Gem Trek Maps
Gem Trek Maps specializes in producing detailed maps of the Canadian Rockies. Based in Banff, Alberta, we currently publish 21 maps, most of which focus on hiking and other outdoor recreation.
Renowned for their accuracy and detail, Gem Trek Maps are printed on waterproof and tear-resistant paper. Each regularly updated map features distinctive relief shading and clearly marked hiking trails, points of interest, and mountain ranges. Our driving maps are printed on paper and cover the Canadian Rockies and regions as far away as southwest British Columbia and Northern Washington.
History of GEM TREK MAPS
Gem Trek Publishing was founded by Donna and Roger Nelson in 1991. The Nelsons had opened Map Town, a retail map and travel bookstore, in downtown Calgary, Alberta, in 1989. Here, they were deluged by requests for up-to-date hiking maps of Kananaskis Country, a popular recreational area for Calgarians on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. So, in 1991, they began selling two manually-drafted 1:50,000-scale topographic maps—a Spray Lakes Map and a Kananaskis Lakes Map. In addition to the topographical information found on the NTS series of government maps, these early maps provided accurate coverage of cultural features, recreational facilities and—most importantly—hiking and biking trails. The first editions of these are now both collectors’ items.
Current Ownership
In 2018, the Nelsons, looking to keep Gem Trek independent and locally owned, sold the company to Andrew Hempstead, who also owns and operates Summerthought Publishing, which produces over 30 regional books, including the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, and is behind the online planning website, the Canadian Rockies Travel Guide. Having lived in Banff for over 30 years, he is deeply involved in the community, both through raising two children with his wife Dianne and volunteering for many local organizations. Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, a member of SATW and TMAC, past president of the Banff Springs Golf Club, past board member of the Banff Heritage Corporation, and volunteers behind the bench for the local minor hockey association.
