6 Tips for Successful Navigation on a Hike

• Paper maps indispensable for hikes
• Types of maps to bring on day hike
• Know type of trail you're day hiking
• Use pacing to keep track of where you are on trail
• How to estimate distances when day hiking
• Teach children about hiking trail markers
• BONUS: Teach kids how to read maps by having them make a 3D model

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

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.

Fun activity for hiking kids: Different Maps

What is the best kind of map to use?

Generally, exploring and discovery is enough for kids, but sometimes even they can grow bored with that and become restless. Remember that they naturally have shorter attention spans than adults.

Fortunately, there are lots of tried and true activities you can do on the trail that’ll keep kids from getting bored. One them, which can help teach map reading and other navigation skills, is Different Maps. This activity works best is you have a group of kids hiking.

Collect a variety of paper maps that show your hiking trail. One might be a topographical map, another a relief map, another a hand-drawn/road-style map, another a satellite pic of the region, maybe one even a GPS reader. Give a different map to each child in the group. Have them follow the map throughout the hike and periodically check in with each child to see if he can point out on the map where you are. At each rest stop, have the children discuss the good and points of their maps and then switch their maps. Once the hike ends, ask them to decide which map is best for navigating their trail.

Materials: Variety of maps

Ages: 10 and up

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

How to cross rough terrain when hiking

Though most of the terrain you’ll cross with walking kids will be fairly flat, as they age you’ll start tackling rougher country. In addition, if carrying an infant or toddler in a carrier, there’s no need to limit yourself to flat trails, so long as you know how to traverse slopes, scree and other hindrances. Not knowing how to cross such ground can cause you and your children to fall.

The more you and your kids hike, the easier traversing difficult terrain will become. After a while, it’ll become second nature.

Some difficult terrain you may encounter includes:
g Up a slope - When heading up an incline, slow your pace, take short steps, and keep body upright. This will ensure you keep your balance.
g Down a slope - Ironically, going down a slope can be as exhausting as going up one, particularly on a steep trail. Don’t let gravity take you down too fast or you’ll slip; at best, your feet, ankles and knees will ache by the time you reach bottom. Your trekking pole really can help you stay upright when going downhill. You can maximize your trekking pole’s effectiveness by holding it securely with your arms bent at the elbow in a 90 degrees angle in front of you. In addition, test each stone with your pole before stepping on it.
g Scree - Scree is small, loose rock often found on slopes, especially in mountainous areas. It can slide beneath your step, causing you to slip, which in turn can cut up your hands as the rocks often are sharp. Walk across scree by stepping sideways so the long side of your feet have more contact with the slope. If climbing up a slope with scree, take small steps with your feet spread-eagled or splayed. This puts your weight on each boot’s instep, reducing both strain on your legs and the odds of slipping.

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

Know type of trail you’re day hiking

Looks like a spur trail.

When day hiking, you’ll likely come across a number of terms referring to the type of trail you might set out on. Understanding what these different terms mean can help you better plan your hike and ultimately to best navigate it when in the wilderness.

Trails can be broadly group in three ways – by shape, location, and uses. There also are a few miscellaneous trail types.

Trail shapes
Generally, there are four trail shapes – out-and-back, loop, lollipop, and point-to-point.

Out-and-back
This trail heads to a specific point but then has to be backtracked to the starting point. This sometimes is called an in-and-out or a destination trail, the latter because the main sight to see on the trail, such as a waterfall or a vista, also is the point where you turn back.

Loop
Such a trail is circular, meaning that its start point also is its end point. A variation of this is the stacked loop, in which several loops share sides, allowing you to extend the distance of any loop by simply adding the next one in the set.

Lollipop
When a loop sits at the end of an out-and-back trail, it looks like a sucker. The out-and-back portion of the trail is called a stem, as you don’t turn around upon reaching the trail junction (like you would on an out-and-back trail) but continue on the loop.

Point-to-point
This is like an out-and-back trail, except it’s so long just one-way that you couldn’t day hike it back to its starting point. Instead, you’ll need someone to pick you up at the end point.

Trail locations
Another way to classify trails is by location.

