Guide to Identifying Symbols on a Topographic Map

The symbols on a topographic map are used consistently to identify key, relatively stable features of the landscape. See the chart for a list of symbols commonly found on topographic maps. 

Note: an asterisk (*) indicates where slight changes to symbols and symbol names were made, based on National 4-H Forestry Invitational guidance

• Ecosystems Symbols

  Green shading indicates a wooded area
  Open grass and farmlands are white
  Sand dunes and coastal dunes are tan with speckles
  Lakes and oceans are colored blue
  Perennial streams and rivers are blue lines
  An intermittent stream is a broken blue line of dots and dashes
  A spring is a circle with a squiggle
  Marshes have short blue horizontal lines
  Mangrove forests are shown as squiggle lines on top of green
  Trees planted by humans, including orchards and golf courses, are shown as green circles in rows
  Urban areas, including cities and towns, are shaded in gray or red.
  New information added by aerial photograph to the map is shown in purple.

• Land Use Symbols

  Gravel pits
  Quarries
  Mine tunnels
  Power transmission lines*
  Railroads- multiple track*
  Railroads- single track
  Campgrounds
  Primary highway*
  Unimproved roads
  Bridges
  Trails
  House of worship*
  School
  Cemetery
  Building*
  Water tank

• Features Symbols

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  Contour lines*
  Ridges
  Valley
  Peak
  Saddle
  Depression