New Shelton Trails Google Map

If you use Google Maps on your phone, you can track your location along our trails while hiking using a custom Google Map of the trails.  All of the official Shelton Trails are on it, including the parking areas, as well as the Monroe Trails that link up with the Paugussett Trail just across the border. That includes Webb Mtn Park.

Phone screen shot
Blue dot is current location

A link to the Google Map is located on our webpage for trail maps maintained at sheltonconservation.org.  We still have all the standard trail maps for printing or viewing online. The Google Map has the advantage of allowing you to see where you are on the trails, and can be used while driving to find the trailheads. 

People using a chrome browser on their phone seem to have the easiest time. You must have a smart phone with the Google Maps app loaded onto it. Try clicking on the map link from your phone browser and see what happens. You must be signed in to your Google account. 

So far, we've had the follow results on various phones when someone clicks on the link for the first time:

1. Map starts up immediately in the Google Maps app and that's it. Super easy. 

2. Map opens up in a web browser. You can see the map, but can't see where you are on the map. If you are using Chrome for your browser, look for a menu on the upper right, open it, and select "View in Maps." You're done. If you're using a different browser and can't see "View in Maps," try to star the map while viewing in a browser (see photo below). That saves it to Google Maps (see below on how to open the saved map). 

3. Some people have multiple Google accounts open on their phone. If that's the case, you'll need to click through an annoying series of screens, but if you're the kind of person that has multiple Google accounts on your phone you'll probably figure it out. You'll be prompted to select which Google account you want to open the Maps app with. 

4. Alternatively, view the trails map on a PC and star it to save it for future use (you must be signed into the Google account that will be used on your phone).  See above screenshot. Then you can access it directly from the Google Maps app (see below). 

While on the PC or using a non-Chrome browser on your phone, try to "star" the map.
That saves it to your Google map account.

Viewing a Saved Map: If you were able to open the map on your phone, Google automatically saved it for you. Alternatively, you may have starred the map while viewing on a PC, which also saved it.  On your phone, open the Google Maps app and look for the menu on the bottom (touch the screen if necessary to make the menu visible), select "Saved", and then scroll right to "Maps." (See photo below. It may not be obvious that you can scroll right to find a category for maps.) Select "Maps" and you should see the Trails map listed there. 

SCROLL menu to the right to view saved maps

Using the Map: Your current location will be shown on the trail map with a blue dot and a margin of error around it depending on the strength of your signal.  But wait, there's more!  We've added a few icons with info such as critical trail notices, including the 2020 closure of the bridge at Indian Well. Touch the icon for more info (see screenshot below). 

And if you want more information about a trail, like the blaze color, name, or length, touch the trail and then select "More Info" to find that info. It was automatically generated from the City's GIS system, so it's a bit awkward, but the info is there. Note that the lengths will not be accurate for the Paugussett Trail because that line was entered in multiple sections. In the screenshot below, the trail name is Gristmill Trail, it's blazed white, and it's 0.3 miles long. Note that the line colors on the map are close to the blaze colors where possible. Black lines are used for white-blazed trails. Brown lines signify a trail with no blazes. 

Want to report a trail problem like a fallen tree? Take a screenshot of your current location and send it to us so we know exactly where the problem is.

Dead spots: There are some cell phone dead spots on the trails, including the lower elevations at Indian Well and some areas around Nicholdale Farm. Open up the map while you have a good signal and keep the app open. It will continue to track you even without a cell phone signal.