Updates to International Layers & Tools

CalTopo may be headquartered in the United States, but the work our users do doesn’t stop at any border. From backcountry adventurers to search and rescue teams, wildland firefighters, and emergency managers, people around the world rely on accurate, detailed maps to make critical decisions. 

We’ve been steadily expanding and improving the data and tools available internationally, and we’re excited to share some of the notable updates we’ve recently made.

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Higher Resolution Elevation Data Across the Globe

Above: Split image of the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland. Move the slider to compare the new high resolution elevation data on the left and the original lower resolution elevation data on the right.

Accurate elevation data is foundational to everything from terrain analysis to contour rendering and slope angle shading. We’ve made major improvements to elevation data across several regions, including incorporating high-resolution LiDAR datasets where they’re available.

Updated regions include:

• Arctic
• New Zealand
• Japan
• Several European alpine countries:
  • France, including 1-meter LiDAR for the Alps and Pyrenees
  • Switzerland, with 1-meter LiDAR coverage nationally
  • Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, and Bavaria (Germany)

The difference is striking, especially in mountainous terrain. LiDAR captures significantly more detail than traditional elevation models, which means more accurate contours, sharper terrain visualization, and a truer picture of what the ground actually looks like.

To see all the areas that currently have high resolution elevation data, check out this interactive coverage map.

Parcel Data Now Available in Canada

We’ve added Parcel Data coverage for Canada, bringing a feature that’s been popular with US users to our neighbors to the north. You can now use parcel tools in CalTopo to look up land boundaries across Canadian provinces.

A few things to keep in mind: ownership data and the “Mailing Address” field in the point info dialog are not included for Canada at this time, as that information wasn’t part of the dataset. Coverage is also partial for now. Our parcel data provider, ReGrid, is actively expanding their Canadian coverage, so expect more regions to fill in over time.

Expanded Offline Layers

Working in an area with unreliable cell service? We’ve expanded what you can take with you offline on the mobile app, anywhere in the world.

TF Outdoors is now available for offline download with worldwide coverage, a great option for areas where other layers may have limited detail.

We’ve also added more locations outside of the contiguous United States (CONUS) with high-resolution imagery that can be downloaded and printed at the same quality you see online. For full details on the expanded Imagery layer, check out our April 2026 imagery update post.

Trail Distances in Metric on MapBuilder Topo

MapBuilder Topo now displays trail mileage labels internationally. Users in countries that use the metric system (everywhere except the US, UK, Liberia, and Myanmar) will see trail distances in kilometers on the MapBuilder Topo layer. It’s a small change that makes a meaningful difference for day-to-day usability.

Refreshed Structures Overlay Worldwide

The Structures overlay, which shows building locations, has been refreshed globally. We’ve augmented OpenStreetMap data with Microsoft’s GlobalMLBuildingFootprints project, significantly improving coverage and accuracy worldwide. The improved data is particularly valuable for search and rescue operations, incident planning, and anyone working in public safety.

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These updates reflect our ongoing commitment to building CalTopo into a world-class tool for anyone who depends on accurate maps, wherever their passion or work takes them. We’ll keep improving international coverage as better data becomes available, so stay tuned.

 

Have feedback on international features, or a dataset you’d love to see added? Let us know in the comments below.