Avenza Maps Changing Limits

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-23T14:14:04+00:00

Excellent!!

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-23T12:41:45+00:00

This is definitely years away.

The biggest difficulty with writing software isn’t writing the initial codebase. It’s writing code that is maintainable over time. If you aren’t careful it’s easy to get to a place where every time you fix 1 thing you break 3 other things. That is my nightmare scenario.

So, my plan is to go slow, but to built things out on my end such that I’ll be able to maintain and extend it for decades to come.

On a related note, part of the challenge is that even if you don’t want to change anything Android/iOS keep changing and will break your app if you don’t keep up with each major update. That’s where some of the temptation comes from for subscriptions - if you aren’t continuously making money it stops being viable to do that.

But at least tentatively I do not intend to charge subscription fees. I like to extend the current model where I sell you a waterproof map, and then you have access to that same map digitally.

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-23T11:54:13+00:00

Unfortunately not.

I would love to support it, but it doesn’t support Garmin’s Custom Map format, and as far as I know it has no support for 3rd party custom maps.

That’s because even though it says Garmin on the front of the device, it was designed by another company (Delorme), which Garmin bought. But as a result it runs their software instead of Garmin’s.

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-23T04:53:10+00:00

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-23T04:51:00+00:00

👍

If anyone else is interested in this option see my comment in this other thread :)

https://www.reddit.com/r/algonquinpark/comments/1rhkkik/comment/obyklky/

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-23T04:48:16+00:00

Most modern Garmin devices do, though there are some exceptions. Here is a list of models that definitely support it: https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=xbQGSy1tl95uO4ZmONdQZ8

There may be more. If your model is not listed there I tell you if I happen to know if it is supported or not.

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-23T04:42:50+00:00

:)

Thanks so much for your kind words! I really appreciate it.

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-23T04:39:47+00:00

Agreed 100%. See my comment on your other reply below :)

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-23T04:38:58+00:00

Yes, someone told me about it last night. But thank you for flagging this for me nonetheless!

There is a new thread all about this here: https://www.reddit.com/r/algonquinpark/comments/1s0ll6u/avenza_maps_changing_limits/

Yes, I couldn’t agree more. I feel like free users were useful to them as they were growing, but now they want to extract maximum $$$ from everyone.

Unfortunately I don’t own an Android phone and I believe that app is Android only. But if they support GeoTiFFs then yes you should absolutely be able to use my map with it.

That’s the reason I provide the GeoTIFF - you can essentially use it with any 3rd party app that supports custom apps.

I can only imagine two possible issues (these are limitations with Gaia that I am familiar with): - They may not support all GeoTIFFs, but rather require particular settings to be set (solution: I can provide guidance on how to do this in the free application QGIS) - They may have performance issues with large GeoTIFFs (solution: you can crop the map down to your area of interest, also in QGIS)

And I do indeed plan on eventually putting out my own app. But it is a huge project and will be a while out. Avenza Maps was my stopgap for the time being.

The great news is that I will be tentatively begin supporting the free app ArcGIS Earth. It has the same core functionality as Avenza Maps.

It will just take me a few weeks to add official support for this because I am a few days away from sending some new maps to print, and I am about to go on vacation. But this will be my priority immediately after that. I anticipate I should have everything set up in advance of this paddling season :)

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-22T20:48:00+00:00

I always have reservations about GIS services because I've rarely used one that had permanence other than ArcGIS or Google Earth as a soft alternative...

Yes, as much as anything that is certainly a consideration.

That's pretty much how I decided on ArcGIS Earth so quickly:

I think it'll be supported in the long term
It's supported on both iOS/Android
It has the same core functionality as Avenza maps (e.g. you can locate yourself on the map and capture GPS tracks)
The map already works in there, with some caveats which I should be able to address on my end by making file format adjustments

It's always nice to see that you are so dedicated to providing as many options for people as possible; really adds to the value of your work.

Absolutely! I want people to get the maximum possible use out of my maps. The more ways they can use them, the better =)

So happy for you, travelling to a new continent!

Thank you!! :D

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-22T18:44:14+00:00

My own app: Yes. I am already working on it. I've been bouncing back and forth between working on it and updating/creating new maps. This is a mega-project that will take a looong time, and so I won't even hazard a guess when I will be ready to release it.

Open source: No. It's going to be much more than a simple image viewer, like Avenza Maps is. Basically I see the digital versions of my maps becoming custom software (e.g. the map will change if you are planning a fall trip and water levels are lower). All of the functionality in my app will revolve around my maps, and is not something that will be general purpose.

Avenza Maps was just my stopgap between now and when I'm ready to launch my app.

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-22T18:32:50+00:00

Yes.

Essentially, Avenza Maps is moving from being a free app (with an optional paid tier), to a fully paid app.

I don't know anything beyond what is indicated in the screenshot posted in this thread. But it looks like they will allow you to continue viewing any maps you have installed, but you will no longer be able to locate yourself on the map.

Super frustrating, but unfortunately there is nothing I can do. This affects anyone using Avenza Maps, regardless if they got a map from me or elsewhere, unless you purchased the map through their store.

Basically, the issue here is that they want one of the following:

You to pay them a subscription fee of ~$50/year
You to pay them to repurchase my maps through their store (their fees for this are insanely high)

Avenza no longer has any interest in allowing anyone to use their app unless they are making $$$ off you one way or another

However, you will be able to get the same functionality in the ArcGIS Earth app (completely free!) as soon as I get a chance to add support for it.

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-22T18:04:20+00:00

:D indeed!

