Orient Your Map Correctly Every Time with this Tip

Once you understand how to read a topographic map, the most important skill you can learn is orienting your map correctly. Orienting your map in the field allows you to make sense of surrounding terrain, determine your position, and identify your desired direction of travel.

To do this, you’ll need to adjust for the difference between Magnetic North (where your compass points) and True North (which maps are oriented towards). The adjustment you’ll need to use is called “Declination’.

In this video, I explain how to set the declination of your compass to make orienting your map in the field fast and easy.

The most important skill in backcountry navigation is the ability to orient your map correctly. Quickly and easily orient your map correctly by adjusting the declination on your compass. Declination is the angle between magnetic (where your compass needle points) and true north (where your map is oriented).

Terms: Setting Your Compass Declination

• Magnetic North is located in Northern Canada, this is where your compass needle Points
• True North is located at the North Pole, topographic maps are generally oriented so that lines of longitude (vertical lines) orient toward true north
• Declination is the difference between true north and magnetic north at a given location. Declination can be found on any topographic map, generally in the map legend.