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Read a topo map in one minute
Contour lines tell you shape and steepness — the whole map is in the spacing.
REI — How to Read a Topo Map
Step-by-step
Close-spaced lines = steep. Wide-spaced = gentle.
V's pointing uphill = drainage or creek. V's pointing downhill = ridgeline.
Circles inside circles = a summit; hachured circles = a depression.
Blue = water, green = vegetation, white = open/rock/snow, brown = elevation.
Check the contour interval in the legend before guessing elevation.
Related outdoor skills
Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.