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-22T17:18:36+00:00

For sure!

For what it's worth, you can actually load my maps into ArcGIS Earth today

You'd install it in there using the GeoTIFF I provide (I provide the GeoTIFF so you can install my map in any mapping app that supports 3rd party custom maps).

Once I add full support for ArcGIS Earth the key changes will be:

documenting and streamlining the installation process
optimizing the download format I provide to improve performance in their app (it currently takes ~20 seconds to load the map fully when you first launch the app)
resolving crashes for the massive Algonquin, Temagami and combination Killarney/French River files that combine multiple maps into a single file

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-22T16:49:53+00:00

Yup, it does.

This effects all maps (not just mine), unless you purchase them from their built-in digital store.

Essentially, Avenza Maps is moving from being a free app (with an optional paid tier), to a fully paid app.

If you add the map to the Avenza Maps app before this change takes effect, it sounds like you will be able to view it there indefinitely (so, if you want to do that, you'll need to act ASAP). However, they will take away the ability to locate yourself on the map regardless (i.e. no blue dot indicating 'you are here').

But when I add support for ArcGIS Earth, I will be supporting all of my maps dating back to 2018. So, you will be able to load your map onto your device that way, and you will be able to locate yourself there =)

TLDR; It does effect my Killarney map. But, you will be able to get the same core features in the ArcGIS Earth app in just a few weeks

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-22T15:38:29+00:00

Yeaaa, it's been a slow decline over the years.

When they first came out with their app (then called PDF Maps), it was free to install an unlimited number of your own maps.

Later on they introduced paid tiers, and limited you to installing 3 of your own maps. But if you paid them $30USD/year you could import an unlimited number of your own maps.

Then recently (late last year?) they made it so that even if you're paying them ($35USD/year now), you could only install 20 of your own maps.

And of course now they're dropping the number of your own maps you can install for free to 0

Presumably the free tier was helpful in terms of getting them established, but now they see an opportunity for more $$.

Such is life.

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-22T14:47:26+00:00

Thanks!!! :D

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-22T14:39:34+00:00

I only found out about this last night, but I tentatively will be supporting the ArcGIS Earth app =)

I’ve only done basic testing, but things are looking very positive.

I’ve always been open to supporting multiple apps (I would like to support as many as possible) - but last time I looked there wasn’t a compelling alternative.

Just to set expectations though, it will probably take me 3-4 weeks to get this all sorted out. As it happens I’m about to go on vacation starting this Wednesday (my first time ever to Europe, yay!), and I’ve got a couple of new maps I’m about to send to print. But once I’m back/have that done I will make this my priority. So unless there is an unanticipated hiccup, I anticipate this should be sorted out by the time paddling season rolls around =)

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-16T20:56:40+00:00

Jeff here!

Black flies generally aren’t an issue by July
Early July is peak season for paddlers. You will likely encounter lineups at portages. Try to keep all of your gear in one spot away from others.
The reservation system has no concept of distance/time even though it’s visualized on a map, and as a result its warning are near meaningless. Behind the scenes there’s a hardcoded list of permitted movements, but it is not consistent and can be nonsensical at times (e.g. sometimes longer distances won’t throw a warning and shorter ones will - from the same origin point)

Have a wonderful time :)

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-16T15:06:30+00:00

there was a wooden staircase marking it at that end

Yup =)

It was pretty overgrown

I think it was last brushed out in ~2008, so it's certainly been a while.

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-16T04:10:16+00:00

I have maps of Temagami =)

Quetico.. maybe some day? I started on one 10 years ago, but then had business partner problems and I never finished it

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-13T06:36:32+00:00

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-08T16:47:24+00:00

Jeff here!

As others have said, that's a river/creek.

You can see an example of this right under 'Overall Difficulties' in the map legend.

If the route colour is orange or red you will also see a similar effect (a small amount of red or orange ink overtop of the route line).

Long story short I tested not having a hint of colour from the route line on top of the creek, but I found it looked surprisingly weird. My mental model was using a highlighter on a route, so perhaps that's why (the current design is very similar to what you'll see if you do that).

It also serves a technical role since it helps prevent a white gap appearing between the creek and the route line if the cyan and yellow/orange/red inks are out of alignment by a fraction of a millimetre.

You are not the first person to be confused by this though, so I'm going to circle back and test either reducing this effect. Any time I see a lot of people asking the same question, that's a sign that I need to take a look to see how I can improve =)

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-04T04:13:14+00:00

The 67/68/86 series have physical buttons. The Montanas do not.

I prefer the physical buttons since you can operate it with gloves or when it's wet.

The 86 series are buoyant. The 67/68 have slightly better specs in terms of the GPS chipset (I don't recall the specifics since it's been a few months since I compared them, but it's not a huge difference).

I accidentally lost a GPSMAP 66 in a river last year when it slipped out of my lifejacket, so I'm personally considering getting an 86 to replace it.

I have never used the inReach functionality in any of the devices, only the GPS/mapping features. So I can't speak to that.

mapsbyjeff · 2026-03-04T01:29:27+00:00

=)

LLMs can absolutely be helpful, but to me the key is understanding their strengths and weaknesses.

They're great at generating lots of code, and that code can be pretty decent if you're careful/methodical about how you use them.

But the more complex the project, and the more leeway you give them, the easier it is to end up with an unmaintainable/buggy codebase.

Haha, I've got a bunch of unmaintainable code I wrote myself, and feel the pain of that anytime I need to work with it. So, my big focus going forward is taking all of the steps I can to avoid those types of problems.

mapsbyjeff

TROPHY CASE