Orienteering is the sport of navigation using a highly detailed map. Whether you’re an experienced hiker, competitive runner, or just a family or group out for an activity in a park, this sport helps you improve your navigation each time.
Most events offer seven courses ranging in difficulty from Beginner through Intermediate and Advanced. The technical and physical difficulty of each course is listed at registration and on the website for each event. Beginners instruction is provided at most events.
As you complete your course you must visit marked points on the map in the prescribed order. Some events offer other course formats which is noted on the event webpage.
Orienteering events use staggered starts, to help ensure that you get to navigate on your own without interference or distraction (or assistance) from other participants. The route you take between marker points is up to you. You select which way of traveling will be the most efficient for you.
The element of route choice is what makes orienteering a mental challenge. It is not enough to simply be able to move faster than other orienteers, you must out-think them as well. Because of this, Orienteering is often called the "thinking sport" because it involves map reading and quick decision-making, in addition to athletic ability.
Please check our FAQ and Resources for more info. Orienteering USA also has lots of great information about this international sport.