Backcountry
Such a trail heads deep into the wilderness where there are no buildings or maintained roads. Usually a day hike only can consist of a segment of a backcountry trail. A backcountry trail also can be a long-distance trail, which runs for 50 miles or more, or an extended trail, which goes for more than a hundred miles. Often when a trail goes deep into the wilds, it becomes a single-track trail, which means its only wide enough for one person to walk at a time.

Frontcountry
This is the near opposite of the backcountry trail, as it remains close to developed areas. Most day hiking routes are frontcountry trails. One kind of frontcountry trail is the interpretive trail; also known as a nature trail, these are quite short routes that are intended to be educational and informative. They almost always are located near roads or park visitor centers. Urban trails are those appearing within built-up areas.

Any trail categorized by its location can appear in any of the previously listed four shapes. Typically, though, a backcountry trail is point-to-point trail while a frontcountry are more diverse.

Trail uses
A third way to categorize trails is by their purpose. There generally are two types.

Multiple-use
Such a trail can be used for a variety of purposes, such as hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, jogging, or driving off-terrain vehicles. The term sometimes is shortened to multi-use. A rail trail, or former rail line that have been converted to a trail, usually is a multiple-use trail. A fire road or a jeep trail, which is an unimproved road used by park rangers or fire-fighting vehicles, is another kind of a multiple-use trail.

Single-use
Such trails are intended for a sole purpose or type of user. For example, a trail might be designated exclusively for equestrian users or for hiking/walking. In winter after snow falls, multi-use trails sometimes become single-use trails for cross country skiing.

Another purpose-styled term you might see is a recreation trail, meaning the intent of the trail is for recreational use. The term is arguably redundant, however, as every trail serves a recreational purpose.

Other trails
A variety of other trails might appear with any of the aforementioned types.

The most common type is the access trail. Such a trail is a short path that links the main trail to another trail, a road, a campground, or a town. A feeder trail is a variation of the access trail; the feeder funnels people from a central, heavily visited area, such as a campground or a visitor center, onto a main trail.

Another kind is a connector, which links two major trails, offering access to either shorten or lengthen a hike. These also are referred to as a connecting trail.

Many routes often include one or more spur trails. A spur runs off the main trail, usually to an interesting feature or a campsite, and then dead ends. Similar to the spur is the side trail, which also leads to an interesting feature but typically reconnects with the main trail.

When the agency overseeing the trail wishes the hiker to take the trail a specific way, such as clockwise, the route is known as a directional use trail. Often interpretive/nature trails, as they have signed posts that match information on pamphlets, are directional use trails. Such trails are more common in cross-country skiing than in hiking.

Lastly, there are way trails, or unplanned footpaths that people have informally created. They also are known as social trails and typically are not maintained. Sometimes they lead to great vistas or some geological wonder; these are known as good way trails. A bad way trail damages the environment by tromping over rare plants or by making cuts between switchbacks.

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

Fun activity for hiking teens: Songlines

What are the lyrics for these kids' songline?

Generally, exploring and discovery is enough for kids, but sometimes even they can grow bored with that and become restless. Remember that they naturally have shorter attention spans than adults.

Fortunately, there are lots of tried and true activities you can do on the trail that’ll keep kids from getting bored. Among them is Songlines.

Rather than use written maps, Australia’s Aborigines traditionally created maps by using songlines; that is, they created songs giving directions for getting from one place to another. Teenagers will find creating songlines for the trail they’re hiking a fun challenge.

To create a songline, start by using the melody of a well-known song, such as “Row, Row Your Boat” or “Happy Birthday.” As coming upon a key marker on the trail (like a large boulder or the tallest tree in the woods), add a new line to the song.

Have someone in the group write down the lyrics. Years later, the songline can bring back great memories of the trail, thanks to the power of music.

As completing the hike, talk a little with the teens about the songlines. Is it an effective way to navigate? Why or why not? Could someone else navigate the trail using the songline they devised? How would they pass on the songline to another (It’s not as simple as simply handing someone a piece of paper!).

Materials: Pen or pencil, paper, clipboard

Ages: 12 and up

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

Fun activity for hiking kids: Sound Maps

The sounds heard on a hiking trial can help one find their
direction if they create a sound map.

