PLSS Converter for Forestry & Public Land Professionals
BLM timber sales, Forest Service permits, hunting regulations, and wildfire incident maps all describe locations in PLSS notation. Convert section descriptions to GPS coordinates before you leave the office — and navigate to them from your phone once you're in the field.
Navigating Public Land with Legal Descriptions
Public land in the American West is administered entirely in PLSS. A BLM timber sale contract describes the sale area as a set of sections. A Forest Service permit specifies the permittee's grazing allotment by township and range. A state hunting regulation identifies the open area as T14N R4E Sections 1–12. None of those descriptions give you a coordinate you can type into a GPS unit or share with a crew member.
Timber cruisers locate sale boundaries before cruise. Wildfire incident commanders identify which sections fall inside a fire perimeter for resource ordering. Hunting outfitters locate public land access points before client arrival. In each case, the job requires translating a PLSS description to something you can navigate to.
Township America does that translation in seconds. The mobile app works offline in areas without cell service, so the conversion is available wherever you need it — not just at the office.
How Forestry & Public Land Professionals Use Township America
Timber Cruiser Locating a BLM Timber Sale
A timber cruiser receives a BLM timber sale contract describing the sale area as sections 4, 5, and 8 of T12N R6E. They convert each section to GPS coordinates, export the boundary corners as KML, and load the file into Avenza Maps on their phone before driving to the sale area. In the field, the section boundaries are visible on the offline map — no relying on paper plats or cell service.
Wildfire Incident Commander Identifying Fire Perimeter Sections
A wildfire incident commander receives a situation report listing the fire perimeter by section numbers. They convert each section to GPS coordinates, map the perimeter in their incident management tool, and identify which sections need additional resources before the next operational period briefing. The conversion adds minutes; the clarity it provides in resource allocation is worth far more.
Hunting Outfitter Locating Public Land Access Points
A hunting outfitter works a new unit where state regulations describe the open public hunting area by township, range, and section. They convert the boundary sections to GPS coordinates, identify the closest road access points on the satellite map, and share the waypoints with clients before the season opens. Clients arrive at the right trailhead; no one ends up on the wrong side of a fence line.
Built for Field Operations
Mobile App
Convert PLSS descriptions and navigate to sections from your phone. Available for iOS and Android.
Offline Maps
Download map tiles for your management unit before heading into areas without cell service. No data connection required in the field.
Route Planning
Generate driving and walking routes to converted section coordinates. Share routes with crew members before deployment.
KML Export
Export converted locations as KML for Avenza Maps, Garmin, Google Earth, or any GIS platform your team uses.
Key States for Forestry & Public Land
The highest concentrations of BLM and National Forest land are in the Western states, where PLSS is the primary survey system. Township America covers all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Township America to navigate on BLM and Forest Service land?
Yes. Township America converts the section, township, and range descriptions found on BLM and Forest Service permits, timber sale contracts, and recreation area maps to GPS coordinates. The mobile app works offline once maps are downloaded for your area.
Does the app work without cell service in the backcountry?
Yes. Download the offline map tiles for your county or management unit before leaving cell coverage. Conversions, saved waypoints, and navigation remain fully functional with no data connection. Everything syncs when you return to coverage.
Can I export section boundaries as KML for use in Avenza or other apps?
Yes. Township America exports converted locations as KML files that import directly into Avenza Maps, Garmin BaseCamp, Google Earth, and most GIS applications. Export a set of timber sale sections or fire perimeter waypoints and load them onto any device before heading to the field.
Convert Section Descriptions Before You Head Out
Convert PLSS descriptions to GPS coordinates and download offline maps for field use.