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Spring is in the air, which means many people are taking their camping gear out of storage. One of the top reasons to go camping is the isolation. Taking a break from city life and everyday routines can recharge a person’s mental, spiritual, and physical batteries like almost nothing else can. Another appeal of camping is the adventure and thrill of discovering new places.

Although it’s not necessary for a fun camping trip, hiking and exploring is a staple camping activity. As refreshing and fun as camping can be, the combination of isolation and adventure along with the unpredictable nature of wilderness, does come with risk. Bringing along a GPS-equipped device is the best way to reduce risk without sacrificing isolation or adventure.

GPS Is A Great Hiking Buddy

One great way to use GPS tracking while camping is to help find interesting trails to explore. This function is available on most smart phones equipped with GPS. There are dozens of free, user-reviewed applications available to download that were designed specifically for adventurous hikers. These applications can automatically search for established hiking trails in your immediate surroundings, as long as there is satellite signal available.

If planning out your hikes and reading reviews is not your idea of outdoor adventure, GPS tracking should still be a key part of your safety precautions. At the very minimum, before heading out on a hike, tag your campsite with a waypoint. Your device will store the exact longitude and latitude information of the campsite, so if you’re out on a hike and lose direction for any reason, the GPS will serve as a compass. Instead of pointing you north, the device can tell you exactly which direction you need to go to get back to the safety of your tent.

Another great idea is to add the trailhead as a waypoint before heading out. You can tell your GPS tracking device to leave a breadcrumb trail on the map to track exactly how far you’ve hiked. This is a very effective way to prevent taking hikes that are too long, which can increase the chances of getting lost. Night hiking can be fun and rewarding, but only when you’re prepared with lights and warm clothing. Tracking your hike with GPS can help better plan when it’s time to turn back on a hike and get back to camp before nightfall.

Do you have any ideas or stories on how GPS can help you stay safe this camping season? Let us know in the comments below!

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor