How to Determine Direction Without a Compass

Finding cardinal directions can be crucial --- even life saving --- especially in the wilderness. If you need to know which way is north and which way is south, you can determine direction without a compass. The sun and the stars can give important clues about direction when you know how to use natural landmarks.

Things You'll Need

  • Straight stick (about 3-feet long)
  • 3 shorter sticks
  • Wristwatch
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Instructions

  1. Determine Direction with Shadows

    • 1

      Find a flat area where the sun shines directly onto the ground. Pound the large stick into the ground so it stands straight.

    • 2

      Step back and notice where the shadow from the stick falls. Pound one of the shorter sticks into the soil about 2 feet away from the first stick at the point of the shadow.

    • 3

      Wait about 15 minutes for the shadow to move.

    • 4

      Pound the second short stick into the soil, again about 2 feet away from the first stick and at the point of the shadow.

    • 5

      Draw a line in the soil with the third stick, intersecting the points of the first shorter stick and the second shorter stick. The line between the two sticks is east-to-west.

    • 6

      Draw a north-to-south line using the east-to-west line. The north-to-south line crosses the east-to-west line perpendicularly.

    Determine Direction with a Wristwatch

    • 7

      Hold your watch in your hand so the hour hand points directly at the sun. Do not move the watch.

    • 8

      Look at the face of the watch and find where 12 o'clock points.

    • 9

      Find the point that is halfway between the hour hand on your watch and 12 o'clock. This is south. North will be the opposite direction of south. West will be to the right of south and east will be to the left of south.

    Determine Direction with Stars

    • 10

      Look at the stars to find the big dipper constellation. The big dipper constellation contains seven stars and looks like a square scoop with a handle.

    • 11

      Locate the two stars that make up the outside edge of the dipper --- opposite the handle.

    • 12

      Draw an imaginary line outward from these two stars across the sky. The bright star that sits in this imaginary line is the North Star --- Polaris. The North Star is also the end star on the handle of the little dipper constellation.

    • 13

      Face your body toward the North Star and you will be facing north. South is directly behind you, east is to the right and west is to the left.