Generally, exploring and discovery is enough for kids, but sometimes even they can grow bored with that and become restless. Remember that they naturally have shorter attention spans than adults.

Fortunately, there are lots of tried and true activities you can do on the trail that’ll keep kids from getting bored. Among them is Sound Maps.

We typically draw maps based on roads, landforms or buildings – that is, what we can see. However, we can map an area using our other senses, such as the ability to hear. This activity can help children become more aware of their surroundings by using their non-sight senses.

During a rest break, have children draw a “sound map” of the trail. The should use symbols to represent the sounds that they hear to their front, back, right and left. For example, a bird might symbolize bird songs, a tree with a wavy crown the sound of rustling leaves, and a squiggly line the gurgle of a running stream.

Materials: Pen or pencil, paper, clipboards

Ages: 4 and up

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

After hike game/activity: Photo Trail

Once you’ve completed a hike with kids, pat yourself on the back. You’ve done a lot of work but have taken the first step into a larger world for both you and your children.

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. One post-hike game/activity you might consider is Photo Trail.

During the hike, have children take photos of the interesting sights or key points on the trail. After returning home, have them select and print out the best and most representative photos of the trail. You don’t want 8.5x11-inch printouts but those that are smaller, say 2x3 or 3x4 inches.

Next, on tag board have them draw a map of the trail. Having a printout of the topo or guide map you used on the trail is useful. The drawing should take up all of the tag board.

Finally, have them tape or glue the pictures near the spot on the map where the picture was taken. They may wish to draw lines showing the exact spot on the trail that the photograph was taken. Older children can add captions, such as the what the picture is a photo of (Skull Rock, Bass Lake, red pine grove, etc.). At the top of the tag board, children can write the trail’s name and its general location (such as the park and state).

Materials: Camera, printer, paper, tag board, markers or colored pencils, tape or glue

Ages: 8 and up

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

Use pacing to keep track of where you are on trail

Knowing how many steps you need to take to reach 100 yards can keep you
from becoming disoriented on the trail.

A useful navigational technique to know when hiking is pacing. This technique allows you to accurately estimate how far you've walked based on the number of steps taken. With that information, you'll be able to determine where you are on a map.

Backpackers generally use a couple of different methods when pacing. Single pacing involves counting every step you take. Double pacing counts only the right or the left footsteps (i.e. every other step).

To use either method, you'll need to know how many yards you can cover in a hundred steps. The best way to do that is to find a flat surface, such at a local track, and count the number of steps you take to go the hundred yards. Do this a minimum of three times, determine the average, and remember the number (You may even want to write it down and keep it in your backpack.).

When on the trail, you can use pacing by first determining your exact location on a map. Then count off the number of steps you taken until reaching the number that equals a hundred yards for you. Stop at that point and look at the map. Now check the map's key to determine where a hundred yards is located from your last point. You are at that new point, give or take a few feet. This marks about 1/19th of a mile.

Be aware that your pace count will vary from hike to hike. For example, you take shorter strides (and hence more steps) when going uphill and longer strides (and hence fewer steps) when going downhill. In addition, if a teenager, the pace count probably will decrease the taller you get, as your strides will be longer.

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

Use shadow stick compass to find your direction

Sunlight, shadow and a stick are all you need to create
a makeshift compass. Photo courtesy of Photoree.

If you’ve forgotten or lost your compass on a hike, there’s no need to panic, so long as you have some sunlight and patience. You can create a shadow stick compass, a tried-and-true method that travelers have used for centuries.

Begin by finding a clear, level spot along the trail. Place you trekking pole or a stick that’s about three-feet high in the center of this patch.

Next, follow the shadow that your trekking pole or stick makes in the clearing. Place a marker – a rock or a small stick works well – at the shadow’s end point.

About 15 minutes later, recheck the shadow. You’ll notice that the end point has moved. Place a marker at that end point.

Draw a straight line between the two markers. This line runs directly west-east, with the first end point being west and the newest end point being east.

Now draw a line running perpendicular to this west-east axis (that is, make a plus sign). The end point of this second line that is on the same side of the west-east axis as your trekking pole is south. The other end point of the second line is north.

