Marin Water - Mt. Tamalpais Watershed Visitor Map Redesign
Bringing New Life to the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed Visitor Map
Client: Marin Municipal Water District
Location: Marin County, California
Project Partner: TOPO Collective
Platform: Print & Digital (Avenza Maps)
Overview
The Mount Tamalpais Watershed is a stunning 18,000-acre natural preserve located in Marin County, California, just north of San Francisco. This popular outdoor destination features more than 150 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, dramatic ridgelines, rolling hills, serene lakes, and shaded canyons. The watershed is home to Alpine Lake, Kent Lake, Bon Tempe Lake, and Lake Lagunitas, and is visited by thousands of outdoor enthusiasts every week.
McNaught Design partnered with TOPO Collective to deliver a complete custom cartographic redesign of the Watershed Visitor Map for the Marin Municipal Water District. The goal was to create a high-quality, easy-to-read trail map that blends beautiful terrain rendering with accurate GIS data and supports digital navigation for mobile users.
Project Objectives
Our approach to this trail map design project focused on both aesthetics and functionality:
Create a visually appealing topographic map with improved readability.
Improve on the original watershed map while keeping it recognizable to users.
Integrate contour lines and hillshade terrain for better elevation awareness.
Add vegetation layers to differentiate forest and open grassland areas.
Highlight hydrological features: creeks, streams, and waterfalls.
Improve trail label clarity, especially in densely networked areas.
Design custom cartographic symbology for roads, points of interest, and recreational features.
Deliver both a print-ready map and a georeferenced Avenza Maps version for offline mobile use.
Original Marin Watershed Trail Map from 2017
Our Mapping Process
1. Cartographic Style Development
We began by analyzing top-rated hiking maps from national parks and wilderness areas to determine which cartographic elements best supported wayfinding. We then developed:
Custom trail and road symbology
A refined color palette with earthy, natural tones
Distinct layers for vegetation, water bodies, and elevation
2. GIS Data Integration
Using QGIS, we processed and filtered spatial datasets to extract the most relevant information:
Trail networks and classifications
Elevation contours (40-foot intervals)
Water features and terrain shading
Vegetation and land cover data
We merged raster hillshade relief with vector trail and road layers to create a rich and immersive basemap.
3. Map Layout & Labeling
Trail names and distances were carefully positioned to avoid clutter while ensuring readability. This was one of the most challenging aspects of the project and required multiple design iterations.
We also added:
Two detailed inset maps for high-use areas
Custom map elements like scale bars, legends, and directional arrows
4. Final Production
Map finalized in Adobe Illustrator, with enhancements in Photoshop
Exported for both large-format printing and Avenza Maps geospatial PDF
The updated Visitor Map for Mt Tamalpais.
Tools Used
QGIS (spatial data processing)
Adobe Illustrator (map layout & design)
Adobe Photoshop (hillshade & texture rendering)
Avenza Maps (mobile offline navigation)
Results & Reception
The updated map has been well-received by both the client and visitors for its clarity, aesthetics, and ease of use.
A new trailhead kiosk system will feature large-format versions of the map.
The Avenza Maps version allows users to navigate in real-time without needing cell service.
View the final map here:
Watershed Visitor Map – PDF
Inset maps for the printed version of the Mt. Tamalpais Visitor Map
Interested in a custom hiking trail map for a watershed or park?
Let us know how McNaught Design can help!