How and why people get lost when hiking

Avoid getting lost by being proactive when on the trail.

And how to not make their errors

Among the greatest dangers of hiking is getting lost. Panic often sets in when this happens, which in turn results in bad decision-making that can lead to getting further lost, an injury, and even death. One way to keep from getting lost is to think about how people end up in that situation. You can take preemptive steps to avoid making the same mistake.

The main reason people get lost is that they turn onto the wrong trail. This happens in a couple of ways. First, they simply aren’t paying close attention and so go onto the wrong trail. Secondly, they take a false trail, such as misinterpreting an animal trail for a human one. To avoid either error, always familiarize yourself with the trail via maps and satellite photos before setting out on the hike. Then bring a topo map and compass with you. Lastly, constantly consult your map and compass while on the trail, so that you know where you are and what’s the next waypoint; especially do this before making any turns onto another trail.

Another common reason people get lost is because they leave the trail. There may be an obstacle such as a fallen tree they must walk around. Or perhaps they take a break to swim. Or maybe they want to see some rock formation or waterfall that is just off the trail. Before leaving the trail, always consult your map and compass to know where you’re at. Chart as straight of a course as you can to where you want to go. When you get to your destination (the swimming hole, waterfall, etc.), look back and see how you came from the trail to where you’re standing. Use the exact same route when returning to the main trail.

A variant of this is when people take a shortcut. Even if you have a map, cutting across a woods or around a hill to save you time typically results in a longer hike, both in time and distance. Usually trails weren’t built where the “shortcut” is because that way wasn’t easy to pass through, meaning it’s likely swampy and probably won’t be a straight shot. Without a trail on a map to help you determine where you’re at, you easily can get turned around and end up disoriented. Instead, always stay on the trail.

One more reason hikers get lost is night falls before they’ve reached their destination, so the trail is too dark to see. The quick solution is to determine how long you will need to reach a destination before setting out. Most hikers can cover a couple of miles per hour. So if the trail is four miles long, plan a two-hour trip one-way. Before going on the hike, check to see when sunset is. If it’s at 8:30 p.m., then leaving anytime after 6 p.m. is a risk just to go one-way. Instead, shorten the hike to two miles or simply wait until another day. Lastly, always carry a flashlight in your backpack, just in case.

A less common way people get lost is they must cross rocks or a creek in which there are no bootprints to follow. There’s a certain comfort in seeing fresh treadmarks on a trail; you know that at least others have gone that way recently. When those treadmarks are gone, you may feel like you’re guessing which way to go. Before crossing rocks or a creek, instead try to visually identify where you are to come out on the other side and keep you eyes locked that point as you cross. Barring that, always consult your map and chart a course. Also, look for cairns which can guide you to your destination.

Another reason people get lost is a sudden change in the weather. Rain and particularly snow can obscure points on the horizon that you need for keeping track of your course; they also can make the trail confusing to follow. Always check a weather report in advance of setting out on a trail, especially if in the mountains. At the first sign of inclement weather, turn back and avoid making cardinal errors of taking a shortcut or skipping a map reading just to save you time.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Prepare day hiking kids for the possibility of getting lost

Lost children should stay away from water. Photo courtesy of Photoree.

Every parents’ nightmare is a lost child, and on a hiking trail the possibility of that occurring is great. In the woods, children easily can slip out of sight, and the dangers of an injury from a fall or of drowning rise. While such instances are rare, they can occur.

Arming our children with the knowledge they need to ensure they can be more quickly found is thus paramount before setting out on a hike.

Knowledge is power
Children should know basic information about themselves that will help authorities reunite them with their parents. Among that info is:
g Their first and last name
g How to spell their last name
g Their parents’ names
g Their telephone number
g The name of the place they are staying, such as the campground or hotel
As a two-year-old likely can do little better than remember his first and last name (which he may not pronounce correctly) and because panic can seize up an older child’s memory, also have children carry an emergency information card that contains the above information. That card should include their full address, blood type, and allergies.

