Lost-Proof Yourself when Hiking (2024)

You will never get lost for long outdoors using a compass and map. Most outdoors experts recommend carrying a compass as part of your essential hiking gear. However, using a compass is a lost science, as most hikers and backpackers use a phone or GPS for navigation. This guide helps you learn how to use a compass for navigation, so your compass isn’t just dead weight in your pack.

I’ve put together a step-by-step guide to learning the science of using a compass based on my experience hiking with a compass and map. I’ve also researched the best outdoor navigation resources to help you learn to use your compass effectively.

Why Use a Compass?

You will probably navigate most of your hikes with your phone using something like Gaia, Google Maps, or even a separate GPS device. This is not only easy but also often more accurate. But there a 2 reasons to bring and use a compass on your hike:

1. A compass can quickly orient your map. If you have a paper map (which you should on a longer hike), using a compass to orient the map in the correct position is quick and easy with a compass.
2. A compass provides backup. If your phone or GPS fails, you need a backup, especially on a longer or remote area hike. Also, sometimes your device won’t get a GPS satellite signal if you’re in a thick forest or deep canyon. Having and knowing how to use a compass is a worthwhile skill to reduce getting lost in the woods.

Compass Basics

Types of Compasses

Baseplate or orienteering compass

A baseplate, also called an orienteering compass, is the most common type of hiking and backpacking compass. It usually is made of a flat piece of transparent plastic with an adjustable dial or bezel. Some baseplate compasses come with a mirror that allows sighting capabilities. Baseplate compasses work well either by themselves or with a map.

Lensatic compass

Lensatic compasses are commonly seen in military and action movies. They are usually round with a sighting wire and lid. They can work in a pinch both in the field and using a map. However, for hiking and backpacking, you will generally want to get and use a baseplate compass rather than a lensatic compass.

Parts of a Baseplate Compass

1. Baseplate: The large flat rectangular plastic piece that has the ruler edges, bezel, index line, and direction of travel arrow
2. Rotating Bezel: The dial with numbers 0-359 representing degrees (the angles as measured from North, which is 0°)
3. Bearing Line/Index Line: The marker of the current direction the bezel is set at in degrees
4. Back Bearing Line: The marker that is always 180° from the index line or bearing
5. Magnetic Needle: The marker in the middle always points towards the magnetic north (usually, the north part of the needle is red/colored while the south part of the needle is usually black)
6. Orienting Arrow: This is how you will line up the bezel with the magnetic needle so your compass reads accurately
7. Meridian/Orientation Lines: Run North/South and help you line up the compass correctly on a map
8. Direction of Travel Arrow: Points away from you in the direction you want to travel or take a bearing
9. Ruler Edge: The long edge of the baseplate, usually marked in inches and centimeters, helps you measure distances on a map.
10. Sighting Mirror (optional): A mirror can help you more accurately shoot a bearing (mirror usage not covered in this guide)
11. Declination Adjustment (optional): Some compasses have a key or tool you can use to adjust for declination, as discussed further below in this guide.

How to do Basic Compass Navigation

1. Hold the compass flat at waist height with both hands and elbows tucked in for support, with the direction arrow facing away from you towards your intended destination.

2. Rotate the bezel dial until the orienting arrow is aligned with the red magnetic arrow. Remember the phrase, “Put Red in the Shed.”

3. Read the number on the index line/bearing line. This is the direction you’re currently facing expressed in degrees (an angle clockwise from North is considered 0 degrees). The back-bearing is 180 degrees behind you and should be on your back-bearing line.

4. If possible, note a landscape feature directly ahead within the next hundreds of feet on your bearing and a point behind you on your back bearing.

5. Draw an imaginary line in your mind. Your compass bearing should match this imaginary line.
6. Don’t change anything on the compass until you want to go in a different direction.
7. Put the compass away and walk/hike toward the landscape feature you identified ahead of you. If you lose sight of the feature ahead, look behind for the back-bearing feature you identified.
8. Once you’re at the landscape feature you identified, take your compass out and, without adjusting anything on the compass, rotate your body until the magnetic needle lines up with the orienting needle. “Put red in the shed”.
9. Repeat steps 5-8 until you reach your intended destination.

