How to Read Topographic Maps (A Guide For Hunters & Hikers), by Deer Horn Adventures on YouTube. 6 min 48 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 48 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Get a topographic map of your route and open the legend. Check the contour interval, the elevation gap between each line. A common scale is 40 meters, but it varies by map.
Find the index contours, the darker or labeled lines. They carry the elevation number and let you read the height of the land around them.
Trace each closed circle of contour lines. Crossing a line means you gain or lose one interval of elevation, so count the lines to judge a climb.
Look at how close the lines sit. Tightly packed lines mean a steep slope, wide spacing means gentle ground, and a gap with no lines is flat.
Spot valleys and ridges. A V shape pointing uphill is a valley or drainage, and a V pointing downhill is a ridge or spur.
Build a mental picture of the land from the lines. Sketch a simple side view of the terrain to check you understand the shape.
Plot your route on the map and mark the start, turns and finish. Measure the forward distance with a ruler or string against the map scale.
Add up the elevation gain along the route. Use Naismith's rule: one hour per 5 km forward, plus one hour per 600 m of climbing, to estimate travel time.
Tips and common mistakes
Count contour lines from a labeled index contour so you do not lose track of the elevation.
Do not confuse a steep slope with a cliff; check the legend for cliff symbols before you plan a route.
Add extra time for rough ground, water crossings and rest stops beyond the Naismith estimate.
Questions
What does the space between contour lines tell me?
Close lines mean a steep slope and wide lines mean gentle ground. If the lines are very far apart, the land is nearly flat.
How do I tell a valley from a ridge?
A contour V that points uphill marks a valley or drainage. A V that points downhill marks a ridge or spur.
Do I need a paper map if I have a phone app?
A paper map works when the battery dies or you have no signal. Carry one as a backup and keep it in a waterproof case.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
