diff --git a/components/elm/docs/user-guide/index.md b/components/elm/docs/user-guide/index.md
index d33278ce7617..bfab59d92b1f 100644
--- a/components/elm/docs/user-guide/index.md
+++ b/components/elm/docs/user-guide/index.md
@@ -77,7 +77,11 @@ Using the above-mentioned settings:
 The [FATES User's Guide section on namelist options](https://fates-users-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/user/Namelist-Options-and-Run-Time-Modes.html)
 provides guidance on enabling these different FATES run modes.
 
-## Generate land initial condition
+## Create land surface dataset
+
+A new surface dataset for ELM is generated using `mksurfdata_map` and the notes about it are available [here](surface_dataset.md)
 
-Initial ELM condition can be generated using `interpinic` and the notes about it are available [here](interpinic.md).
 
+## Generate land initial condition
+
+Initial ELM condition can be generated using `interpinic` and the notes about it are available [here](interpinic.md).
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/components/elm/docs/user-guide/surface_dataset.md b/components/elm/docs/user-guide/surface_dataset.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c513d2d1f59f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/elm/docs/user-guide/surface_dataset.md
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+# Creating an ELM surface dataset
+
+The notes describe the steps in creating an ELM surface dataset at 0.5x0.5 resolution for 1950 on Perlmutter.
+
+1. Load the appropriate modules.
+
+```
+cd <e3ms-dir>
+eval $(./cime/CIME/Tools/get_case_env)
+```
+
+2. Compile `mksurfdata_map`.
+
+```
+cd components/elm/tools/mksurfdata_map/src/
+
+make clean
+export USER_LDFLAGS="-L$NETCDF_DIR/lib -lnetcdf -lnetcdff -lnetcdf_intel"
+export USER_LDFLAGS=$USER_LDFLAGS" -L$HDF5_DIR/lib -lhdf5 -lhdf5_fortran -lhdf5_hl_intel -lhdf5hl_fortran_intel"
+
+USER_FC=ifort LIB_NETCDF="`nc-config --flibs`" INC_NETCDF="`nf-config --includedir`" make VERBOSE=1
+```
+
+3. Build the namelist. This steps assumes that the resolution for which the new surface dataset is being created is a supported resolution.
+If the surface dataset is being created for an unsupported resolution, 16 mapping files will have to be created to map the raw datasets
+onto this unsupported resolution.
+
+```
+cd ../
+
+RES=0.5x0.5
+YR=1950
+DIN_LOC_ROOT=/global/cfs/cdirs/e3sm/inputdata
+
+./mksurfdata.pl -res $RES -years $YR -d -dinlc $DIN_LOC_ROOT
+mv namelist namelist.$RES.$YR
+```
+
+4. Run `mksurfdata_map` via an interactive job.
+
+```
+salloc --nodes 1 --qos interactive --time 01:00:00 --constraint cpu --account e3sm
+
+RES=0.5x0.5
+YR=1950
+NAMELIST=namelist.$RES.$YR
+
+srun -n 1 ./mksurfdata_map < $NAMELIST
+```
\ No newline at end of file