How to Use a Compass with a Map

Using a compass with a map is a powerful, reliable navigation tool for lost-proofing yourself. Most hikers and backpackers should have some basic skill with reading and using a map with a compass. You can download and print USGS topo maps for free, so there’s no excuse for not always having a good topo map when hiking or backpacking. Here are a few common scenarios when using a map and compass together with the basic steps.

Always Adjust for Declination

Your compass’s magnetic needle always points to the “magnetic north.” However, the magnetic north is actually slightly different from “true north” or the north pole. This difference is called declination and varies depending on where you are in the world.

We care about declination because most maps are oriented for “True North.” If you’re not using a map, you can skip adjusting your compass for declination.

Declination adjustment for your compass can be confusing, but I have found two easy methods for adjusting your compass for declination that help you avoid doing too much math and calculations. If at all possible, plan ahead for declination before your trip and avoid trying to do any declination addition/subtraction in the field.

Find the declination offset for your current area

You first have to know the declination offset for your particular area. Generally, you can search by zip code using the Magnetic Field Calculator. This will give you a declination of either East or West by degrees. The USGS topo maps also have a declination offset on the bottom. The declination changes slightly yearly, so an older map might not have an accurate declination offset number.

Adjust your compass for the declination

After you know your declination offset in East or West degrees, you must adjust your compass to account for the declination. There are multiple ways to do this, but here are the 2 easiest ways to adjust for declination on your compass.

Method #1 – With an adjustable orienting arrow built into the compass.

Some compasses come with a way to adjust the orienting arrow to account for your decline. I recommend looking up the user guide for how to do this, but usually, it’s just a simple screw you turn to adjust the orienting arrow to the specified declination degree, either East or West. With this method, you will still “Put red in the shed.”

Method #2 – With tape as the new orienting arrow on non-adjustable compasses.

Some baseplate compasses do not have an adjustable orienting arrow for declination. You can either add/subtract on the fly, which can get confusing, or you can use a strip of tape to mark the declination and use the tape as the new orienting arrow. With this method, you will now “Put red on the tape.”

When you know your location on the map

1. Adjust the compass for declination as above.
2. Orient the map using landscape features (optional step). You are basically using your compass as a protractor to find an angle from north on the map, so you can ignore the magnetic needle while it’s on the map.
3. Place the compass on the map with the back ruler edge on your current location.
4. Place the front ruler edge on your intended destination. Direction arrows should be facing toward the intended destination.

5. Rotate the bezel so the meridian/orienting lines are pointed north on the map and parallel with the North/South lines on the map. Remember to ignore the magnetic lines/needle at this point. Also, ignore the adjusted declination orienting arrow or taped declination.

6. Read the bearing number at the index line once the meridian/orienting lines parallel the map’s North/South lines. This is the bearing you need to reach your intended destination.

7. Remove the compass from the map without rotating the bezel (keep it at 93°).
8. Now rotate your body with the compass and align the magnetic needle with the adjusted declination orienting arrow or taped declination line (“Put red in the shed” or “Put red on the tape”).
9. Once lined up, you should be facing the direction and bearing of your intended destination.
10. Use the basic navigation steps above to work your way to your destination.
11. In more extreme terrain, you may need to plot multiple bearing lines to avoid obstacles.

When you don’t know your location on the map

When you don’t know where you are on a map, but you’re on the trail.

1. Orient map to true north using the compass.

2. Attempt to identify a landscape feature that matches the map and take a bearing of that feature.
3. Line up the front ruler edge with the landscape feature.

4. Rotate the entire compass baseplate until meridian/orienting North/South lines parallel the map’s North /South lines. Don’t rotate the bezel to do this.

5. The front rule edge should still be a landscape feature on the map, and the back edge should be towards your current location on the trail. You may need to use a straight edge to extend the line backward until it hits your trail.

