AhaBulbStuff Everyone Should Know
AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/scout-compass-points-magnetic

A regular hiking compass needle points toward which north?

Magnetic north, not true north.

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  1. True north, the North Pole
  2. Magnetic north ✔
  3. Grid north on the map

Why: A compass follows Earth's magnetic field, so it points to magnetic north. Maps are drawn to true north, which is why you need the declination to line them up.

Huh, didn't know that: NOAA notes the needle follows the local magnetic field, not one exact point on the planet.

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Why are compasses so honest? They always point you in the right direction.
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References

Answer: Magnetic north. A compass follows Earth's magnetic field, so it points to magnetic north. Maps are drawn to true north, which is why you need the declination to line them up.

  1. NOAA NCEI: Magnetic Declination www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/magnetic-declination
    Declination value is needed to determine true north, because compasses point toward magnetic north.
    Checked 2026-10-08.

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