You’re lost in the wilderness. You have no idea where you are, and you don’t know how to get out of this mess. When this happens, it’s important to stay calm, and act fast.

There are several things you can do if you find yourself stranded in the woods without a compass or map and they all start with knowing a few basics about directionality.

Survival Instructor Explains How to Find Your Way out of the

Takeaways
Getting lost in the wilderness is a terrifying experience, but there are ways to increase your chances of surviving.
One of the most important skills to learn is navigation. Knowing how to read a map and a compass can help you stay on course and avoid getting lost.
Survival tactics such as building a shelter, purifying water, and signaling for help are crucial when stranded in the wilderness.
Remember to stay calm, make yourself visible, and signal for help if you get lost.
Preparing for wilderness navigation and survival by packing essential supplies and telling someone where you’re going can save your life.

Know Where You Are Going

Know where you are going. You should always have a map and compass or GPS with you when you go into the wilderness.

If not, make sure someone who knows the area is with you, or that there is cell service so that they can give directions from home.

Even if it’s sunny today, check the weather forecast for tomorrow; just because it was sunny today doesn’t mean it will be tomorrow it could be raining two miles away from where you are now! Also check how long your trip will take you may have left without enough food or water if your hike is longer than expected.

Navigating through the great outdoors can be challenging, but mastering essential skills can make a difference. Our guide on essential skills for any adventurer provides valuable information on wilderness navigation, survival tactics, and other useful tips to help you stay safe in the wild.

Be Alert To Markers In The Area

As you hike, be on the lookout for markers in the area that can help you determine where you are.

These markers could include trail markers, signs, road signs, animal tracks or scents (like paw prints or droppings), calls from birds or mammals and any other indicators of your location.

While it’s important to know how to read these markers as a hiker or camper when lost in the wilderness and it may take some practice at first it’s vital that all hikers understand how easy it is for them to go missing without realizing it.

Most people don’t realize just how easy it can be for them to get lost until they find themselves stranded out in nature with no idea where they are or which way is home!

Keeping an Eye Out: Be Alert to Markers in the Area

Marker	Description
Cairns	Piles of stones that mark trails or directions
Blazes	Marks made on trees or rocks that indicate the trail
Rock formations	Unique rock formations that serve as landmarks
Signs	Posted signs that provide direction, distance, or information
GPS devices	Global Positioning System devices that help you navigate and track your progress

Note: Always respect the environment, and don’t disturb natural markers or create your own to avoid damaging ecosystems and misleading other adventurers.

Pay Attention To Landmarks

If you’re lost in the wilderness, your first priority should be finding out where you are and how to get back on course.

First, know where you want to go. This can be anything from a specific landmark (a big rock) or direction (away from a river). The next step is finding out what landmarks are between the starting point and destination and how far away each one is.

Then figure out what kind of terrain you’ll encounter along each path so that if there’s an obstacle like mud or snow, it won’t slow down travel time. Finally, make sure that everyone knows what these things look like so they’ll recognize them when they see them again!

If you ever find yourself lost in the wilderness, don’t panic. Our ultimate wilderness navigation guide offers step-by-step directions on how to use a map and compass and other essential tips to help you find your way in the wild.

Turn Into A Human Compass

The next step is to find the sun. If it’s daytime, you can turn your body until you face the direction of the sun.

The Earth spins at a rate of 1 revolution every 24 hours, so if you’re facing west, it’s 8am; if facing east, 1pm; and if facing south (straight up), midnight.

If it’s nighttime and there isn’t much light from stars or moonlight yet, use those same rules for finding north:

look down at where your feet are pointing towards and imagine yourself on an imaginary line that goes all the way around Earth as many times as possible before doing another full rotation again that will put you in line with north!

Using Your Inner Sense: Turn Into a Human Compass

Method	How-to
Using the sun	Point the hour hand of your watch towards the sun. The midpoint between the hour hand and 12 o’clock indicates the south.
Observing the stars	Find the North Star (Polaris), which is aligned with the Earth’s axis.
Using moss	Moss tends to grow on the north side of trees and rocks, so look for mossy areas to orient yourself.
Using shadows	Place a stick vertically on the ground, and mark the tip of the stick’s shadow with a stone. Wait for about 15 minutes and mark the new tip of the shadow. Draw a straight line from the first mark to the second, and it will point east to west. Stand with the first marker to your left and the second marker to your right, and you’ll be facing north.
Using a compass	Follow the needle’s direction, and keep the compass level to the ground. Adjust for local deviation (the difference between magnetic north and true north) if necessary.

Note: Always remember to carry a compass with you, and familiarize yourself with the local terrain and magnetic deviation to ensure accurate navigation and orienteering.

Use Your Watch

The first thing to do is orient your watch so that the hour hand is pointing at 12. This will tell you which direction is north, because north/south lines always converge at the North Pole.

Once you have found north, use your compass to figure out which way is south (pointed by the south-pointing end of the needle).

Next, use your compass to determine east and west directions by lining up the markings on your watch with those on your compass.

If it’s nighttime or cloudy outside, this might be a little trickier; however, there are still ways that you can use yourself as an indicator: if it’s nighttime with no moonlight shining down upon us here on Earth (which would make such things like shadows difficult),

Then our bodies are also not being illuminated by any sources of light so this means our bodies should cast no shadows either!

In fact…all we need to do in order for us humans’ lack of shadowing abilities serves as both symbolic references for whether we’re facing east/west versus north/south respectively.

When it comes to staying alive in the wilderness, one of the most critical skills to learn is navigation. The wilderness navigation guide is an excellent resource to learn about the best practices for staying on course when hiking, camping, or surviving in the wild.

Stop And Listen For Traffic

You’ll want to make sure that you stop and listen for traffic, aircraft and trains. If you’re near any kind of road, it’s likely that there will be traffic on it at some point.

