Map Symbols: SAR, Tactical, and Hiking

MapGridder places three standardized symbol families on one interactive map: search and rescue incident symbols, MIL-STD-2525 tactical symbols, and the recreation pictograms you know from park and trail maps. Mark what matters, combine with a grid and routes, and export the result.

Open the symbol tools

What you can do

  • SAR catalog: command posts, search status, victims, hazards, damage levels
  • Curated MIL-STD-2525 tactical symbol catalog with affiliation colors
  • Topographic recreation pictograms: campground, water, trailhead, and more
  • Combine with the MGRS grid, routes, and radius rings
  • Export your overlay as an image or PDF

Frequently asked questions

What symbol standards are used?

Three: the NAPSG incident symbology used by US search and rescue teams, MIL-STD-2525 military symbology for tactical symbols, and the topographic recreation pictograms familiar from park and trail maps.

What is in the SAR symbol set?

Sixty-five symbols across command and resources (command post, staging, helibase, teams), search status and victims (search coverage levels, victim detected through rescued), and hazards and damage (hazard points, damage observation levels, structure risk).

Can I set the affiliation color?

Tactical symbols can be friendly, hostile, neutral, or unknown, which sets their frame and color. SAR symbols keep their standard colors, because in that symbology the color itself carries the meaning.

Is it free?

Yes. Placing symbols runs in your browser with no login or install. A quick, free sign-in is only needed to export or to save maps to your account. Personal and non-commercial use is free; commercial use needs a paid license.

Who uses standardized map symbols?

SAR and emergency management teams marking incidents the same way across agencies, military and milsim groups briefing from unambiguous unit markers, and hikers or guides annotating trail maps everyone can read.

Can I export the symbols?

Yes. Place your symbols on the map and export the overlay as an image or PDF, with the grid and routes included, or as GeoJSON for your GIS.

Related: Read a military grid reference · Map grid references guide · MGRS grid overlay · Milsim map planning