Directions to Get Free USGS Data

Set Up WS_FTP. From within WS_FTP, click "new", set the following attributes:

Profile Name: USGS (or whatever)
Host Name/Address: edcftp.cr.usgs.gov
Host Type: Automatic detect
User ID: Anonymous
Password: your e-mail address

Press "OK" - it should connect you to the USGS FTP site

The right hand window shows the contents of the "remote' system (the USGS site), the left-hand window shows the contents of the "local" sytem (your hard drive).

When connected, in the right window click on Pub, then Data, then choose the type:

For DEM's, choose Pub\Data\DEM\7.5 minute\ then a letter of the alphabet -- they are listed by quad name -- be patient here because it can take a long time to display this directory.

For DLG's, choose Pub\Data\DLG -- then choose 100K, 2M or Large Scale

Before obtaining any data, be sure that you have created your own directory (and subdirectories if necessary) to place the data in. Navigate the left window to your directory, select a desired file in the right window and press the left arrow button. The data will be transferred.