8 Tips to Keep from Getting Lost in the Woods

It is much easier to get lost in the woods than a person thinks it will be. A simple wrong turn and a trail can be lost that was only a few feet away. Once you are heading off in the wrong direction, getting lost is all but assured. Learning tricks to help you find your way back to civilization before you encounter bad weather, bad people, or other undesirable outcomes can pay off big in these circumstances.

If you are not trained in survival, it is a good idea to make sure that you stay with the path.

Following only marked trails is a sure way to prevent getting lost. It is also a good way to get found if you do lose your sense of direction and panic. If you just stay put and wait for a little while, someone will come down the trail who either is looking for you or knows how to direct you back to where you need to be. Most marked trails for amateur hikers are in areas that are not considered unsafe for the general public.

If you must go deep into unfamiliar woods for hunting or some other purpose, take precautions.

Most boy scouts learn some basic skills for marking a trail. These markings are designed to either lead the hiker back in the same way that was traveled or serve as markers for those who may come searching for the hiker. Using a few simple rules will help the average hiker when every tree starts to look the same and nothing looks familiar.

Use a forked stick with a marker stick to point to the right direction.

Break or cut a small forked branch and push the straight part into the ground. Now, use a straight stick laying in the fork to point back in the correct direction to walk on the return trip. Put one of these in the ground about every fifty or one hundred feet. It can be a little time consuming, but it can also be a life saver.

You can space the markers a little farther if you do other tricks in between.

Most forests have smaller bushes and trees growing on the forest floor. Learn to break the ends of branches off and let them hang loose along one side of the path. On the return trip, keep all of the broken branches on the same side. If you break one every twenty or so feet, you should establish a nice set of path markers to follow.

If you are good at using compass points to stay on course, a good compass will be an asset.

Become acquainted with the overall lay of the country by studying a map before entering the woods. This will give you an idea of which direction should yield the shortest route to civilization if you get lost. Begin walking in that direction. In short order, you should step into familiar territory and safety. On a sunny day, you can use the sun to help you determine east, west, north, and south. Always remember, it rises in the east and sets in the west. In the northern hemisphere, it will be slightly south of the center of the sky.

You can always use gadgets to help.

Cell phones can be an asset if you fear getting lost provided you can get a signal in the woods. The same is true for a hand held GPS device. Keeping a couple of flares in your backpack can give you a way to get attention drawn in your direction. The same is true for using gunfire if you are a hunter. Space the shots out over several seconds to give those searching for you an opportunity to zero in on the direction that the shots are coming from.

A good smoking fire can draw attention to your location.

Start a fire and cover it partially with damp leaves or pieces of rubber if you have some. You can use a blanket or small tarp to make smoke signals to give the smoke a different look if you want to.

Follow the direction of a running stream.

People almost always live near a water source. If there is running water, it will eventually run past someone. If you follow it, within a few miles, you should be rescued. Always be on guard if you are in territory with lots of wild animals because animals like to have fresh water, too.