How to Read a Topo Map
Dotted, dashed, and curvy. Red, blue, and brown. All these colors and styles criss-cross a topo map. Here's what they mean.
A hiker can quickly become lost in dense or maze-like backcountry settings, making outdoor navigation skills vital for any wilderness trip. Modern GPS navigation systems are excellent tools for finding your way, but, as with any device, they can fail. Learn multiple techniques for wilderness navigation, so you can get yourself back on track in even the most confusing backcountry locations.
Dotted, dashed, and curvy. Red, blue, and brown. All these colors and styles criss-cross a topo map. Here's what they mean.
Make sure you never get lost again by mastering the underappreciated art of navigating with a compass and map.
Plan ahead—or on the fly—to pinpoint primo camping options for your next trip.
To see the best of this Ohio park, you're going to have to work a little harder than usual. Shape up with this off-trail hiking advice from a national park ranger.
A new kind of adventure starts where the maintained trail ends. Advance your hiking game and take on the unknown with these tips for route-planning and navigation. Then, practice footwork skills for safer, more efficient mountain travel.
These key features will help you make the most of navigating with a GPS.
Learn two crucial navigation techniques to make the most of your GPS.
Eric Larsen teaches how to use a crucial navigation tool.
Polar explorer and expedition guide Eric Larsen explains the basics of GPS navigation and how to get started with your new device.
Navigation tips from an Appalachian Trail pro.
With map and compass in hand, world-class navigators take to the Estonian forest to compete at the World Orienteering Championships. Who has what it takes to complete this race?
Sometimes it’s the fastest way. Often it’s the prettiest. And in places like the Great Lakes region, ice creates temporary routes only winter adventurers get to explore. Stay safe with tips on assessing ice and preparing for self-rescue.
Learn how to use this indispensable tool and stay on track.
Geocaching is a high-tech, GPS-enabled scavenger hunt—and getting started is easy.