Basic Navigation: Map and Compass for Beginners

To use a map and compass, orient the map so it matches the land around you, measure a bearing from your position to your destination, adjust for magnetic declination and then follow that bearing by walking from landmark to landmark. With a topographic map and a baseplate compass, beginners can learn the basics in an afternoon.

This guide covers the gear you need, the parts of a compass, how to read a topographic map, declination in plain language and four core skills with numbered steps. It finishes with practice drills, common mistakes and what to do if you get turned around.

Key takeaways

A topographic map and a baseplate compass with a rotating bezel are all you need to start.
Orienting the map, taking a bearing, following a bearing and adjusting for declination are the four core skills.
Declination is the angle between true north and magnetic north, and it varies by place and changes over time.
Use terrain features as checkpoints, so the compass confirms what the map and land already tell you.
Practice on familiar trails before you rely on these skills somewhere remote.

What do you need to navigate with a map and compass?

To navigate with a map and compass, you need a topographic map of the area at a useful scale, a baseplate compass with a rotating bezel and clear markings, and ideally a pencil and a watch. A compass with adjustable declination makes life easier. Keep both protected from rain in a clear bag or map case.

Paper maps and compasses do not run out of battery or lose signal, which is why navigation appears on the list of the Ten Essentials for hiking. A phone app is a useful partner, and our guide on how to navigate with a phone app on the trail explains how to use one well, but it should not be your only tool.

Which map should you buy?

In the United States, many hikers use topographic maps based on US Geological Survey mapping, including the 1:24,000 scale series, or park and trail maps that show contour lines. In the UK, Ordnance Survey maps at 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 are the standard. Canada and Australia have national topographic series as well. Pick the most detailed map that covers your whole route.

What are the parts of a compass?

A baseplate compass has a clear rectangular base with a direction of travel arrow, a rotating housing called the bezel marked in degrees, an orienting arrow and orienting lines inside the housing, and a magnetic needle whose red end points to magnetic north. Each part has one job in the steps below.

Part	Where it is	What it does
Baseplate	Clear plastic base	Lays flat on the map, has rulers and a straight edge
Direction of travel arrow	Printed on the baseplate	Points the way you will walk
Bezel (housing)	Rotating ring	Marked 0 to 360 degrees to set a bearing
Index line	Where the bezel meets the arrow	Where you read the bearing
Orienting arrow	Inside the housing	Aligns with the needle to follow a bearing
Orienting lines	Inside the housing	Line up with north-south lines on the map
Magnetic needle	Floats in the housing	Red end points to magnetic north

Some compasses add a sighting mirror, which helps you aim more accurately at distant landmarks, and a declination adjustment screw or key. Both are helpful but not essential to learn the basics.

How do you read a topographic map?

To read a topographic map, start with the legend, scale and north arrow, then study the contour lines, which join points of equal elevation. Closely spaced lines mean steep ground and widely spaced lines mean gentle ground. Rivers, trails, ridges and valleys become recognizable shapes once you know what the lines show.

Scale and distance

The scale tells you how map distance relates to ground distance. On a 1:24,000 map, one inch equals 24,000 inches on the ground, which is 2,000 feet. On a 1:25,000 map, one centimeter equals 250 meters. Use the ruler on your baseplate and the map’s scale bar to measure the distance between two points.

Contour lines and landforms

Contour interval: the vertical distance between lines, printed in the map margin.
Index contours: thicker lines labeled with an elevation.
Hills and summits: closed rings that get smaller toward the top.
Valleys: contour lines form a V or U that points uphill.
Ridges and spurs: contour lines form a V or U that points downhill.
Saddles: a low point between two higher areas, shaped like an hourglass.

Tip: Before a hike, trace your route with a finger and say out loud what you expect to see: “climb steeply, cross a stream, then follow a ridge.” That mental picture makes checkpoints easier to spot.

What is magnetic declination and how do you adjust for it?

Magnetic declination is the angle between true north, which maps use, and magnetic north, which your compass needle points to. It varies by location and slowly changes over time. If you ignore it, your bearing can be off enough to miss your destination. Adjust for it by setting your compass or adding or subtracting the angle.

Your map’s margin may list declination, but older maps can be out of date. For a current value, use an official online calculator such as those provided by NOAA, or the current figure published for your national map series.

How to adjust for declination

Find the current declination for your area and note whether it is east or west.
If your compass has an adjustment, set it to that value once and you can skip the math.
If not, convert map bearings to compass bearings by hand.
For an east declination, subtract the angle from your map bearing.
For a west declination, add the angle to your map bearing.

A common memory aid for converting map bearings to compass bearings is “east is least, west is best,” meaning subtract east and add west. Reverse it when converting a compass bearing back to the map.

True, magnetic and grid north

Some maps also show grid north, which follows the map’s grid lines. On many maps the difference between grid and true north is small. In the UK, Ordnance Survey maps describe the relationship between grid and magnetic north in the margin, and that difference has changed in recent years, so check a current source.

How do you orient a map with a compass?

To orient a map, turn it so north on the map points to north in the real world. Then every trail, ridge and stream on the paper lines up with the land in front of you. This makes it far easier to recognize features and choose a direction, and it is the first skill to practice.

Set the bezel so N lines up with the index line, including any declination adjustment.
Place the compass on the map with the edge of the baseplate along a north-south line and the direction of travel arrow pointing to the top of the map.
Hold the map and compass flat together.
Turn your whole body, map and compass together until the red end of the needle sits inside the orienting arrow.
Look up and match features on the map with what you see.

