Best Maps/Books for trip planning in Canada/USA

[Roodeberg]

My other half and I are just starting to plan the next big trip. Can't quite decide the route yet but on the cards is currently major parts of Canada, possibly USA, possibly not - then maybe Greenland, Iceland, Norway and finally home (UK).

We'll be doing the trip in a 4x4 with roof tent - because we still haven't figured out how to take us, all our kit and a fully grown labrador dog on a motorbike!

Anyway, wanted are suggestions of good maps, travel books (other than the obvious rough/lonely planets) good camping guides etc. particularly for the Canada/USA sections so we can start to look at what is sensibly feasible, given we will probably only have six months.

Thanks!

[STG06]

If you are looking 'back road' I suggest the Mussio BackRoad mapbooks for Canada and the Delorme Gazetteers for the US. There is an individual Gazetter for each US state, but they do give you lots of backroad detail. More broadly, the AAA has some state by state type general road maps that are good broad locators.....most folks seem to pick a number of various things they want to see then sort out the most promising looking routes between them.

Highlights in the west include Moab (Utah Desert country), Colorado (Jeep Trails galore), Alberta and BC mountains (take a hike to the Plain of 6 Glaciers) BC's Okanagan Valley (It's the Wine!!) Tofino (Vancouver Island -BC's wet coast) Oregon and California Coast Highway #101 (Ocean road !!!)

As you nail things down a little more, HUBBers can provide lots more local detail - hotsprings, camping, hikes, repair shops, etc.

Derek Fairless did lots of planning for his NA trip.....maybe worth a look....

Cheers
Stephen

[everiman]

It would be worth your while to join the AAA/CAA (can do it on line) They have excellent travel advisory stuff, can help you plan trips, have offices in most major cities and and some not so major all over US and CA, lots of maps and books. Membership will also get you emergency towing anywhere you be, run out of gas and they will bring you a can of go (DAHMIK), boost your dead battery, etc., they also provide insurance and other stuff.

I have been a member for many years, they are excellent and they are everywhere. Membership is dirt cheap for value recieved, less than the cost of an SUV fill up when oil is $100+ a barrel, or less than the cost of an in city tow if you prefer. They might even be affiliated with some UK similar outfit such as the RAC, if so, it would be worth looking into. This applies to anybody travelling NA by MC as well, it is nice to have that emergency tow or run out of gas rescue card in your back pocket when far from home.