows you to download and use a vast collection of USGS topographical maps offline. You can also import your own geospatial PDF maps. The app provides features like GPS location tracking on these maps, distance measurement, and route planning, making it ideal for outdoor activities and exploration. ### How do I use downloaded maps offline? Once you download a USGS topographical map or import a geospatial PDF map, you can access and use it without any cellular service or internet connection. The app utilizes your device's GPS to show your current location on the downloaded map, enabling navigation and planning even in remote areas. ### What are the costs associated with Topo Reader? The app offers a subscription model for unlimited map downloading. While the first few map downloads are complimentary, a subscription is required for full access. The subscription does not auto-renew. ### What devices is Topo Reader compatible with? Topo Reader utilizes the latest capabilities of iOS, indicating it is designed for Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads. Specific iOS version compatibility would typically be found in the app store listing. ### What are common use cases for Topo Reader? Common use cases include planning and navigating hikes, camping trips, road trips, and general exploration where reliable offline map access is crucial. It's also useful for geographical study and referencing historical topographical data. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 8.1 — 2022-11-03 • iOS 16 crashing fixed. • Nice UX and speed improvement. ### 8.0 — 2022-05-22 • New PDF rendering engine that is faster and correctly displays the latest USGS USTopo series. • Map viewing rewind and forward buttons. • 100% Google free – No advertisements nor ad trackers. ### 7.2 — 2019-03-25 • Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) and Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate formats. Entry of MGRS, UTM or geodetic coordinates formats is recognized automatically by the parser. • Improvements with importing KML/KMZ files. (Does not support most KML features.) • Improvements for Track & Routes. • Reference map has an OFF mode for reducing network data use; stops the fetch of image tiles from Apple map server. • The home button arrow no longer points with true North unless user has manually rotated the map. ### 6.4 — 2018-06-05 • Bug fix: If cloudDrive was disabled then restore prior purchases could fail to parse the digital purchase receipt. • Improved map download speeds. ### 6.3 — 2018-03-06 • Bug fix: The distance units defaults to metric, or statute units depending on locale setting, and remembers the last units setting. • Waypoint callouts notes supports HTTP web links and HTML text format, first characters must be "