Help with Maps!

[JCWP1]

Hi.
Well this might seem pretty stupid to some of you out there but I'll go ahead just the same.
My son very kindly bought me wife and I an Oregan 650 for Christmas. We live in England but do like to hike in the United States and, particularly, Utah where we seem to have joined the group of people who hunt for Native American art ie petroglyphs and pictograms (it gives a different emphasis to the hikes)
I'm totally new to GPS units and as this one is, to me, quite complicated am seeking advise on the best maps, and way of downloading them them, which will show the trails in the areas we will be going to on our trip to the USA later in the year.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated!
Kind regards,
John
PS I have downloaded some maps for the areas we do walk here in England so I do have a rudimentary knowledge. JP

[Boyd]

Just download anything that looks interesting here, it's free:

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/

The maps here are made by many different people with different experience levels and interests, so you will have to be the judge of what is best for your own needs. Some of the trail maps are created as transparent overlays. This means that you must use them in conjunction with a regular map. The overlay adds the trails to whatever other map you are viewing. But note that this kind of map only works on the GPS itself, because Garmin's computer software (Basecamp) will only display one map at a time. On the GPS, you can enable more than one map at a time.

After downloading maps, use this tutorial to install and view it on your computer

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-open-maps-in-garmin-basecamp/

And when you're ready to send the map to your GPS, follow this tutorial

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-maps-on-my-garmin-gps-unit/

Have a great visit to the US!

[JCWP1]

Much obliged for your prompt reply! I'll have a look at these tomorrow and see if I can make sense of them.
Incidentally, if the maps I end up downloading are overlays, where would I be able to get the map itself, please? Is this a Garmin one that needs to be downloaded first?
Kind regards,
John

[Boyd]

The overlays will work with any of the regular maps on this site, no need to purchase a Garmin product (unless you want to).

[Seldom]

IMO Utah is the prettiest of the desert states, and the one I currently live in.  All of our National Parks are spectacular, but Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion are my favorites.

I suggest a few maps I've made depending on how much download time you have available. Largest listed first, smallest, last.  All maps are routable with topo and land cover. Routable features are based on OSM data.  The large maps include data from all smaller maps. 

Large area of the southwestern US Including all Utah
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/701/

Slightly smaller area of southwest bounded at 40 degrees north.
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/518

Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/309

Bryce, Zion, and Capitol Reef. National Parks
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/233

Keep in mind that while your GPSr will probably get you to the trail head, it may not be much use in canyons.  Mine have disappointed me regularly in Zion and the Grand Canyon.

And while you're here, be sure to spend some time outside in the dark.  Our skies are spectacular as well.

[JCWP1]

Many thanks, Seldom.
I really am quite a novice when it comes to using a GPS Tracker and the Garmin my son bought my wife and I seems to have far more features than I could ever hope to use. However, I'm going to look at the maps that have been suggested on the forum and see what suits me best.
I know that some of the places we have been to are easily accessible but it's some of the ones my wife has found, from various forums, showing the location of Native American Rock Art, that take a bit more finding out.
A couple of years ago we tried to find (unsuccessfully) the 'Great Crane' AKA 'Bird with Egg' in the Butler Wash area but the maps we had were a bit confusing hence our lack of success.
However, on a previous trip to that area we had found the 'Wolfman' panels.
We have done some of the usual 'touristy' bits ie Zion, Canyonlands etc and have enjoyed them but we do tend to stay out of the areas largely populated by tourists (no we aren't anti-social!) but we do like to get about on our own. (Possibly the reason I didn't get all the way to the top of Angels Landing; those German and French young people do so like to push their way about) We have done Observation Point a couple of times, though.
Ah, well. Enough of reminiscing.
Thanks again, to all the replies to my post.
Kind regards,
John   

[Seldom]

Some "less traveled" suggestions. In Zion the West Rim Trail: Go left at Scout Lookout instead of right where you found the German and French kids.  In Capitol Reef, just about any trail, but especially nice are: Grand Wash, Capitol Gorge, Frying Pan, and Golden Throne.

[JCWP1]

Thanks for these suggested hikes, Seldom.
Not sure what my wife has got planned yet but will pass these on. However, I think she might have us going to slightly different areas, for our trip this year, than you have mentioned. I bow to her organisational skills in sorting out our hikes. She's never let us down yet!
Kind regards,
John