Topo maps show both natural and man made (or cultural) features. Symbols, lines, and colors are used to represent information on the map. Land cover is portrayed by specific colors. Green shading represents areas of vegetation, usually trees or brush. Blue represents water, with dashed blue lines depicting an intermittent water source. White areas indicate regions of sparse vegetation. Roads are represented by solid lines; trails are depicted by dashed lines. Different types of structures and facilities have different symbols to represent them. Map features drawn in purple represent revisions to the original map published. If a given topo map has been revised since it was originally published, the date(s) and method(s) of revision are specified with purple type in the bottom left and right corners of the map. Contours are represented by brown lines and indicate vertical distance above or below the datum plane reference, with sea level as an elevation of zero feet or meters. The contour interval is the vertical distance between contour lines on the map. Every fifth contour line is heavy brown and called an index contour, with its elevation listed. An explanation of the symbols necessary to describe the information on a given topo map are contained in the legend information at the bottom of the map. The USGS publishes a booklet containing a description of all of the symbols used on topo maps.

The date that the topo map was created or last updated must be considered when interpreting the information on the map, particularly, the cultural features, such as, trails and jeep roads. The map symbols and contour lines pertain to all coordinate systems that are represented on the topo map.