Basic Land Navigation

The ability to navigate with confidence doesn’t just happen — it’s deliberate. We show you how.

Basic Land Navigation gives you the foundational skills to move through unfamiliar terrain with clarity and control. This training is ideal for beginners or anyone in need of a solid refresher — whether you're a hiker ready to leave marked trails, a hunter heading deeper into the backcountry, or preparing for an upcoming assessment.

You’ll begin with the fundamentals: understanding the parts of a compass; reading a topographic map; accounting for declination; and using common navigation tools correctly. Then we move into the field — translating terrain features, setting bearings, plotting points, and dead-reckoning between checkpoints in a practical, hands-on environment so you understand not just the how, but the why behind each decision.

You’ll train with highly experienced instructors who regularly work with members of the U.S. military. Each brings that same structured, high-standard approach into a welcoming learning environment designed to build competence without unnecessary complexity or intimidation. If you are already serving, or in an enlistment pipeline, and preparing for an upcoming selection or leadership development course, then visit our dedicated Mil-Nav Program.

Highlights

You will learn during a mix of “classroom” time and field training in an easily accessed, central location. You’ll really like our instructors, who each work hard to provide a comfortable learning environment. And you’ll get a chance to work with a diverse mix of other clients, who typically share the same passion for learning.

For those who want to go further, Basic Land Navigation dovetails directly with our Advanced Land Navigation course. Many students complete both in a single weekend to solidify the full skill set and accelerate their proficiency.

We'll supply all of the key gear and materials. We'll provide compasses, maps, map cases, and whatever else you may need.

Related

The physical difficulty of this course is Easy to Moderate. This course involves walking over varying distances at a steady pace over varying terrain that will include off-trail sections, rough spots, unexpected obstacles, and low to steep inclines and declines. This course is conducted in varying weather conditions, including hot, cold, humid, rain, and snow. This course is best suited for those in generally good physical condition.

This course is run as a one day session. You will begin at 9:00 am and finish by 4:00 pm.

Once you book a slot, then one of our staff will follow up personally with an email. It will include three short forms for you to complete and return to us. We will also send you the course information sheet, which will contain all of the details that you will need to prepare and arrive (like required and optional gear; exact rally point; general driving directions; and overnight recommendations).

This course is often run as a private one to better meet the specific needs and schedule of our clients. Please contact Erik to learn more (412.913.6000 or erik@exploretruenorth.com).

We typically reply to emails and telephone calls within 1-2 hours. Please note, however, that it may be as long as 24 hours if we are away teaching.

Children 15-17 years old are welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian. In our private courses, there is no set age requirement as it depends on the specific group’s needs and goals.