One wrong turn on a trail, a moment of distraction, or an unexpected weather change—suddenly, you’re lost.
Panic sets in, and every tree starts to look the same.
But survival isn’t about luck—it’s about knowing what to do next.
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just someone who loves a weekend in the woods, these essential survival skills can mean the difference between getting found and getting into real trouble:
Always Tell Someone Your Plans
First and foremost….before even heading out on a hike or camping trip, always tell someone about your itinerary.
Whether you’re going alone or with a group, leave details about the trails you plan to take, your expected return time and place, and any emergency contacts they should know about.
This way, if you don’t make it to your pickup location on time, search and rescue teams will have a starting point to look for you.
This step is a lot like bringing an umbrella or rain jacket to keep away the rain – the more you do it, the less likely you are to actually need it.
Also Read: How to Research Your Hiking Trail
Stop Moving
The moment you realize you’re lost, stop moving.
Wandering aimlessly can make things worse – and get you even more lost. Instead, stay put and assess your situation.
Staying put will always give rescuers a better chance of finding you.
If you’re more experienced in the outdoors, you might be able to move towards help. However, you still need to stop and take stock of the moment before making any big moves.
Moving without a plan can lead you further away from trails, landmarks, or rescue efforts.
Also See: How to read trail markers
Stay Calm & Stay Positive
Panic can mess with your judgment.
When you realize you’re lost, take some deep breaths, assess your surroundings, and hold onto hope!
A positive mindset is just as important as physical survival skills.
Keeping your cool will help you think clearly and make smart decisions that increase your chances of getting rescued.
Also Read: How To Purify Water In The Wild
Carry Survival Essentials & Take Stock of What You’ve Got
Being prepared is half the battle. Before heading into the wilderness, always make sure you have a full emergency kit with the following supplies:
Survival kit supplies:
- Survival first aid kit
- Compass
- Firestarter tools (ex., ferrocerium rod, flint)
- Water purification tablets
- An emergency blanket
- Non-perishable food
- Waterproof tarp
- Emergency signaling materials (mirror, whistle, or flares)
- Bright colored bandana
If you find yourself lost, make sure you take inventory of what you have and ration your supplies, especially your food and water, wisely.
Also See: Wilderness First Aid: What Every Adventurer Should Know
Look for Landmarks
Pay close attention to your surroundings. Large mountains, rivers, or unique natural formations can help you navigate.
If you move, you need to make informed choices and move with a plan.
If you are experienced with a map and compass, you might be able to use landmarks to identify your position – and maybe even get yourself unlost.
Whether you are staying put or moving with a plan, you’ll want to make sure you leave clear markers of all the places you have been.
You can do this by arranging rocks or tying fabric to trees. This will help prevent you from moving in circles, and will help rescuers track you.
Also See: How To Use A Compass (The ULTIMATE Guide)
Signal for Help
| Fire & Smoke | Reflective mirror | Whistle | Flares |
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Make yourself visible to search and rescue teams. Here are a few ways to signal for help:
- Fire and smoke: If fires are allowed, build a fire. Smoke can be seen from a distance.
- Reflective mirror: Use a reflective mirror to catch the sunlight and create a flashing signal.
- Whistle: Blowing a whistle in bursts of three is an internationally recognized distress signal.
- Flares: If you have flares in your emergency kit, use them to attract attention.
Start Thinking About Shelter
Weather conditions can change really quickly out there, and exposure to the elements can be dangerous – especially when you’re not sure when you’re getting rescued.
If you get lost at sunset or see some bad looking clouds in the distance, it’s time to think about making a shelter. If you brought a tent with you, it’s time to hunker down.
If you need to make your own shelter, there’s a few tried and true strategies for keeping yourself warm and dry in the woods. We’ve listed a few below:
- Lean-to Structures: This structure is just as simple as it sounds. All you’ll need to do is find a large stone, or trunk that you can lean other branches against in an A-frame structure, creating a lean-to structure large enough for you to fit under.
Once you’ve built the bones of the shelter, you can cover it with layers of smaller branches, pine straw, leaves, a tarp from your survival kit, and any other natural materials you can find. Once these layers are thick enough, they’ll keep you protected from the elements and insulated from the cold.
- Tarp Shelters: If you have a camping tarp and some cord, this shelter is a great option. All you’ll need to do is string up your tarp from surrounding trees and branches so that it is supported over an area of the ground.
We recommend stringing a main piece of cord through the middle of the tarp, so it creates a tent-like structure that keeps you even more protected from the surrounding elements. If it’s cold, insulation is key—use dry leaves or extra clothing to stay warm.
Also See: 20+ Best Tarp Shelter Configurations
Conserve Your Energy
If you don’t know when help will arrive and you don’t feel comfortable getting yourself back on track, conserving energy is critical.
Avoid unnecessary movement, stay hydrated, and keep yourself as comfortable as possible.
Overexerting yourself can lead to exhaustion, dehydration, or injury— all the things you want to avoid in a survival situation.
Also see: How Much Water To Bring Hiking: A Guide To Staying Hydrated
Stay Safe Out There!
No one plans to get lost, but being prepared with the right knowledge and survival essentials can make all the difference.
Always pack an emergency kit, including fire-starting tools, a reflective mirror, flares, and a survival first aid kit.
When you’re out there, remember to stay calm and signal for help.
When you keep your wits with you, you’re able to make smart choices that increase your chances of getting rescued.
With these survival skills, you can turn a dangerous situation into a successful survival story. And who doesn’t love to brag?
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