Included: Experienced, local backcountry navigation instructor with extensive knowledge of the area Printed topographic map Certificate of completion (2-day course only) Not included: Food, snacks, and water Baseplate compass (Suunto A-10 or equivalent) — required, not provided Smartphone with CalTopo downloaded and offline maps cached Transportation to and from the meeting point Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout Guide gratuities — optional

How fit do I need to be?

This land navigation course involves some light hiking in Colorado terrain to practice navigation skills in the field, but it is not physically demanding. Basic fitness is required. If you are comfortable walking on uneven terrain for a few hours , you are good to go. No prior navigation or backcountry experience is required. The course is designed to work for complete beginners.

Which module is the right one for me?

If you want the full picture, take both modules back-to-back over the weekend . The two days are designed to work together, analog one day and digital the next, and you’ll walk away with a certificate of completion and a skill set that covers every situation the backcountry can throw at you. If you’re starting from scratch or want to nail the fundamentals first, Module 1 is your entry point. We cover topographic maps, compass work, and real-world route-finding decisions entirely without relying on your phone. If you’re already comfortable reading terrain and want to level up with digital tools, Module 2 focuses on CalTopo, offline GPS, and integrated field navigation.

What do I need to bring?

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring: Baseplate compass (Suunto A-10 or equivalent) — required, not provided Smartphone with CalTopo downloaded and offline maps cached before the course Daypack with the 10 essentials: navigation tools, sun protection, extra insulation, headlamp, first aid kit, fire starter, repair kit or multi-tool, food, water, and emergency shelter Layered clothing appropriate for the season Sturdy hiking footwear Water bottle or hydration system (at least 1L) Lunch and snacks for the day Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing For this land navigation course in Colorado , the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6 :1. It takes a minimum of 3 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 6 participants . A land navigation course in Colorado can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors older than 12 may be permitted to join the land navigation course in Colorado on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has participants under the age of 18 , contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

The starting point of your land navigation course in Colorado is 204 Ryan Gulch Road, Silverthorne, CO 80498 . The nearest major airport is Denver International Airport (DEN) . Most participants drive from the Denver metro area via I-70, approximately a 1.5-hour drive. For those coming from western Colorado, Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) is roughly 45 minutes away. You will meet your guide at 204 Ryan Gulch Road, Silverthorne, CO 80498, either on the first or the second day, depending on the module you’ve chosen. Exact meeting time will be confirmed upon booking.

Safety measures and insurance

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout. Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

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SILVERTHORNE | COLORADO

Backcountry Route Finding in Colorado: Map, Compass & CalTopo

1-2 days | Easy

From $200 ()

When your phone dies at mile 12 somewhere deep in the backcountry, the map you printed suddenly feels very important. In this land navigation course in Silverthorne, we cover both sides of the equation: topo maps and compass bearings in Module 1, CalTopo and offline GPS in Module 2. Take one, or take both back-to-back over the weekend for the full package and a certificate of completion. Either way, we’ll make sure you leave as the kind of navigator who doesn’t panic when the battery dies.

Adventure Highlights

No signal? No problem: Learn to navigate Colorado’s backcountry confidently using nothing but a topo map and compass
Analog skills meet digital tools: Master CalTopo route planning and offline GPS, then integrate it seamlessly with your compass and map skills in real field exercises
Built for the Colorado backcountry: Train in a small group of six with certified local guides who know these mountains inside out

Duration

1-2 days

Season

Year-round

Group size

Up to 6 people

The adventure, day by day

Download itineraries

This 2-day land navigation course in Silverthorne, Colorado is built for anyone who wants to move through the mountains with confidence, signal or no signal. Day 1 covers analog navigation: reading topographic maps, using a baseplate compass, interpreting terrain, and making route decisions in the field. Day 2 introduces digital tools (specifically CalTopo) for trip planning, offline GPS navigation, and route sharing. Each day pairs classroom instruction with hands-on field practice. The course closes with a certificate of completion. Groups are capped at 6 participants, and no prior navigation experience is required.

Day 1: Map and compass navigation

We kick off with the fundamentals of analog land navigation: reading topographic maps, interpreting contour lines, and understanding how terrain translates from paper to the ground beneath your feet. We cover compass work in the classroom: declination, taking accurate bearings, and triangulating your position before heading into the field for practical exercises in real Colorado terrain. By the end of the day, you can navigate confidently without ever touching your phone.

