As far as bringing something with you, the USGS site lets you download topo maps free.
Go to
http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/...a=%24ROOT)/.do
These maps are the "7.5 minute" maps that used to be sold at a lot of hiking shops.
Follow the instructions on the website for downloading them. You open them with adobe reader/acrobat and will be promted to download a safe application that lets you plot lat/long waypoints.
Finally, since a full size 7.5 chart is too big to print, use the "snapshot tool" that is already on adobe reader/acrobat to take a pic of the area you want, then when you print, your printer will automatically size your snapshot to your printer paper.
A cheap way to get an accurate chart of where you plan to go.