What to do if lost
Teaching a child what to do once he realizes he’s lost is paramount. First, he ought to stay put. The more he walks, the more likely he is to wander farther away from the trail and so will be more difficult to find. Going near water or climbing rocks also can lead to injuries, so a lost child should refrain from those activities. Secondly, have him blow on his safety whistle rather than shout for help. Shouting will cause him to lose his voice much more quickly than blowing on a whistle will cause him to lose his breath. Worse, if he’s hoarse, he may not be able to respond loudly enough to rescuers calling his name. The sound of a safety whistle also can be heard from farther away than a kid’s shout.

Ask for help
When another hiker crosses paths, the child should ask for help. The odds are against a fellow hiker being a dangerous person. The child should explain he is lost, that he needs help, and ask the adult to escort him to safety. Teach a child to present his emergency information card to an adult.

Supply your child
If a child is old enough, have him wear a daypack with a few sundries in it. Among the items would be an extra emergency information card, a snack or two, a bottle of water, a sweatshirt and hat, a map with your trail marked on it, an extra safety whistle, and a small flashlight. If your child is a teenager, include a first-aid kit that he knows how to use. These items can help a child get by for a few hours until rescuers find him.

Practice makes perfect
In addition to going over all of this with a child, practice it. The safety of the backyard makes a perfect spot to “practice” what to do if lost. A child who has simulated this experience and knows that people are looking for him is less likely to panic should he actually become lost. In addition, each time you head out to the trail, review the background information he needs to provide to adults and what to do if lost.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Don’t forget to use your map when hiking!

To avoid getting lost, check your map frequently when on
 a day hike. Photo courtesy of Forest Runner/Photoree.

Most day hikers are smart enough to bring a map on their walk, but a few too many forget to actually use it once on the trail.

After all, if you should get lost, a map’s usefulness is greatly reduced if you don’t know where you are on it.

Once at the trailhead, pull out your map and orient it, that is align it with the direction you’re traveling. See where landmarks are on the horizon relative to the trailhead, noting their compass direction.

Also, select a landmark farther up on the trail in which you will check the map again. This might be a significant bend in the route or a landmark such as a rock outcropping or a vista. It should be only a few hundred yards ahead; it need not be something you can see from the point where you're checking the map but should be something that is obvious once your come upon it.

Upon reaching that point, pull out your map again and orient it once more to the trail’s direction and the previously looked at landmarks. Note the landmark’s compass direction as well, for they may have changed since the trailhead. Before putting the map away, select the next point you’ll do a map check.

While this may sound dull to do, it usually ensures you won’t get lost, and if you do, you’ll probably be able to backtrack quite quickly to the last point where you checked your map – which is a spot where you weren’t lost. In addition, it can give you a better appreciation of the trail’s geography and help you better recognize interesting points in the distance.

If children are with you, especially if they’re teenagers, have them help you check the map so that they learn about orienteering. Indeed, should an injury occur and the teen is the only one who can go for help, their knowledge of the terrain and your location will go a long way in ensuring they can safely get back to the trailhead.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Teach kids how to read maps by having them make a 3D model

Kids can learn to read maps by making 3D models
of them. Photo courtesy of Jungwen/Photoree.

Kids of all ages easily can learn how to read maps with an adult helping them make the connection between real objects and symbols on the map. One way to do this is to have children construct, on the ground, a 3D representation of the map, either at home before the hike or during a rest break while on the trail.

The 3D map need not be anything fancy. Found objects in nature work well. For example, a large rock can represent the highest mountain point, upright twigs can symbolize forests, and a line etched in the dirt can serve as a stream or river or perhaps as the trail.

While the 3D representation won’t be perfectly to scale, have the children try to make it as close as possible to what’s on the map. For example, a mountain peak that is a half-mile from another mountain peak might be a half-foot apart in the 3D representation.

Another element to consider is compass directions. Have the children orient the map to the actual north-south-west-south directions that the compass shows. Then have them create the 3D representation with the same orientation.

