

Using the UTM coordinates you recorded, it’s great to be able to visualize things in Google Earth or even load them into a GPS app for later use. If you’re a serious backcountry, off-trail traveler, you should be practicing your map and compass navigation as often as possible.Īligning your map with true north, accounting for magnetic declination, is one of the first and most important skills to learn Converting UTM Coordinates to KML Should your GPS fail, you may find yourself in a situation where your map and compass skills become a survival necessity. Most outdoor maps favor UTM grid lines over traditional latitude/longitude.įor those of us who practice compass navigation (as backup for electronic GPS devices and apps) it is common to identify your UTM coordinates using triangulation, slope angle navigation, etc., which are then recorded in a logbook.


UTM is similar to latitude and longitude, but differs in a few important ways: Hikers and backpackers frequently rely on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system for navigation.
