Map and compass

Along marked trails, you can hike without constantly checking your map or using a compass. However, you should always carry both. If you leave marked trails, a map becomes essential for planning your route, making good decisions along the way, and navigating correctly.

It’s both exciting and important to sit down with your map to plan the next day’s hike. You can see what lies ahead, plan your breaks, where to find water, and identify any potential challenges along the way.

Tip! On most of our hiking trail pages, you’ll find interactive maps with distances, elevation profiles, points of interest and more.

Maps are perishable – always use the latest edition. Trails may be rerouted or closed, new ones added, along with bridges and shelters. While the natural landscape changes very little, a lot can change in the information overlaid on the map.

Digital maps for GPS devices or computers are also available for purchase, for example from the Swedish Mapping Authority’s digital map store.

Printed maps can be purchased from retailers such as Kartbutiken.se, where STF members receive a discount (opens in new tab).

Compass

A compass helps you maintain your direction of travel, even in poor weather. It also allows you to orient yourself – understanding the cardinal directions and identifying which mountain peak you’re looking at. A GPS can be useful, but it’s not essential. If you learn how to take a bearing with a compass, you can determine your exact position in much the same way as with a GPS. An invaluable skill for the day your GPS batteries run out.

How to use a compass

1. Place one of the long edges of the compass, or one of the guide lines, between your starting point and destination on the map. The direction arrow (not the magnetic needle) should point towards your destination.
2. Rotate the compass housing until the lines inside it are parallel with the map’s meridians (north–south lines). The “N” on the compass housing should point towards north on the map.
3. Hold the compass in your hand and turn your body until the red end of the magnetic needle aligns with the orienting arrow in the housing. The needle should point to the “N” marking – covering the arrow. When you then follow the direction arrow (not the needle), you will move towards your intended destination.
4. To maintain the same direction over a longer distance, aim for a fixed object that lies directly along your bearing. When you reach it, choose a new object further ahead in the same direction. It’s essential to check the compass each time, as even small deviations can add up and cause you to miss your destination.

More pages about the mountains

Mountain guide

Find important information about mountain safety, waste management, and what it’s like to stay in a mountain cabin.

Mountain safety

With the right knowledge, your time in the mountains will be both safer and more enjoyable. Learn about avalanches, find out how to prevent injuries, or read about how to ford rivers safely during your hike. You’ll find all our related pages on mountain safety further down.

Mountain hiking

The Swedish mountain range stretches from Treriksröset in the north to Dalarna in the south. Here, you’ll find breathtaking landscapes and hundreds of kilometres of marked hiking trails.