Once done with the model, have them compare it to the map and especially to the actual sights on the landscape.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

When planning a day hiking trip with kids, study your map

As planning a day hike with children in the wilds, having a map isn’t enough. You want to study it before heading out so that you’ve got a general idea of where you’re going. Not only will this reduce the chances of getting lost but will help you familiarize yourself with the sites along the way.

Some items to look for on the map include:
g Trailhead – Where does the trail begin and how do you get there from the parking lot?
g Key features – Is there a spot along the way where you begin to walk beside a waterway? Or maybe go under electrical or phone wires? Or maybe reach a vista? These are great places to take a rest; you may want to plan route segments so that you know when you’ll stop.
g Major terrain changes – If children are getting tired knowing that a steep incline is ahead can help you decide if you should turnaround or continue going. Likewise, know if you have to cross streams so you can pack a change of socks and shoes.
g Intersecting trails – Be aware of points where other trails branch off or join the one you’re taking. You want to avoid unintentionally going onto those paths.
g Destination – Where is the end point of the hike, or the place where you’ll turn around? This may not be applicable if a loop.

If children are of elementary and middle school age, have them familiarize themselves with the map as well. This will help them become better map readers and even can get them excited about what awaits them on the adventure.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

How to not get lost on a day hike with kids

Avoid having to stay overnight in the wilds by not getting lost.

“We’re not lost, we’re just misplaced.” – The Man with the Yellow Hat, “Curious George”

You can avoid getting lost simply by staying on the trail. Check your map frequently to make sure you’re on the right trail. Keep in mind specific landmarks that you will see, and upon coming to them, look at the map to note your location and progress. Always check your map when coming to forks or adjoining trails.

Don’t take shortcuts because they usually aren’t. The reason a trail seems to take the long way around is because the “short” way would go through a swamp or across a steep slope. If you take a shortcut, you’ll often have to take a detour, and that almost guarantees you’ll get lost.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

After hike activity: Look at your photos

Make sure you’ve taken photos of each kid and of the best sights you saw.

For toddlers, looking at the photos may be all that you do. With older kids, you might play “Where were we?” and see if the kids can guess at what point of the trail you were on using a map. The photos can be made into posters for your family or living rooms, or you can make them into cards sent during the winter holidays.

Such activities make a memorable end to a day hike. To keep kid’s enthusiasm charged, “review” the hike in kid-friendly ways. While you really can’t do this with infants, most toddlers and older kids will enjoy it.

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.

Why you need a map when day hiking with children

A paper map, especially a topographical map, is vital when day hiking.

Without navigational tools such as a paper map or GPS, you can easily become disoriented, miss a turn and get lost. Many trails – even short loops – have branching and adjoining trails.

A map that gives you a sense of what is around you can help you better pinpoint your location. Sometimes you have to unexpectedly go off the main trail – it could be a trail closure, animal encounter, sudden change in the weather for the worse, or an injury that requires shortening the trip. A map also can help you better appreciate where you are by pointing out the names of geographic features you pass or see on the horizon.

Paper maps may sound passé in this age of GPS, but you’ll find the variety and breadth of view they offer to be useful. During the planning process, a paper map (even if viewing it online), will be far superior to a GPS device. On the hike, you’ll also want a backup to GPS. Or like many casual hikers, you may not own GPS at all, which makes paper maps indispensable.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Paper maps indispensable for hikes w/ kids

Paper maps may sound passé in this age of GPS, but you’ll find the variety and breadth of view they offer to be useful. During the planning process, a paper map (even if viewing it online), will be far superior to a GPS device. On the hike, you’ll also want a backup to GPS. Or like many casual hikers, you may not own GPS at all, which makes paper maps indispensable.

Standard road maps (which includes printed guides and handmade trail maps) show highways and locations of cities and parks. Maps included in guidebooks, printed guides handed out at parks, and that are hand drawn tend to be designed like road maps, and often carry the same positives and negatives.

