We've outlined a few of the many reliable sources of information related to the outdoors.  Maps, land access, water levels, all things you need to know before you step onto the trail. 

As with everything online, user beware: always check for the up to date status of maps, and use multiple sources for the best accuracy in the outdoors.

Atlas of Canada

 http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/topo/map

Sources and Coverage:

Canada-wide digitized federal topographic maps, 1:250 000 to 1:50 000 scales

Features: 

Seamless web interface, easy printing, custom scales, place name and geographic features search, customized layer views, air photo linked to topographic data.

Uses:

General land and water navigation at low-medium resolution

Limitations:

Not necessarily updated, man-made features (roads, buildings) may be out of date.

Land Information Ontario 

 http://www.lio.gov.on.ca/en/index.html

Sources and Coverage:

Digitized geographic information for all of Ontario

Features:

Highly customizable maps with many options for visible data layers, i.e. topographic contours, vegetation cover, roads, water body names, buildings, hydro lines

Uses:

Custom maps for less travelled areas

Limitations:

Poor design of topographic contour data, difficult to scale maps to round number (e.g. 20 000)

 Ontario Base Maps

 http://www.geographynetwork.ca/website/obm/viewer.htm

Sources and Coverage:

Digitized topographic data for Ontario

Features:

Quality digital display of topographic data, highly detailed and easily scaled.  Map data more up to date compared to federal topo maps.  Data exportable in Geographic Information System (GIS)

Uses:

Fine scale trip planning, comparison with older federal topographic maps

Limitations:

No numeric scale, graphical only.  Fewer features than the Atlas of Canada

Google Earth

 http://earth.google.com/

 Sources and Coverage:

Satellite imagery of the entire world

Features:

True colour satellite photographs with topographic data, also road layers

Uses:

Finding visible features (rock outcrops, beaches), general trip planning.

Limitations:

Difficult to display and print grids for cross-referencing against topographic maps.  No searching of geographic features.  Not able to overlay topographic data in the form of contour intervals. Clouds can obscure some areas.

Ontario Crown Land Use Atlas

http://crownlanduseatlas.mnr.gov.on.ca/

Sources and Coverage:

 All of the Canadian shield in Ontario (Gravenhurst northwards). 1:100 000 scale in PDF digital maps but zoomable to higher resolution.  Also a seamless web interface.

Features:

Land use (crown land designation, park and forest reserves) as well as private land boundaries in high resolution.

Uses:

Staying off private and First Nations lands during Crown land camping.

Limitations:

Water body outlines and roads not reliable – not suitable for navigation.  Cumbersome web interface: only five levels of zoom.

Cartes et Informations de Plein Air

http://www.cartespleinair.org/

Sources and Coverage:

Digitized park and canoe route maps primarily for Quebec.

Features:

Scanned park maps and guides in PDF format for easy viewing and printing.

Uses:

Trip planning and use on trip with topographic maps

Canadian Canoe Routes

http://www.myccr.com

Sources and Coverage:

Publicly maintained canoe route information and message boards

Features:

Extensive canoe route database, heavily frequented message boards.

Uses:

Trip planning and queries concerning specific routes.

Limitations:

Message boards not 100% reliable, but often most up to date route info.

Water Survey Canada River Water Level Data

http://scitech.pyr.ec.gc.ca/waterweb/formnav.asp

Sources and Coverage:

Near real-time coverage of rivers throughout Canada

Features:

Graphs of river water levels over time.

Uses:

Estimation of river flow prior to whitewater trips.  Levels can be compared to spring flows for a more accurate picture.

Limitations:

Often only one gauging station, even on large rivers.