To increase accuracy, wait another 15 minutes and create a third end point to draw your west-east axis.

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

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.

How to improve the accuracy of your GPS on a day hike

GPS devices can have measurement errors of  up to 25 feet.
Photo courtesy of larsipulami / Photoree.

Seek clear skies,
use AVG function

A number of day hikers have taken to using a GPS device when hitting the trail. While that’s always risky – batteries can go dead or the electronics could be dropped and cease to function – so long as you have a topo map and a compass for backup, using GPS to navigate is perfectly fine.

As with guestimating where you are on a map, not all measurements on GPS are entirely accurate; indeed, a GPS device can be up to 25 feet off. This is problematic should you become lost.

Fortunately, you can take a few steps when day hiking to ensure you get the best reading possible.

Clear view of sky
Stand in an open area so that the GPS device can receive measurements from at least four satellites. The more satellites the device connects with, the more accurate the reading will be. Rock overhangs and trees can diminish those signals and result in a poor measurement.

Use the averaging function
If your GPS device has this option, you’ll find it beneficial. During the hike, stop for several minutes and have the GPS device take a half-dozen or more measurements. The device then will average them to determine your location.

Smaller beats larger
The larger the number on your device’s EPE (Estimated Position Error) readout, the less accurate the measurement. If you take two different measurements and can choose between a smaller and larger number, go with the former.

Don’t rely on return measurements
Thanks to the ways GPS devices remember waypoints, the measurement error for returning to a marked waypoint will be greater than the error when you determine your absolute location. If you find yourself in a situation where you must choose between two conflicting measurements, go with the absolute over the return to a marked waypoint.

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.

Avoid making navigational errors on day hike with kids

Even though you’ve familiarized yourself with the area you’ll be day hiking by looking over a map of it, you still can get lost on the trial. Most of the time, this is because of entirely avoidable navigation errors.

When on the trail, be aware the navigation error can occur because:
g You’re not using a map – Just because you’ve looked at the map before hitting the trail doesn’t mean you no longer need it. Instead, check it frequently, such as at rest stops, and compare it with the surroundings.
g Maps are outdated – A storm or recent forest fire easily can alter where trails run through an area. In addition, most USGS maps were made several years ago, and a trail’s course may have been changed since then.
g Not orienting map to terrain – By not doing this, we’re making the translation of symbols on the map not perfectly match the terrain our eyes see, increasing the possibility that our brains will misinterpret the symbols and lead us astray.
g Leaving the trail – Never leave the trail except for small spurs in which you don’t lose sight of the main trail. By heading into unfamiliar territory or by bushwacking, you increase the chances of getting lost.
g Relying on “sense” over the map or compass – The romantic notion that your intuition knows better than the navigational tools you’ve brought almost always will get you into trouble. Your compass may be broken, but odds are that it’s working just fine so long as it’s not next to a piece of metal.

Often when taking well-traveled short loops at major state or national parks, navigating day hikes is simply a matter of following the signs. But when farther into the wilds, use good navigation practices to avoid getting lost and to make the trip enjoyable.

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

How to estimate distances when day hiking

How long a day hike with a child will take depends on a number of factors,
including terrain, how much you're carrying, and how fit you are.

When planning a day hike with children, you’ll likely want to have a good estimate of how long you’ll be on the trail. This is good to know for planning rest stops and snacks. You’ll also want to leave with a responsible party an estimate of when you’ll be back to civilization so that they can report to authorities that you’re missing (If you or a child is injured, having this safety net can be vital to you rescue and survival).

Unfortunately, estimating how far you can walk isn’t an easy answer. It depends on a number of factors. If you’re tall, you’ll take longer steps than someone who is short. If you have a child carrier or backpack on, you’ll need longer to walk the same distance than if you don’t. If the terrain is steep, rocky or otherwise difficult, it’ll take longer than a flat, well-maintained trail. If at a high altitude, you’ll go slower than at a lower elevation.

Generally, if you’re physically fit, expect that you can do a mile in:
g 20 minutes – No pack/carrier, easy trail
g 40 minutes – No pack/carrier, difficult trail OR pack/carrier, easy trail
g 60 minutes – Pack/carrier, difficult trail

The more hikes you do, the greater awareness you’ll have of your pace under varied conditions and will be better able to make an accurate estimate.