Topographical maps give contour lines and other important details for crossing a landscape. You’ll find them invaluable on a hike into the wilds. The contour lines’ shape and their spacing on a topo map show the form and steepness of a hill or mountains, unlike the standard road map and most brochures and handmade trail maps. You’ll also know if you’re in a woods, which is marked in green, or in a clearing, which is marked in white. If you get lost, figuring out where you are and how to get to where you need to be will be much easier with such information.

Satellite photos offer a view from above that is rendered exactly as it would look from an airplane. Thanks to Google and other online services, you can get fairly detailed pictures of the landscape. Such pictures are an excellent resource when researching a hiking trail. Unfortunately, those pictures don’t label what a feature is or what it’s called, as would a topo map. Unless there’s a stream, determining if a feature is a canyon bottom or a ridgeline also can be difficult. Like topo maps, satellite photos (most of which were taken by old Russian spy satellites), can be out of date a few years. Google satellite photos aren’t in real time.

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.

What to do if you're lost on a hike with kids

If lost, don't panic. Simply stop walking and see if you
can determine your location and how to get back
to your trail.

Q: How do you know you’re lost?

A: When you don’t know where you are and you don’t know which way to go.

The two are not mutually exclusive.

You could be hiking along a trail and not be able to pinpoint on a map exactly where you are yet still be confident that you’re heading in the right direction simply because no other trails have branched off yours and because key landmarks are easily identifiable on the horizon.

Stop walking
As soon as you’re uncertain where you are and whether or not you’re heading in the right direction, stop walking. It’s time to figure out where you are.

As when searching for someone lost, don’t panic. It’s the greatest danger to anyone who is lost. Just take a rest stop and pull out your maps. Check the topo map and see if you can spot any obvious landmarks. These could include prominent peaks, roads, water towers, power lines or waterways.

If you can’t locate an obvious landmark, consider tracing your way back to the last spot you checked your map and knew you were going in the right direction. From there, either head in the correct direction or return to your vehicle before you get lost again.

Should you see other hikers, don’t hesitate to tell them you’re lost. They’ll probably be able to help you find your bearings. At the very least, they can take you to a trailhead and then hopefully back to your vehicle.

Locate main trail
If lost, you’re probably not too far away from your trail. Experienced hikers know the odds are good that they can get back to the trail.

As Melissa F., of Moab, Utah, advises: “Estimate how much time has passed since you last knew where you were, then estimate how far you probably can walk in that amount of time. If you cover a mile every half hour, and 15 minutes have passed since you last saw a landmark that you knew was on your trail, at worse you’re only a half-mile off course. By knowing the compass direction of a landmark you can identify, you can estimate which direction the trail is.”

Fair warning, though: It’s probably not a good idea to go back to the trail but best to stay where you are and take comfort in knowing that you’ll be fairly easy for rescuers to find. If you keep walking in the wrong direction, you likely will increase the time rescuers need to locate you.

Should you rescue yourself while a search operation is underway, be sure to let a park ranger or the authorities know. There’s no need to continue the search once you’re safe. Such operations are expensive and you may needlessly be draining manpower and resources away from another rescue.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

How to pack for your very first hike with kids

Error on the side of going light when day hiking.
Photo courtesy of Petr Kratochvil. 

If you’re new to day hiking with kids (or hiking at all), you’ll probably find that the most difficult hike to pack for is the first one. As you’re not quite certain what to bring, your tendency is to either way overpack or way underpack.

Go seek advice from a hiking guidebook, and you’ll find each author has a slightly different take on what to pack. That’s because everyone has somewhat different needs and creature comforts. What is a throwaway for one hiking parent may be an absolute necessity for you and your children.

Don’t worry: The first couple of hikes are an opportunity to figure out what you need and what you don’t.

Begin by going through the lists of what to pack in three or four hiking books. Write down what all lists have in common; these items probably include a backpack, trekking pole, canteens, walking shoes, layered clothing, first-aid kit, map, and compass, to name a few objects.

