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NAVIGATION AND DIRECTIONS » ORIENTEERING Co-authored by:

wikiHow Staff
How to Determine Directions to North, wikiHow Staff Writer

South, East, and West 84 votes - 74%

Co-authors: 38
Updated: July 27, 2021
Co-authored by wikiHow Staff Download Article Click a star to vote Views: 1,550,688
Last Updated: July 27, 2021 References Approved

METHODS
Being able to determine the cardinal directions using
1 Shadow Stick
various methods can help you win orienteering Patricia Swayne
2 Shadow Dial
Jul 13, 2016
challenges, help you find your way if you’re turned 3 Navigating With Your Natural
around, or could even save your neck if you’re lost Surroundings "I knew N, S, E and W but I did not
+ Show 4 more...
understand NE or NW, SW or SE. You have
alone somewhere. There are some easy ways to a picture explaining it. It is amazing..." more
OTHER SECTIONS
figure out directions, but if you don’t have a compass
Questions & Answers More success stories Share yours!
or cell phone handy, you can still determine north,
Related Articles
south, east, and west. References
Article Summary Related wikiHows

Method
1 Shadow Stick
How to
Find Your Way in How to
Deep Forest Use a Compass

How to How to
Navigate Without a Find True North
Compass Without a Compass

1 Collect your tools. Since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the shadows
it casts will always move in the opposite direction, and you can observe their motions
to determine directions. For this method, you will need:[1]
A straight stick that’s between two and five feet long
A straight stick that’s about one foot long
Two rocks, stones, or other objects (heavy enough that wind won’t blow them
around).

2 Plant your stick upright in the ground. Place one of the rocks on the ground to
mark the tip of the stick’s shadow.

3 Wait 15 to 20 minutes. The shadow will have moved. Take the second rock and mark
the new location of the tip of the stick’s shadow.
If you can wait longer, do so, and place more rocks to mark the changing shadow.

4 Connect the dots. Either draw a straight line on the ground between the two marks
or use the other stick to connect the dots and make a straight line. The shadow
moves in the opposite direction of the sun, so this line denotes the east–west line: the first
dot represents west and the second dot represents east.
Note that this method is only approximate, and can be off by 23 degrees or so at
the equator on the first day of winter or summer. The variance will be more the
farther you get from the equator. For instance, the sun will rise about 33 degrees
north of east on the first day of summer at 42 degrees latitude in the northern
hemisphere and 33 degrees south of east on the first day of winter. It rises due east
on the first day of spring and fall all over the world. [2]

If you don't remember the order of directions, start with North and go clockwise, using this
mnemonic:
Never Eat Soggy Waffles.

Alternatively, picture a clock with North at 12:00, East at 3:00, South at 6:00, and West at
9:00.

Method
2 Shadow Dial

1 Assemble your tools. This method is similar to the stick method, but it’s more
reliable partly because it uses a longer observation time, but mostly because it uses
equal times before and after local noon. Locate flat ground and collect your tools:
A stick or pole that’s two to five feet long
One small sharp stick
Two small rocks
Something like a long string

2 Put the long pole in the ground. This must be done before noon. Wherever the
shadow of the pole ends, place a rock.

3 Attach the string to the stick and pole. Tie the sharp stick to one end of the string,
and the other end of the string to the pole, making sure it’s just long enough to reach
the rock on the ground. With this method it is important that the top of the stick, the part that
casts the shadow, is directly over the part of the stick that is in the ground.

4 Draw a circle around the pole. With the rock as your starting point, use the sharp
stick that's attached to the pole to draw the circle in the ground around the pole.

5 Wait. When the shadow from the pole finally touches this circle again, mark the point
where it connected with the other rock.

6 Connect the dots. The straight line that connects the first rock with the second rock
is the true east–west line, where the first rock represents west and the second rock
represents east.[3]
To find north and south from this point, north will be ninety degrees clockwise from
west, and south will be ninety degrees clockwise from east.

Method
3 Navigating With Your Natural Surroundings

1 Look for the sun at noon. At noon, the sun can point you in the general direction of
north and south, and consequently east and west, but it will not tell you due north or
due south. In the Northern Hemisphere, walking directly toward the sun at noon will lead
you south, while walking directly away from the sun will lead you north. In the Southern
Hemisphere, the opposite is true: toward the sun will lead you north, and away from the sun
will lead you south.

2 Use sunrise and sunset for approximate directions. The sun rises in the general
direction of east and sets in the general direction of west every day, so you can use
the location of sunrise or sunset to get an approximate idea of direction. Face the sunrise
and you are facing east; north will be on your left and south will be on your right. Face the
sunset and you are facing west; north will be on your right and south will be on your left.
The location of sunrise and sunset only provide an approximate idea of direction
363 days of the year, because the sun rises due east and sets due west only on the
vernal and autumnal equinoxes (the first day of spring and fall).[4]

3 Look at how vegetation is growing. While using vegetation to determine direction

isn’t an exact science or a precise method, oftentimes it can give you a basic idea of
which direction’s which. Living north of the equator, the sun is usually in the southern part
of the sky, and the opposite is true south of the equator. This means that leaves and foliage
will tend to be thicker and denser on the southern side of a tree or bush.[5] The opposite is
true in the Southern Hemisphere, where vegetation will be more lush on the northern side.
Many guidebooks will note that moss only grows on the north side of a tree in the
Northern Hemisphere, but this is not true. However, while moss can grow on all
sides of a tree, it is true that it will often be denser on the side that is shadier (the
north in the Northern Hemisphere and the south in the Southern Hemisphere).