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

Use day hike as opportunity to teach children to read topo maps

A day hike provides a great opportunity to teach
children how to read topographical maps.

There’s no better time than when hiking with elementary-aged children to teach them how to read a topographical map. It’s a real life situation in which they can relate the map’s symbolic features to the landscape.

When showing children how to read a topo map, be sure to cover the following:
g Compass direction – Kids should know that the top of virtually any map is north. By lining up the map with a landscape feature, they’ll always know where west, east and south is.
g Landscape forms – By showing how contours run on the map as well as elevation numbers, kids can learn what makes a draw, a mountain peak, or a canyon.
g Scale – Point out that an inch on a map equals so many yards or miles. They then can estimate how far away objects on the landscape are using the map.
g Colors – Help children understand that a green tint means forest or brush, blue means water, black means man-made objects such as buildings, and that brown is a contour line.
g Symbols – Show kids the map legend and have them identify roads, trails and power lines on the map as well as on the landscape.

Teaching children at a young age the basics of reading a topo map will help them develop strong navigation skills. In the long run, they’ll find hiking more enjoyable and are far less likely to get lost.

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

Fun day hiking activity: Have kids build their own compass

Kids can make the equivalent of this well-tuned compass with just a few
household items. Photo courtesy of earl53 / Photoree.

Though compasses are inexpensive to purchase, kids can make their own – you may want to bring the materials with you on a hike and walk them through putting it together on a rest break. You’ll need: a small clear, transparent deli container (so you can see through the top), a cork stopper, a sewing needle, a cup of water from your canteen.

Begin by pouring the water into the deli container; use just enough water so that the cork stopper will float. Next rub the needle between your fingers (be careful, though, so children don’t poke their fingers with the sharp edge); this will “magnetize” it. Poke the needle through the cork stopper. Place the cork stopper in the water so it floats on its side. The needle should point on the north-south axis. Compare it to your own compass to see if that is the case. Have children figure out which way is west and east.

By placing a lid on the container, your children can carry the “homemade” compass as they walk to see which way they are traveling. Keep the container level, though, as walking, so water doesn’t slosh over clothes or inside a backpack.

Materials: Small clear, transparent deli container; cork stopper; sewing needle; water (one cup)

Ages: 5 and up

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

Great activity for hiking kids: Orienteering

Generally, exploring and discovery is enough for kids, but sometimes even they can grow bored with that and become restless. Remember that they naturally have shorter attention spans than adults.

Fortunately, there are lots of tried and true activities you can do on the trail that’ll keep kids from getting bored. Among them is Orienteering.

Have kids look at a topo map and identify the real world features: a ridgeline, a draw, a distant mountain peak. With a compass and map, have them track your course on the trail, telling you when you’ve reached specific points that you’ve marked on the map. To help kids understand how many steps they need to take to travel a specific distance, they may want to wear a small pedometer.

Materials: Topo map and compass brought as navigational tools.

Ages: 12 and up.

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

Guidebooks: Great sources but not enough

Guidebook trail maps usually lack enough detail to be
of use on the trail. They also can be out of date.

Guidebooks are great sources of information for planning a day hike with kids. They provide a list of potential trails and usually all kinds of relevant information, such as trail lengths, sights to see along the way, and even maps.

Be forewarned, though: trails and conditions may have changed since the guidebook was published, so you don’t want to rely solely on one book for information to plan your hike. Always check online and other guidebooks to see if there’s any updated information or additional descriptions to help you become even more familiar with the trail. You’ll also almost always want to gather better maps than what a guidebook provides.

Some hikers find the information in them useful when out on the trail. While you might take kid-friendly field guides to help identify plants and animals, guidebooks about trails usually are bulky, and the first moment they get wet the pages turn moldy and curl out of shape. A guidebook is best left at home, if only to reduce the load you carry.

Bethany O., of Hood River, Ore., suggests, “If there’s information you need from a guide-book about a specific location, type it as notes and carry it with your paper maps. I usually do this for directions to the trailhead and location of key turns and landmarks to help me along the way.”

Read more about hiking navigation in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.