Make a second list for the items that aren’t recommended in every hiking book – these items probably include binoculars, head lamps, cords, emergency blankets – and decide if you want to carry them or not. Error on the side of going light, especially if you haven’t gone hiking in a while (or maybe never at all, shame on you!).

Then adjust on the second trip, adding items that you need. But don’t subtract anything!

After going on three or four hikes, review the list of items that not every hiking book recommended. If you haven’t used those items, seriously consider removing them from your load to help lighten it.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Don't overpack on day hike with children

Travel light when day hiking.

Perhaps the biggest mistake beginning hikers make is that they pack too much gear. We live in a culture obsessed with material possessions – not just with the acquisition of them but in our overdependence on them. You’ll be surprised, however, by how little we really need, especially on an outing for a few hours.

Simply put, packing too much gear makes for too heavy of a load that quickly strains your back and shoulders, leaving you to focus more on your pain rather than the beautiful scenery around you. And should you need to carry your young child for part of the hike, you’ll soon find yourself worn out.

The best rule when hiking is to travel light.

You can start by purchasing the lightest of equipment. Day hikes allow you to sacrifice sturdiness for weight, unlike a multi-day backpacking trip or a weekend campout.

Next – and what certainly will yield the most weight loss – is to adjust your attitude toward what you need. Before packing for the hike, make a list of the gear you’ll actually need. Then ask yourself if you’ll really need it. If you didn’t need it the last time you hiked, you probably don’t need it this time around.

That being said, don’t sacrifice water, a first-aid kit, or map and compass; you need those basics for the safety of you and your child.

Perhaps the second biggest mistake beginning hikers make is that they don’t bring the right gear. Hikes with Tykes includes several chapters about clothing, gear and sundries that you’ll need for a day hiking trip. It includes a packing list and recommends what can be cut.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Follow planning list when hiking with kids

Before leaving on any hike with children, plan out your trip. Here’s a useful planning checklist:
g Print a road map showing how to reach the parking lot near the trailhead. Outline the route with a transparent yellow highlighter and write out the directions.
g Print a satellite photo of the parking area and the trailhead. Mark the trailhead on the photo.
g Print a topo map of the trail. Outline the trail with the yellow highlighter. Note interesting features you want to see along the trail and the destination.
g If carrying GPS, program this information into your device.
g Make a timeline for your trip, listing: when you will leave home; when you will arrive at the trailhead; your turn-back time; when you will return for home in your vehicle; when you will arrive at home.
g Estimate how much water and food you will need to bring based on the amount of time you plan to spend on the trail and in your vehicle. You’ll need at least 2 pints of water per person for every hour on the trail.
g Fill out two copies of a hiker’s safety form. Leave one in your vehicle.
g Share all of this information with a responsible person remaining in civilization, leaving a hiker’s safety form with them. If they do not hear from you within an hour of when you plan to leave the trail in your vehicle, they should contact authorities to report you as possibly lost.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

What to do when lost with kids on a day hike

If lost, stop walking and get your bearings. Photo courtesy of Lyn Baxter/
Dreamstime Stock Photos

First rule of being
lost: Don't panic 

How do you know you’re lost? When you don’t know where you are and you don’t know which way to go. The two are not mutually exclusive. You could be hiking along a trail and not be able to pinpoint on a map exactly where you are yet still be confident that you’re heading in the right direction simply because no other trails have branched off yours and because key landmarks are easily identifiable on the horizon.

As soon as you’re uncertain where you are and whether or not you’re heading in the right direction, though, stop walking. You must do this not just for your safety for those of any children with you. They are more vulnerable to the elements than you as an adult, and you so you must minimize your distance from a point where you know your location or from where others might quickly find you.

Reassure children
For children, you being lost can be a very difficult experience to grasp. They will sense your nervousness and feel it, too. They probably have confidence in you as an adult to resolve the problem, but soon basic issues they have – from being hungry and thirsty to being cold and afraid – will overtake them. Their verbalized fears and potential crying can compound your nervousness and fear. You’ll want to keep them calm and reassure them that all will be okay. That’s vital for your own ability to swiftly find your way.

