How to Hike With a Compass

Use of the traditional compass is giving way to use of digital Global Positioning System (GPS) units. GPS units are widely available and require less work to use accurately. However, an electronic GPS can never fully replace a traditional compass, because they can break or lose power. As a matter of safety, every hiker should understand the basics of using a compass to triangulate a location and plot a course.

Things You'll Need

  • Hiking compass
  • Map
  • Pencil
  • Ruler or straight edge
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find your current location by identifying a nearby landmark and locating it on your map. Draw a line on your map from the landmark to where you think you are. Locate a second landmark around 45 degrees from the first. Draw a line on the map from the second landmark to where you think you are. Where the lines cross is your approximate location. Repeat this step using up to four landmarks if you are still uncertain.

    • 2

      Identify the point on the map where you want to go.

    • 3

      Place your compass flat on top of the map. Align the "heading" arrow so that it points along the path you wish to take.

    • 4

      Adjust the housing of the compass, the part that has the N, W, S, E designation on it, so that the north line is in line with the compass needle. It is very important to ensure that the red portion of the compass needled is pointing to the N designation.

    • 5

      Confirm that your heading arrow is still pointing toward your intended destination while the compass needle is pointing north.

    • 6

      Keep the compass needle in the north line, and hike in the direction of the heading arrow. Be careful not to bump the compass housing out of alignment, or you will have to start over.