CalTopo's new Shittier Imagery

mikeywally · Post by **mikeywally** » Tue May 12, 2026 9:07 am

What's up with this?!

Can ya'll share some other mapping options?

When you zoom in on the new CalTopo imagery it is pixelated.

I ended my paid account with them.

https://blog.caltopo.com/2026/04/22/new-imagery/

Post by **dima** » Thu May 14, 2026 8:06 am

I really don't love caltopo, but they're by far the best WEBSITE that does this thing, that I know of. Would be interested in hearing about alternatives.

It looks like whatever agreement they had with google is gone, and they removed the other non-NAIP provider they used. But lots of people (including Kristin) are complaining in comments replying the the announcement, so maybe it'll get fixed. I still give them $.

K_Sabo · Post by **K_Sabo** » Mon May 18, 2026 11:52 am

I'm stuck in the middle of the Barley Flats restoration job and they screwed up the imagery we were relying on a great deal in the field. I am NOT PLEASED. Comment on their blog if you too are NOT PLEASED.

Post by **dima** » Mon May 18, 2026 11:57 am

I'll take a look when I get home, but it's possible the "good" imagery is still on their servers ("globalimagery", I think), and we can use it.

Post by **dima** » Mon May 18, 2026 12:02 pm

I found my notes. The good news is that the globalimagery tiles are still accessible and usable. The bad news is that those actually look worse than the NAIP tiles. Do either of you recall what the "good" imagery was? If it was google's tiles, then those are probably gone (likely too expensive and/or onerously licensed).

Post by **HikeUp** » Mon May 18, 2026 1:29 pm

It seems to me the satellite images of the Eaton Fire that were posted after the fire have now disappeared from Google.

Post by **dima** » Mon May 18, 2026 2:33 pm

HikeUp wrote: Mon May 18, 2026 1:29 pm It seems to me the satellite images of the Eaton Fire that were posted after the fire have now disappeared from Google.

That's a whole other thing.

- reddit post
- hn post talking about the reddit post

mikeywally · Post by **mikeywally** » Mon May 18, 2026 4:10 pm

dima wrote: Mon May 18, 2026 12:02 pm I found my notes. The good news is that the globalimagery tiles are still accessible and usable. The bad news is that those actually look worse than the NAIP tiles. Do either of you recall what the "good" imagery was? If it was google's tiles, then those are probably gone (likely too expensive and/or onerously licensed).

it wasnt google. because you could look at google sat view, and switch between to the caltopo imagery. google was my second choice and nice for a compare view, but i lived in close up caltopo imagery and its gone now. completely changes the game for boulder hunting. makes it harder. harder to see the boulders AND the best ways to get to them.