6. Look for additional features near the trail to double-check your work.

When you don’t know where you are on a map, and you’re not on a trail.

1. Orient map to true north using the compass as demonstrated above.
2. Attempt to identify a landscape feature that matches the map and take a bearing of that feature.
3. Line up the front ruler edge with the landscape feature shown above.
4. Rotate the entire compass baseplate until the meridian and orienting lines parallel the map’s North and South lines. Don’t rotate the bezel to do this.
5. Mark this line on your map.
6. Repeat steps 1-5, at least 1-2x more with different landscape features, preferably 90 degrees or more from each other.
7. The intersection of lines should form a small area where you are approximately on the map.

Tips for Using Compass

1. Rotate the bezel only when necessary.
2. Rotate your body with the compass, keeping the front arrow straight in front of you. Do not rotate the compass only with your hands.
3. Keep the compass flat when using it.
4. Avoid using a compass around metal objects such as phones, keys, cars, or power lines.
5. If you use a map, always plan to account for declination on your compass before you get outside (doing math on the fly increases the chance of error).

Practice, Practice, Practice

Learning how to use a compass is primarily a hands-on experience. The best way to get good at using a compass is to go outside and practice. Here are some exercises for getting comfortable with your compass for basic navigation.

Bearing/back-bearing exercise

1. Mark your starting location.
2. Look for an object or landscape feature several yards away and take a bearing from your current location.
3. Make a note of the back bearing.
4. Put your compass away and walk towards the identified landscape feature.
5. When you reach your intended destination, adjust your compass to the back bearing.
6. Make your way back to where you started.
7. Repeat the exercise but increase the distance.

You should arrive at your starting location if you identified a landscape feature in line with your back bearing. If you didn’t identify a landscape feature in line with your back bearing, you might end up slightly off to the right or left of your starting location. This is called “lateral drift” and can easily happen, especially over long distances, so always having an object or landscape feature identified on your bearing line helps keep your course.

The Square exercise

1. Mark your starting location.
2. Adjust the compass index line pointing to the North or 0 degrees.
3. Rotate your body to align the orienting arrow with a red magnetic needle. “Put red in the shed.”
4. Walk 10 steps, then stop and mark your spot.
5. Adjust the compass index line pointing to the East or 90 degrees.
6. Rotate your body to align the orienting arrow with a red magnetic needle. “Put red in the shed.”
7. Walk 10 steps, then stop and mark your spot.
8. Adjust the compass index line pointing to the South or 180 degrees.
9. Rotate your body again to align the orienting arrow with a red magnetic needle. “Put red in the shed.”
10. Walk 10 steps, then stop and mark your spot.
11. Adjust the compass index line pointing to the West or 270 degrees.
12. Rotate your body one last time to line up the orienting arrow with a red magnetic needle. “Put red in the shed.”
13. Walk 10 steps, then stop. You should be at your starting location, having completed a square.

Map and compass exercise

1. Get or print a topo map of your area
2. Adjust your compass for magnetic declination using one of the two methods for declination adjustment as above.
3. Orient your map north with a compass.
4. Mark your current location on the map and find an intended destination.
5. Use your compass on the map to plot a course, taking note of the bearings.
6. Use your compass with the bearing to reach your intended destination, remembering to use intermediate landscape features to keep your line from drifting.
7. For a further challenge, use your compass and map to pinpoint your location on the map.

Knowing how to use a compass is a powerful tool for safely navigating hikes, especially for beginners. Having and using a compass and map together significantly decreases your risk of getting lost in the great outdoors. Check out our essential hiking gear guide for other ways to plan your upcoming hiking trips, including packing a good first aid kit.

FAQs

Sources/Recommended Reading

• The Backpacker’s Field Manual “Using Map & Compass Together”
• Basic Land Navigation by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group
• Overview of Magnetic Declination
• Find Your Way with Map and Compass by USGS
• Map Reading and Land Navigation by the US Army
• The Essential Wilderness Navigator
• Wilderness Navigation by Mountaineers
• Wilderness Navigation Handbook