How to Use a GPS Device for Hiking and Fishing

Knowing how to use GPS for outdoor navigation is a fundamental skill for modern anglers and hikers. These devices are powerful tools that can help you find remote fishing holes, navigate backcountry trails, and return safely to your starting point. This guide focuses on the practical skills you need to use a GPS device effectively, ensuring your adventures are both successful and secure. For a broader look at navigation tools, see our Navigation category.

Core GPS Functions for the Outdoors

A GPS receiver provides three primary functions that are crucial for navigation: marking waypoints, creating routes, and tracking your path. Understanding how to use these features transforms the device from a simple digital map into a powerful planning and safety tool. While models vary, these core concepts are universal. If you’re choosing your first device, our GPS Device Buying Guide can help.

Marking Waypoints

A waypoint is a saved point of interest with specific coordinates. Think of it as a digital pin on a map. For fishing and hiking, you’ll use waypoints to mark critical locations.

• Your Starting Point: Always mark a waypoint at your vehicle, trailhead, or boat launch. Name it clearly, like “TRUCK” or “DOCK.”
• Fishing Spots: When you find a productive hole, ledge, or structure, save its location. Use descriptive names like “BASS LEDGE” or “LOG JAM” so you can return another day.
• Trail Junctions & Landmarks: Mark confusing trail intersections, a reliable water source, or a distinctive rock formation to aid in navigation.

Creating and Following a Route

A route is a series of waypoints connected in a specific order, creating a path for you to follow. This is ideal for planning a hike to a distant lake or navigating a specific path along a river.

1. Plan Ahead: On your device or connected computer software, place waypoints on your digital map at key points along your intended path.
2. Connect the Dots: Link these waypoints in sequence to create your route.
3. Navigate: Activate the route. Your GPS will typically show a line on the map and provide information like the distance to the next waypoint and your estimated time of arrival.

Using the Track Log

The track log (or trackback) function is a critical safety feature. As you move, the GPS automatically drops invisible “breadcrumbs” at regular intervals, recording your exact path.

• Retrace Your Steps: If you need to return the way you came, simply activate the trackback function. The device will guide you along the exact path you recorded.
• Review Your Trip: After your adventure, you can review the track on a map to see where you traveled, which can be useful for planning future trips or estimating distances covered.

Integrating GPS with Traditional Map and Compass

Electronics can fail due to dead batteries, water damage, or poor satellite reception. Therefore, your GPS should complement, not replace, traditional tools. This integrated approach is the cornerstone of reliable outdoor navigation basics.

Syncing Your Systems: Before heading out, correlate your GPS data with your paper map. Identify the UTM coordinates or latitude/longitude of your key waypoints and mark them on your paper map. This way, if your GPS fails, you can still navigate to those points using your map and compass skills. Understanding how to read a topographic map is essential for this process, as it allows you to interpret the terrain features your GPS is pointing you toward.

Practical Tips for Reliable Use

To get the most from your device, follow these field-tested practices.

FAQ: How to Use GPS for Outdoor Navigation

How accurate is a handheld GPS unit?

Under ideal conditions with a clear view of the sky, consumer handheld GPS units are typically accurate to within several meters; trees, canyons and buildings reduce accuracy. Accuracy can be reduced by heavy tree cover, deep canyons, or adverse atmospheric conditions. This is why it’s important to use the GPS to get you to the general area, then use your eyes and map to pinpoint the exact spot.

Should I use UTM or Lat/Long coordinates?

For land navigation using topographic maps, the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid system is often easier and less error-prone because it uses a simple metric grid. Latitude and Longitude are universally understood. The key is to set your GPS to the same coordinate system and datum (e.g., WGS 84) that is printed on your paper map. Check your map’s legend and your device’s settings menu.

Can I use my smartphone as a GPS for hiking?

While smartphones have capable GPS chips and excellent mapping apps, they are generally less durable and have much shorter battery life than purpose-built handheld GPS devices. They are also more vulnerable to water, dust, and drops. If you use a phone, treat it as a secondary tool, keep it in a protective case, carry a large power bank, and always have a paper map and compass.

How do I navigate back to a waypoint I saved?

Access your list of saved waypoints from the device’s menu. Select the waypoint you want to navigate to (e.g., “TRUCK”). Choose the “Go To” or “Navigate” option. The GPS will display an on-screen bearing and distance to the waypoint, and often an arrow pointing in the direction you need to travel. Follow this guidance, but always be aware of your actual terrain.