Want to go beyond AllTrails and unlock true backcountry freedom? In this video, legendary backpacker, mountain guide, and guidebook author Andrew Skurka breaks down the essential navigation skills every hiker, backpacker, and wilderness traveler should master. Learn how to build a navigation toolkit, read topographic maps, use a compass and altimeter, plan routes, and confidently travel both on and off trail. These navigation fundamentals will help you travel safer, farther, and with more confidence.

In this video, you’ll learn:

The essential navigation tools every backpacker needs
How to use a compass and understand declination
Why paper maps still matter in the GPS era
How to read contour lines and topographic maps
The difference between dead reckoning and route finding
How to use an altimeter for precise location tracking
Why CalTopo is one of the best navigation platforms available
Tips for transitioning from trail hiking to off-trail travel
How to choose efficient routes while avoiding hazards

Mastering navigation is one of the most valuable outdoor skills you can develop. It opens the door to remote wilderness areas, off-trail exploration, backpacking adventures, mountaineering objectives, and self-supported trips where you’re no longer dependent on guidebooks, trail markers, or GPS tracks.