How Do You Use a Compass and Map for Navigation?

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Complete Guide to Compass and Map Navigation Understanding Your Compass A baseplate compass (like the Suunto A-10 or Silva Ranger) has these key components:
Magnetic needle: The red end always points to magnetic north Bezel (rotating housing): Marked with 360 degrees around the edge Orienting arrow: Printed on the bottom of the rotating bezel Orienting lines: Parallel lines inside the bezel Direction-of-travel arrow: Printed on the baseplate, pointing away from you Baseplate edge: Used as a straightedge on the map Step 1: Orient the Map Lay your map on a flat surface. Place the compass on the map with the direction-of-travel arrow pointing toward the map’s north edge. Rotate the map and compass together until the magnetic needle aligns with the orienting arrow. Your map now matches the real world — features on the right side of the map are to your right.
Step 2: Take a Bearing to Your Destination Place the compass on the map with the long edge connecting your current position to your destination Make sure the direction-of-travel arrow points toward your destination (not away from it) Rotate the bezel until the orienting lines align with the north-south grid lines on the map, and the orienting arrow points to the top (north) of the map Read the number at the direction-of-travel arrow — this is your bearing in degrees Step 3: Follow the Bearing Hold the compass at chest height with the direction-of-travel arrow pointing away from you Rotate your body until the magnetic needle sits inside the orienting arrow (this is called “red in the shed” or “putting red Fred in his bed”) Look up and pick a distant landmark in the direction the travel arrow points Walk to that landmark, then repeat the process to pick the next landmark Never walk while staring at your compass — pick a target, put the compass away, walk to it Accounting for Declination Magnetic north and true north are not the same — the difference is called declination and varies by location. In the eastern US, declination can be 10-20 degrees west; in the western US, 10-15 degrees east. Your map’s legend shows the local declination. Adjust your bearing accordingly, or set the declination adjustment on your compass if it has one.
Confirming Your Position Use terrain association to verify where you are:
Handrails: Linear features like rivers, ridges, trails, and roads that run parallel to your route Backstops: Features that cross your route and tell you when you’ve gone too far Checkpoints: Distinctive features (hilltops, stream crossings, trail junctions) that confirm your progress Triangulation: Take bearings to two or more known landmarks. Draw the back-bearings on your map — your position is where the lines intersect When Technology Fails GPS devices and phone apps are convenient, but batteries die, screens break, and signals fail in dense canopy and deep canyons. Compass and map skills work in any condition, require no batteries, and never lose signal. Practice regularly so you’re confident when you need it most.