If you can see clear landmarks, you can also orient the map by eye. Turn the map until a mountain, lake or road on the paper lines up with the real one.

How do you take a bearing from a map?

Taking a bearing from a map means measuring the direction from where you are to where you want to go. Lay the compass edge between the two points, rotate the bezel to match the map’s north lines and read the number at the index line. Then adjust for declination and you have a bearing to follow.

Place the compass on the map so one long edge connects your position and your destination.
Make sure the direction of travel arrow points toward the destination, not back toward you.
Hold the baseplate still and rotate the bezel until the orienting lines run parallel to the map’s north-south lines, with N pointing to the top of the map.
Read the bearing in degrees at the index line.
Adjust for declination if your compass is not already set for it.

Ignore the magnetic needle during these steps. You are using the compass as a protractor, so the map does not even need to be oriented.

How do you follow a compass bearing in the field?

To follow a compass bearing, hold the compass flat at chest height with the direction of travel arrow pointing straight ahead, then turn your body until the red needle sits inside the orienting arrow. The direction of travel arrow now points your way. Pick a landmark on that line, walk to it and repeat.

Many instructors use the phrase “put red in the shed,” meaning settle the red end of the needle inside the outline of the orienting arrow. Keep the compass level so the needle swings freely, and keep it away from phones, car bodies, metal fences and other magnetic objects that can pull the needle.

Walking a bearing in practice

Sight on a distinct tree, boulder or post along your bearing.
Walk to it without checking the compass constantly.
At the landmark, sight again and pick the next one.
In fog or dense forest, send a partner ahead to act as the landmark.
Count paces or check your time to estimate how far you have gone.

How do you find your position with a compass?

To find your position, take bearings to two or three landmarks you can see and identify on the map, convert them for declination and draw lines back from each landmark. Where the lines cross is your approximate location. Simpler still, use a known trail, stream or ridge and one bearing to place yourself along it.

Identify a landmark you can see and find it on the map.
Point the direction of travel arrow at it and turn the bezel until the orienting arrow sits under the red needle.
Read the bearing and convert it from magnetic to map bearing.
Place the compass on the map with an edge on the landmark and the orienting lines aligned with map north.
Draw a line along the edge back toward your side of the map.
Repeat with a second landmark. Your position is near where the lines cross.

Useful navigation techniques

Technique	What it means	When to use it
Handrail	Follow a linear feature like a stream or ridge	Easy, low-risk travel
Catching feature	A feature beyond your target that tells you if you went too far	Avoiding overshooting
Aiming off	Aim deliberately to one side of a target on a linear feature	Finding a trail junction or bridge
Attack point	A clear feature near your target to start a short, careful bearing	Small or hidden targets

What are common map and compass mistakes?

The most common map and compass mistakes are forgetting declination, following the south end of the needle, reading the bearing with the direction arrow reversed and standing near metal. Many beginners also stop checking the map once they start walking. Small errors grow over distance, so regular checkpoints catch problems early.

Not checking against terrain. If the land does not match the map, stop and work out why before you continue.
Holding the compass tilted. A needle that drags gives false readings.
Ignoring time and distance. Knowing roughly how far you have walked helps you spot a missed junction.
Leaving navigation until you are lost. Track your position from the start of the hike.
Packing the map deep in your bag. Keep it reachable. Our guide on how to pack a backpack efficiently suggests where navigation gear belongs.

How should beginners practice navigation?

Beginners should practice navigation on familiar, well-marked trails or in a local park before relying on it in remote terrain. Start by orienting the map, then follow short bearings between known points and check where you end up. Repeat on different landforms until each step feels automatic, even when tired or cold.

A simple progression:

Orient the map at every trail junction on a known hike.
Take bearings from the map to visible landmarks and check them in the field.
Walk a short bearing across an open field to a known point.
Try finding your position from two landmarks.
Join a navigation course, orienteering club event or guided skills day.

Navigation is one of several skills worth learning before longer trips. Others include tying a few essential outdoor knots and knowing how to purify water in the backcountry.

What should you do if you get lost?

If you think you are lost, stop moving, stay calm, look at the map and think about the last place you were sure of. Many outdoor educators teach the STOP method: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan. If you cannot work out your location, stay put where searchers can find you. In an emergency in the US, call 911, and in the UK call 999.

Next step: pair these skills with a phone backup by reading how to navigate with a phone app on the trail.

More outdoor skills guides

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a compass if I have a GPS app?

Yes, it is wise to carry a map and compass even with a GPS app. Phones can lose battery, get wet, fail in cold weather or lose signal in deep valleys. A map and compass work without power, and knowing how to use them also helps you understand what the app is showing.

What does “east is least, west is best” mean?

It is a memory aid for converting map bearings to compass bearings. If the local declination is east, subtract it from your map bearing. If it is west, add it. Reverse the rule when converting a compass bearing back to the map. A compass with adjustable declination removes the need for this math.

How accurate is a baseplate compass?

A baseplate compass is accurate enough for most hiking when used carefully, but small errors add up over distance. Holding it level, avoiding metal, using landmarks and checking terrain regularly matters more than the compass itself. A sighting mirror can help with more precise bearings on distant targets.

How long does it take to learn map and compass skills?

Many beginners can learn the basics of orienting a map and following a bearing in an afternoon. Becoming confident takes repeated practice in different terrain and weather. Short drills on familiar trails, plus a course or club event, build skill faster than reading alone.