Published on 3 December 2024

Never get lost again with the correct map orientation

You’ve acquired a national map and are ready for your next outdoor adventure. But how do you hold the map correctly to best get your bearings in terrain? This guide explains how to align your map perfectly, ensuring you always know where to go.

The myth of north orientation

Holding the map upside down? Elisa shows you how to hold it properly.

Practical tip: aligning your map

The key to successful navigation lies in the correct alignment of your map. Here are the most important tips:

Fold the map for convenience: Reduce it to display only the relevant area, making it easier to handle.

Align it with your trail: Position the map to match your hiking route. Identify your current location on the map, then rotate it until the mapped paths align with those ahead of you.

Use distinctive landmarks: Identify distinctive points in the landscape, such as a hut, a settlement, the edge of a forest or a mountain peak. Check their alignment between the map and the landscape.

A correctly aligned map offers you several advantages:

• Better orientation: You can compare your environment more easily with the map.
• Quicker decision making: Route planning and changes of direction at forks are easier for you.
• Increased safety: You reduce the risk of getting lost or taking the wrong turning at a fork.

The thumb trick for intuitive navigation

Picture yourself in the middle of the Swiss mountain landscape. The scenery is stunning, but which path should you take? The thumb anchor is a simple, yet effective method often used by experienced hikers. With this trick, your thumb becomes a kind of wandering anchor on the map. It serves as a physical reference point which marks your current location and enables you to bring the map in line with your environment intuitively.

How to do it:

• Locate your position on the map.
• Place the tip of your thumb on this point. Your thumb becomes your “you are here” marker.
• Rotate the map (without moving your thumb!) until mapped features match with your surroundings. Pay special attention to paths, rivers and contour lines.
• Done! Your map is now perfectly aligned.

The thumb trick proves particularly useful when approaching a path fork. By rotating the map with your thumb anchored at your current position, you can instantly determine which path leads in which direction – without agonising over whether you’re holding the map the right way up.

With practice, this technique becomes an intuitive motion performed almost subconsciously. It transforms your map from a flat, two-dimensional sheet into a dynamic navigation tool, significantly simplifying orientation.

Try the thumb trick on your next hike. You’ll be surprised how simple and effective this method is, and how it boosts your confidence in your navigation skills. With this small yet powerful trick in your repertoire, you'll explore Switzerland's hiking trails with newfound assurance.

Map reading is in!

Map reading is not only a useful skill for all outdoor enthusiasts but also helpful for planning. With a bit of practice and the right information, you can organise your trips even better and impress your friends with your expertise. Incidentally, our famous Swiss national maps are among the most detailed and accurate in the world. By the way: it doesn’t matter whether you use the swisstopo map on your smartphone or as a paper map, as the legend stays consistent.

Would you like to know more? Further information can be found in the legend (also called the “key”) for all swisstopo maps: Map reading | swisstopo Online Shop