How do you avoid getting lost on a hike?

Licensed guide Shaun Flynn teaches four habits that make getting lost almost impossible: know your route, stay located, set handrails and backstops, and trust your map and compass.

Getting lost is almost never a sudden event — it is a slow drift off your route that snowballs. Licensed guide Shaun Flynn teaches four habits that make it nearly impossible. First, know the route before you leave: study the trail's junctions, landmarks, water sources, and escape routes.

Second, always know where you are on the map — staying located turns ‘heading roughly north’ into proof of your position. Third, set handrails and backstops: a handrail is a big, obvious feature (a river, ridge, or road) that keeps you aligned, while a backstop is something you will hit if you overshoot — like a stream crossing; both catch drift early. Fourth, trust your map and compass over your gut — instinct is how the slow drift began in the first place.

Start practicing these habits on short, familiar trails.