So even if you can’t see the road yet, it’s important to keep your ears open for car horns or other truck sounds. You should also listen for aircraft both commercial and private and trains, as well as any animal sounds.

This includes both domesticated animals (dogs barking or cats meowing) as well as wild animals (birds chirping).

And don’t forget about people! Even if no one is around at the moment, someone could show up at any moment what if a search party was sent out looking for you?

Listen Up: Stop and Listen for Traffic

Sign	Reaction
Yellow flashing beacon light	Slow down, look both ways, and proceed with caution. These indicate pedestrian or school zones.
Red flashing signals	Stop, look both ways, and only proceed when the way is clear. These indicate a stop sign.
Yield sign	Slow down, look both ways, and proceed with caution if the way is clear. Yield signs indicate that you must give the right-of-way to pedestrians or vehicles.
Railroad crossing signs	Slow down, look both ways, and stop if a train is approaching. These signs indicate that you are approaching a railroad crossing.
Walk/don’t walk sign	Stop if the “don’t walk” signal is flashing or if the signal changes while you’re crossing. These signs indicate when it is safe to cross a street or intersection.

Head Downhill, Toward Water

If you are lost and looking for a way out, head downhill. Water always flows downhill. If you’re not sure which direction is downhill, look toward the sun, which will be on your right if you’re facing east and on your left if you’re facing west.

If there’s no sun to guide you in your travels (or if it sets at an inconvenient time of day), look for a slope that leads down: the steeper it is, the faster gravity will pull water toward its destination the nearest river or lake and away from where you are standing.

To survive in the wilderness, you must avoid making critical mistakes. Our top 10 wilderness navigation mistakes to avoid addresses some common errors that adventurers often make and provides tips on how to avoid them.

Follow The Sun If It’s Not Cloudy

If it’s not cloudy and you can see the sun, use your watch.
If you are in a clearing or on flat ground, face east. The sun will be directly above you at noon.

If it is cloudy, find south by using the shadow cast by a stick or branch of a tree in conjunction with your compass. This is called “shade-time.”

Your shadow points south from where your body casts it; if you stand in one spot and time how long it takes for the sun to pass overhead and make an arc over your head, then reverse that arc (in other words, draw an arrow pointing back toward yourself)

Then point this arrow to another part of the sky that has no clouds overhead (such as directly overhead), you know where north is located relative to where you’re standing right now!

Work On Your Fire-Making Skills

When it comes to fire-making, you’re only as good as your last fire. To that end, make sure you practice making fires in different conditions and at different times of day. You should learn how to make a fire in the rain and during windy conditions and if possible, in the snow.

These skills will come in handy for when you’re lost in the wilderness and need to find warmth or protection from predators.

Also ensure that you can light a fire under any circumstance by practicing lighting one with no visual cues (that is, in complete darkness).

Building a shelter is a crucial skill if you ever find yourself lost or stranded in the wilderness. Our step-by-step guide on how to build a shelter in the wilderness provides valuable information on choosing the right location, materials, and techniques for building a strong and reliable shelter.

Stay Put If You Can’t Tell Which Way To Go

If you are lost and can’t tell which way to go, stay put. You will conserve energy and reduce the risk of dehydration. When you do this, try to find high ground so that you can see for miles around and make sure no one is in the area (this will also help keep wildlife away).

Also, put on lots of sunscreen if it’s hot out you don’t want to get burned while trying to escape!

It’s important to note that staying put won’t always be possible. If there aren’t any hills or tall trees nearby, consider building a shelter using branches from nearby trees or bushes as well as your own body (you’ll need good knowledge of knots).

This will protect you from rain, wind, snow and insects like mosquitoes.

Prove You’re Not Lost If You Are Rescued

If you are rescued, tell the rescuers exactly where you were headed. If it’s not too far from where they found you, they can contact the people or agencies that might be able to help.

Tell them what route and landmarks led to your location. If there is no obvious way out of where they have located you, tell them what steps could be taken next so they know how to navigate back home safely.

Explain what activities helped keep warm and fed until rescue came along (if applicable). Tell them if there was anything else that was helpful in keeping warm or fed while waiting for rescue such as a first-aid kit with food bars and water bottles.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you feel more confident about navigating your way out of the wilderness.

If you find yourself lost, remember that it’s important to stay calm and focused on finding a solution. You can always use your watch or compass as a guide if it gets dark outside—and don’t forget that animals like bears have superpowers too!

FAQs

What do I do if I get lost in the wilderness?

Stay calm and remember the STOP acronym: Stop, Think, Observe, and Plan. Stay put, make yourself visible, and try to signal for help.

How do I navigate in the wilderness?

Learn the basic skills of orienteering, including how to use a map, compass, and GPS device. Familiarize yourself with the terrain and landmarks, and try to stay on the marked trails as much as possible.

How do I signal for help?

Use a whistle, mirror, or other signaling device to attract attention from search teams. Create a visible signal on the ground or on a tree branch using rocks, leaves, or other materials.

What are the most common mistakes people make when navigating in the wilderness?

Some common mistakes include not bringing a map or compass, not staying on marked trails, not telling someone where you’re going, and not bringing enough food, water, and supplies.

How do I build a shelter in the wilderness?

Choose a location that is dry, level, and protected from the wind. Use natural materials such as branches, leaves, and bark to create a sturdy shelter that can withstand the elements.

Hellen James

Hi! I’m Hellen James, and I am the founder of Unified Survival. I have a deep passion for the wilderness and everything that goes along with it. I’ve been hiking since I was a child, and I grew up camping in state parks all over the country. But it wasn’t until recently that I learned how to survive in the wilderness.

Lost In The Wilderness? Here’s How To Find Your Way Out