Can Dogs Help You Get Unlost When Hiking?

If you get lost hiking, can your dog help you get unlost? Maybe! Depends on the dog, depends on the situation.

Here are two contrasting stories of me getting lost (or close to lost) while hiking in southern Utah. One time my two dogs — golden retrievers Hana and Molly — found and indicated the correct route back to my vehicle — and the other time they didn’t.

NOTE: this article is based in part on Chapter Seven, “Dispersed Camping Safety,” in my book Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking on America’s Public Lands.

Not Getting Lost: Hiking with the Dogs in Southern Utah

My most extensive stint of dispersed camping occurred in 1999 and 2000 in my (mostly) trusty Ford Econoline van, always accompanied by (mostly) trusty canine sidekicks, golden retrievers Hana and Molly.

Hiking Dixie National Forest West of Bryce Canyon National Park…

In May of 1999 we were exploring southern Utah just west of Bryce Canyon National Park. We’d driven a ways south down a major dirt road in Dixie National Forest, and then taken a decent side road a couple of miles to a good boondocking spot.

Late one afternoon we headed out for a hike, utilizing a network of lesser dirt roads. The plan was to reach a point high enough and open enough that I could find cell reception and call a friend to wish him happy birthday. Our last major turn occurred after we’d climbed a rough animal path from one dirt road up to another, and then turned left. At the time I made special note of a distinctive dead tree with a twisted trunk beside this junction, so that I’d know where we needed to go right and descend on the return journey.

We headed farther uphill and westerly, and eventually did find a spot with beautiful open vista of forest punctuated by the same sherbet orange sandstone formation for which Bryce Canyon National Park is so famous. I made my call and then spent time taking in the majesty of the panorama.

By now it’s near sunset and we’re a couple of miles from the car. We begin walking back, with the girls 50 feet or so ahead. I was paying attention, thinking about the turn to the right by the distinctive dead tree, but I was also, of course, thinking many other thoughts.

My Dogs Find the Trail Back…

I round a bend on the dirt road and see Hana and Molly stopped at the distinctive dead tree, bodies pointed downhill in the direction we need to go, both looking at me expectantly. I think they realized darkness was close and that we were in new territory, and they wanted to get back to the van (and supper). Down we went, back to the van (and supper).

Lessons Learned: NOT Getting Lost While Hiking with Dogs…

One. Always pay attention to all junctions when exploring, especially when you don’t have a good map and are just winging it.

Two. It’s important to identify visual cues to remind you of junctions and orientation in general, in this case the distinctive dead tree.

Three. Sometimes (and only sometimes!) your dogs will know the way back. Read on…

Getting Lost: Hiking with the Dogs in Southern Utah

First off, it wasn’t their fault. I was responsible for all navigation, and they usually just followed me wherever I went.

Hiking Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument at Sunset…

It’s May of 2000 and the girls and I have found yet another kick-ass dispersed camping spot, this time along a narrow dirt road off Spencer Flat Road, itself off Highway 12 in Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Just before sunset we walked downslope and about 400 yards away from the van to an open area with a spectacular view of the sculpted red sandstone formations of the Escalante River, one of my favorite places on the planet.

We watch the interplay of light and shadow as the sun approached the horizon, and then the attenuation of color as shadows fill the landscape. About 40 minutes after sunset, as Venus and the first bright stars appear in the sky, we start walking back to the van.

Now, I had paid attention to where the van was and where we were; several times as we walked down to our viewpoint, I had turned around to note landmarks so I would have the correct direction and distance.

But alas, I did not do it well enough! We walked back in the gathering dark, but when we got to where I expected the van to be, it was not there. Worse, with all the juniper trees and the growing darkness, I could not see very far at all.

Initially I wasn’t worried. I walked in a spiral around the area where I thought the van should be, but I couldn’t find it. Alarmed, I headed partially back down to where we’d watched the sunset so I could again walk up using my earlier bearings. But we got the same result: no van.

I briefly searched a bit more where I thought it should be, but no luck. Now I’m really worried. I know no one stole the van; I just can’t find it. And it’s nearly dark with no moon.

I stop and think about the best course of action. I’m dressed in pants, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt. We can survive a night in the dark, but it would be very unpleasant.

So I develop a plan. Get back to Spencer Flat Road, know which direction to turn to find the dirt road I parked on, and then walk that dirt road until I find the van.

By now it’s almost completely dark. We head about 200 yards through the juniper and sagebrush in the direction of Highway 12, parallel to Spencer Flat Road. We then turn left and I lope carefully directly toward Spencer Flat Road, making sure I don’t trip or run into vegetation. The goal is to get to Spencer Flat Road before all twilight is gone.

Thankfully we do reach Spencer Flat Road with no problems. This is important, because there’s a possibility other people could be driving the road and could help us. Also, the road is wide and flat and fairly easy to walk, even though it was now completely dark.

We were very fortunate that it was a clear night. You may not know it, but you can see a bit by starlight, and luckily Venus was also in the sky. I could faintly make out the road bed as we walked along, and I kept my eyes glued to the left edge, hoping I would see the secondary road we’d camped on.

And, soon enough, I was barely able to make out a secondary dirt road. Still not entirely sure it was actually ours, we headed down it while I was extra careful with my footing. And… after a few hundred yards we came upon the van. Such relief, such joy!

Lessons Learned: Getting Lost While Hiking with Dogs…

One. Always, always pay attention to where you are and where your vehicle is! This was pre-GPS days, but now you can use your phone and an app to mark the location of your vehicle and then use the app to help you navigate the way back. Mind you, don’t count on the app. Use all the other tools and methods I detail in this chapter.

Two. Be especially careful about heading out to explore late in the day, particularly if you plan to come back after sunset.

Three. Always take the Ten Essentials, even if you think there’s no way you can get stuck out away from your vehicle after dark. For example, a headlamp or flashlight will help you find your way, and the other items of the Ten Essentials will help keep you warm, fed, and hydrated. (And here’s my complete list of everything I take boondocking.)

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