Day 2: Digital navigation and integration

We shift to digital tools, starting with a deep dive into CalTopo: building routes, layering map types, caching offline data, and sharing trip plans with your group. After classroom instruction, we head into the field for scenario-based exercises that integrate both analog and digital systems. We practice pulling up saved routes offline, track our GPS position in real time, and cover practical strategies for battery management in remote and winter conditions. The course closes with a certificate of completion for those who take both modules.

A standalone 1-day course for those who want to nail the analog side of land navigation. We work through topographic maps, compass fundamentals, terrain interpretation, and real-world route-finding decisions, starting in the classroom and finishing in the field with practical exercises in Colorado terrain. No prior experience needed. Groups are capped at 6 participants. Module 2 can be taken separately on the following day if you decide to continue.

Day 1: Module 1 — Map and compass navigation

We start with the fundamentals of analog land navigation: reading topographic maps, interpreting contour lines, and understanding how terrain translates from paper to the ground beneath your feet. We cover compass work in the classroom: declination, taking accurate bearings, and triangulating your position before heading into the field for practical exercises in real Colorado terrain. By the end of the day, you can navigate confidently without ever touching your phone.

A standalone 1-day course focused on digital land navigation tools. We cover CalTopo from the ground up: route planning, map layering, offline GPS, and trip sharing before heading into the field for scenario-based exercises that put it all into practice. We also cover battery management strategies for remote and winter conditions. Some familiarity with map reading is helpful but not required. Groups are capped at 6 participants. Module 1 can be taken the day before if you want the full analog foundation first.

Day 1: Module 2 — Digital Navigation and CalTopo

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Backcountry Route Finding in Colorado: Map, Compass & CalTopo

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Things to know

Included:
- - Experienced, local backcountry navigation instructor with extensive knowledge of the area
  - Printed topographic map
  - Certificate of completion (2-day course only)
Not included:
- - Food, snacks, and water
  - Baseplate compass (Suunto A-10 or equivalent) — required, not provided
  - Smartphone with CalTopo downloaded and offline maps cached
  - Transportation to and from the meeting point
  - Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
  - Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
  - Guide gratuities — optional
This land navigation course involves some light hiking in Colorado terrain to practice navigation skills in the field, but it is not physically demanding. Basic fitness is required.

If you are comfortable walking on uneven terrain for a few hours, you are good to go. No prior navigation or backcountry experience is required. The course is designed to work for complete beginners.
If you want the full picture, take both modules back-to-back over the weekend. The two days are designed to work together, analog one day and digital the next, and you’ll walk away with a certificate of completion and a skill set that covers every situation the backcountry can throw at you.

If you’re starting from scratch or want to nail the fundamentals first, Module 1 is your entry point. We cover topographic maps, compass work, and real-world route-finding decisions entirely without relying on your phone.

If you’re already comfortable reading terrain and want to level up with digital tools, Module 2 focuses on CalTopo, offline GPS, and integrated field navigation.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
- - Baseplate compass (Suunto A-10 or equivalent) — required, not provided
  - Smartphone with CalTopo downloaded and offline maps cached before the course
  - Daypack with the 10 essentials: navigation tools, sun protection, extra insulation, headlamp, first aid kit, fire starter, repair kit or multi-tool, food, water, and emergency shelter
  - Layered clothing appropriate for the season
  - Sturdy hiking footwear
  - Water bottle or hydration system (at least 1L)
  - Lunch and snacks for the day
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

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Group sizes and pricing
- - For this land navigation course in Colorado, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
  - It takes a minimum of 3 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 6 participants.
A land navigation course in Colorado can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors older than 12 may be permitted to join the land navigation course in Colorado on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your land navigation course in Colorado is 204 Ryan Gulch Road, Silverthorne, CO 80498. The nearest major airport is Denver International Airport (DEN). Most participants drive from the Denver metro area via I-70, approximately a 1.5-hour drive. For those coming from western Colorado, Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) is roughly 45 minutes away.

You will meet your guide at 204 Ryan Gulch Road, Silverthorne, CO 80498, either on the first or the second day, depending on the module you’ve chosen. Exact meeting time will be confirmed upon booking.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Deposits

Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

Cancellations

Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

Basic
- - If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  - If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  - If cancelled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
Flexible
- - If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  - If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  - If cancelled 30-59 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  - If cancelled within 29 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
Super Flexible
- - If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  - If cancelled 30 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  - If cancelled within 29 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.

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