4 Calculate direction with an analogue watch and the sun. The sun can be used in
conjunction with a non-digital wristwatch to provide an approximate idea of the
cardinal directions if you find yourself lost in the woods but at least have a wristwatch. In
the Northern Hemisphere, point the hour hand on your watch at the sun. South will be
halfway between 12 o’clock and the hour hand.[6] In the Southern Hemisphere, align 12
o’clock on the watch with the sun, and the midway point between that and the hour hand
will point north.[7]
When you are facing north, east is on your right and west is on your left. When you
are facing south, east is on your left and west is on your right.
During daylight saving time, use one o’clock instead of 12 o’clock on the watch.[8]
For this method to work, your watch must be set for the correct time. It can also
have a margin of error of about 35 degrees, so this method is only reliable for an
approximate idea of direction.[9]

Method
4 Navigating with Polaris (North Star)

1 Recognize Polaris. Polaris, also called the North Star, can be used in the Northern
Hemisphere to help you find north. This is one of the quickest ways to determine your
directions at night if you don’t have a compass or GPS.
Polaris, or the North Star, is not one of the brightest stars in the night sky (it clocks
in at 48th brightest). It is, however, the brightest star between the Big Dipper and
Cassiopeia. Because it’s located in the sky around the North Pole, it doesn’t move
around much, meaning it’s useful and accurate for navigating.

2 Locate Polaris. Find the Big Dipper (also known as the Plough) and the Little Dipper
(aka Ursa Minor). Think of the Big Dipper like a ladle (hence the name), where the
handle holds a cup, and the outer edge of the cup (the farthest from the handle) points out
into the sky and toward Polaris. For confirmation, Polaris is the last star that makes up the
handle of the Little Dipper.[10]

3 Draw an imaginary line from Polaris to the ground. This is approximately true
north. When you face Polaris, you are facing due north; behind you is due south, and
due west will be on your left, while due east will be on your right.[11]

Method
5 Navigating with the Southern Cross

1 Recognize the Southern Cross. In the Southern Hemisphere, the constellation of

the Southern Cross (aka Crux) can be used to guide you in a southerly direction. Five
stars make this constellation, and its four brightest form an angled cross.

2 Use the Southern Cross to find south. Find the two stars that make up the
lengthwise portion of the cross and imagine a line that extends out four and a half
times greater than the full length of the cross.
When you reach the terminus of that imaginary line, draw another imaginary line
that extends to the ground. This is, in general, the direction of south. When the
cross is lying horizontal, the "four and a half times" mark will be less than one
degree from true south. When the cross is vertical or upside down, the mark will be
about two and a half degrees (about a thumb's width) from true south. [12]

3 Choose a guiding landmark. Once you’ve determined the general direction in which
south lies, it might be helpful to find a landmark at that location on the ground so that
you don’t lose where south lies.

Method
6 Making Your Own Compass

1 Gather your tools and equipment. A compass is a round instrument with all the
cardinal directions printed on it. A rotating needle uses the Earth’s magnetic field to
determine what direction the compass is facing. You can make your own rudimentary
compass if you have a few items available. You will need:[13]
A metal sewing needle and magnet
A bowl or cup filled with water
Pliers and scissors
A cork (or just a leaf).

2 Rub the needle against the magnet. Do this at least 12 times if you are using a
weak magnet like a refrigerator magnet, or about five times if you have a stronger
magnet. This will magnetize the needle.

3 Cut a one-quarter-inch disk of cork. Then, use the pliers to push the needle
through the cork disk. (If you don't have a cork, you can place the needle on a leaf.)

4 Place the cork disk in the center of the bowl of water. The needle will be free to
spin around like a compass needle, and will eventually align itself with the poles.

5 Wait for the needle to stop spinning. If it was properly magnetized, it should tell you
the north–south line. Note that unless you have a compass or other reference, you
will not know if the needle is pointing north or south, just that it's pointing to one or the
other.
Many websites and books say that you can magnetize a metal needle by rubbing it
with wool or silk, but that will only create static electricity, not magnetism.

Method
7 Determining Direction With Magnetic or Electronic Devices

1 Find your direction with a compass. Day or night, using a compass, GPS, or cell
phone equipped with either is the best and easiest way to determine directions. These
devices are also the most accurate, making them the most reliable methods. But, it’s
important to note that when your compass points north, for instance, it’s pointing you in the
direction of magnetic north, which is different from true north (the same goes for magnetic
south versus true south).[14]
As you spin around in different directions, the compass needle will spin as well,
indicating which direction you are facing.
A compass will give false readings around metal objects like keys, watches, and
belt buckles. The same is true for magnetic objects, such as certain rocks or power
lines.

2 Use a global positioning system. A GPS is arguably the easiest way to determine
direction or find your way, because these electronic devices use satellites to position
your location. A GPS can be used to tell you where you are, give you directions to a specific
location, and track your movements.[15] A GPS must be charged and have a working
battery to be functional. It should also be initialized before use, so that it orients itself
(knows where it is) and downloads the most current and accurate maps.
Turn on your GPS, and allow it to load and acquire signal.
Not only will the GPS have a compass you can use to determine which way is east,
west, north, or south, but on its map it will also have an arrow that points in the
direction you are facing.
Your coordinates will appear at the top of the screen, also giving you your longitude
and latitude.
Because a GPS navigates using satellites, tall buildings, large trees, and other
geographic structures can interfere with its signal.

3 Turn your cell phone into a navigation device. Most modern smartphones are
equipped with a compass, GPS, or both. There are also applications you can
download or software you can install to equip your phone with these features. To use the
GPS function on your phone, it must be connected to Wi-Fi or your network, and your GPS
or location services must be on.
To access these devices, look for apps called “compass,” “maps,” or “navigation.”

Community Q&A

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Question
How can I identify directions with a magnetic compass?

Wildman5311
Community Answer
The needle will always point north. However, if you live in the Western U.S., the needle
points a few degrees off of true north. This is due to the magnetic field wandering slightly.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 3 Helpful 14

Question
How can I tell which direction I'm facing?

Community Answer
Remember, the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. So, if you know the time of day,
you can know your direction. If it is evening, for example, and the sun is setting, the
direction of where the sun is is West, and the opposite of the direction the Sun is East.
Depending upon where you're facing, you can determine North and South from this
information. Remember, Never Eat Soggy Waffles for North, East, South, and West.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 5 Helpful 21

Question
How can I determine directions if I can't see the sky?

Community Answer
Look for moss on the trees. In the Northern Hemisphere, usually moss grows on the south
side of a tree because that's the side that gets the most sunlight. So when you can't see the
sky, look for a couple of trees. If they all have moss on one side, you now where the South
is.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 27 Helpful 10

Question
How do I determine directions if I am underground?

Community Answer
In this situation, you would either need to find sunlight or use a compass. You could also
make your own compass.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 10 Helpful 5

Question
Is East right or left?

Andreaslag
Community Answer
It can be confusing at times. East is right. If you don't remember the order of directions, start
with North and go clockwise, using this mnemonic: Never Eat Soggy Waffles.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1

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Tips

If you are planning a hiking trip, it’s always a good idea to go prepared with food, water, and
a compass and map at the very least. Avoid hiking alone, but if you do, make sure someone
else knows where you’re going to be.

Submit a Tip
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Related wikiHows

How to How to
Find Your Way in Deep Forest Use a Compass

How to How to
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How to How to
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How to How to
Give Directions Find Direction Without a Compass

How to How to
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How to How to
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How to
Get Turn by Turn Directions on Google How to
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References

1. ↑ http://www.compassdude.com/no-compass.php
2. ↑ http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/navigation/rbsolarnav/index.html
3. ↑ http://www.learn-orienteering.org/old/nocompass1.html
4. ↑ http://solar-center.stanford.edu/AO/sunrise.html
5. ↑ http://www.naturalnavigator.com/find-your-way-using/plants
6. ↑ http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/SMCT_CTT_Tasks/Skill_Level_1/land-nav-task-
14-determin.shtml
7. ↑ http://www.wilderness-survival.net/chp18.php
8. ↑ http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/wilderness/true-north2.htm
9. ↑ http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/navigation/rbsolarnav/index.html

More References (6)

About This Article

Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers
validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team
carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by
trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 1,550,688
times.

84 votes - 74%

Co-authors: 38
Updated: July 27, 2021
Views: 1,550,688

Categories: Navigation and Directions | Orienteering

In other languages:
Español:determinar la orientación de los Nederlands:Het noorden, zuiden, oosten en
puntos cardinales (norte, sur, este y oeste) westen bepalen
Italiano:Determinare i Punti Cardinali Tiếng Việt:Xác định hướng Đông, Tây, Nam,
Deutsch:Die Himmelsrichtungen bestimmen Bắc
Português:Determinar as Direções Norte, Sul, ‫ﻛﯾﻔﯾﺔ ﺗﺣدﯾد اﻻﺗﺟﺎھﺎت اﻟﺷﻣﺎل واﻟﺟﻧوب واﻟﺷرق واﻟﻐرب‬:‫اﻟﻌرﺑﯾﺔ‬
Leste e Oeste ไทย:หาทิศเหนือใต ้ออกตก
Русский:найти стороны света 한국어:동서남북 방향 찾는 방법
Français:déterminer les quatre points िह ी:पूव, पि म, उ र और दि ण िदशाओं का पता
cardinaux (le nord, le sud, l'est et l'ouest) लगाएँ
中文:分辨东南西北方 Türkçe:Kuzey, Güney, Doğu ve Batı Yönleri
Bahasa Indonesia:Menentukan Arah Utara, Nasıl Belirlenir
Selatan, Timur dan Barat

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