Indeed, the first rule of being lost is don’t panic. It’s the greatest danger as it can lead to poor decision-making. Just take a rest stop and pull out your maps. Check the topo map and see if you can spot any obvious landmarks. These could include prominent peaks, roads, water towers, power lines or waterways.

If you can’t locate an obvious landmark, consider tracing your way back to the last spot you checked your map and knew you were going in the right direction. This is called backtracking.

If lost, you’re probably not too far away from your trail. Experienced hikers know the odds are good that they can get back to the right trail.

Ask for help
As parent Melissa F., of Moab, Utah, advises, “Estimate how much time has passed since you last knew where you were, then estimate how far you probably can walk in that amount of time. If you cover a mile every half hour, and 15 minutes have passed since you last saw a landmark that you knew was on your trail, at worse you’re only a half-mile off course. By knowing the compass direction of a landmark you can identify, you can estimate which direction the trail is.”

Fair warning, though: It’s probably not a good idea to try to find your trail but best to stay where you are and take comfort in knowing that you’ll be fairly easy for rescuers to find. If you keep walking in the wrong direction, you likely will increase the time rescuers need to locate you.

Should you see other hikers, don’t hesitate to tell them you’re lost. They’ll probably be able to help you find your bearings. At the very least, they can take you to a trailhead and then hopefully back to your vehicle.

Should you rescue yourself while a search operation is underway, be sure to let a park ranger or the authorities know. There’s no need to continue the search once you’re safe. Such operations are expensive, and you may needlessly be draining manpower and resources away from another rescue.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Teach children about hiking trail markers

Signpost at Bryce Canyon National Park.

In most cases, the trail is an obvious path through the wilds. Sometimes, though, there are branching trails not always marked on the map. You can avoid getting lost by following a variety of trail markers. Teaching kids about these trail markers can be vital to their safety. Be forewarned, though, that in some official wilderness areas, man-made improvements are not allowed, so there will be no trail signs.

Common trail markers include:
g Signpost - A signpost usually gives the name of the trail and some-times provides an arrow showing which way the path goes at a fork or junction. Many national parks and forests use a simple wooden pole in the ground that provide such in-formation as the Forest Road number and forbidden activities on the trail, such as driving an ATV over it. Other parks might actually nail a sign to a tree, though this is generally falling into disfavor as animals sometimes chew on the signs.
g Directional signs - These signs sometimes tell you the name of your trail, usually at the trailhead, but once out in the wilds more often than not they tell how far another trail or landmark is. They’re usually hung at forks or junctures.
g Paint blazes - Sometimes shapes will be painted on trees along the trail. Usually a single color is used for the trail’s length. Each shape symbolizes a different piece of information.
g Cairns - These are piles of stones that indicate you’re on a trail. Usually cairns are found in desert areas or on mountains above the tree line.
g Rocks and boulders - In deserts where trees are rare, paint blazes may be used on rocks and boulders rather than trees. For environmental and aesthetic reasons, cairns are preferred, however.
g Flags - Surveyor’s tape and ribbons of fabric might be tied on trees to indicate an unofficial or temporary trail. This method typically is used during trail construction of a trail.

Read more about day hiking with children in the guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Use satellite photos to plan your day hike

Satellite photo of Temperance River State Park
in northern Minnesota.

Sometimes a view from above that is rendered exactly as it would look from an airplane is useful. Thanks to Google and other online services, you can get fairly detailed pictures of the landscape. Such pictures are an excellent resource when researching a hiking trail.

Unfortunately, those pictures don’t label what a feature is or what it’s called, as would a topo map. Unless there’s a stream, determining if a feature is a canyon bottom or a ridgeline also can be difficult. Like topo maps, satellite photos, can be out of date a few years. Google satellite photos aren’t in real time.

Read more about navigation when day hiking with children in the guidebook Hikes with Tykes.