// Land Navigation · Southern Utah
Land Navigation Course
Learn to navigate real terrain with map and compass on a private 400-acre high-desert range near St. George and Cedar City. No GPS crutch — the skills that work when the electronics do not.
// Why it matters
When the GPS dies, the map still works.
Navigation is the skill everyone assumes they have until the signal drops. This course fixes that. You will learn to read a topographic map, orient it to the ground, shoot and follow an azimuth, and judge distance by pace — the fundamentals that have moved people across unfamiliar country for a century.
We teach it on our own 400 acres of high desert, so you are not practicing on a soccer field. The terrain is real, the distances are real, and the confidence you leave with is earned.
// How we teach it
Fundamentals first, then the field.
Day one starts in the classroom and on close terrain: map symbols, contour lines, declination, and compass work you can actually repeat. Day two puts it to use — plotting points and moving between objectives across the property, with instructors alongside to correct and coach.
Small groups (max 15) keep the coaching individual. Pair the course with an onsite RV stay or a membership and make a weekend of it.
// At a glance
The course, briefly.
What you learn
Topographic map reading, compass work, declination, azimuths, pace-counting, and cross-country movement.
Where you learn it
On 400 acres of real high-desert terrain at FOB Gunslinger — not a classroom simulation.
Who it is for
Hunters, hikers, preparedness-minded families, and anyone who wants a skill that does not depend on a battery.
// Ready to navigate
Book the land navigation course.
Land nav runs on a seasonal schedule and small groups fill quickly. Reserve a spot on the live schedule, or reach out with questions about gear and dates.
// Good to know
Land Navigation FAQ.
Do I need any experience to take the land navigation course?
No. The course starts with the fundamentals — reading a topographic map, using a compass, and understanding terrain — and builds to confident cross-country navigation. Ages 12 and up can attend, so families learn together.
Is this GPS or map-and-compass?
Map and compass first. GPS fails, batteries die, and signal drops — so we teach you to navigate the way that always works, then discuss how to use electronics as a backup rather than a crutch.
What will I actually do in the field?
You plot points, shoot azimuths, pace-count distance, and move between objectives across real high-desert terrain on our 400 acres — the same ground that makes the shooting here honest.
How long is the course and how big are the groups?
The land navigation course runs two days in small groups (max 15), taught on the property at FOB Gunslinger near Cedar City.
What should I bring?
Sturdy boots, weather-appropriate clothing, water, and a compass if you have one (loaners available). We confirm the full packing list when you register.
// Explore the range