What is Orienteering?
Orienteering is a sport for the mind, body, and heart
A navigation sport
Orienteering is the sport of using a map and compass to navigate through unfamiliar terrain. It's a new skill and a wonderful sport, wrapped into one!
A challenge for the mind
Orienteering is an opportunity for you to train your brain to thrive under physical exertion. Keep moving and don't get lost!
Exercise for the body
Get outside and get active! Orienteering is a great way to explore the outdoors at a walk, jog or run.
A thriving community
Orienteering Ottawa is going 50+ years strong - and we have new friends joining us all the time!
As competitive as you want
Orienteering makes a great recreational sport to get you out for a walk or jog in nature. Our sport also offers the chance for athletes to compete at national and international competitions!
Your sport for life
Orienteering is your way to get active in the great outdoors; for life! Our members range in age from 8 months to 88 years.
The Basics
Orienteering is the sport of skilled navigation. The goal is to find a series of checkpoints (called controls) shown on the map, choosing routes both on and off trail to find those checkpoints, and return to the finish.
Orienteering events occur in natural areas, such as forests and hills, and in urban areas, such as a park, university campus, or residential neighbourhood.
Point to Point Courses
The majority of orienteering courses are point to point, requiring participants to visit the controls in a pre-specified order. The order is defined on a map.
These courses come in lengths from 1.5-3 km sprints with easy navigation to 12+ km long distance events that challenge competitors both physically and navigationally.
Orienteering Maps
Each participant is given a special map that show all the details needed to complete a course: the trails, hills, significant boulders, streams, marshes, and man-made objects.
A compass may be used to find magnetic north, orient the map, or navigate from one control to the next.
Ready to give it a try?
Join us at a local event
We offer events year-round for you to navigate on foot, bike, skis and snowshoes. We offer courses for all levels and everyone is welcome. We will give you pointers at the meet to get you started.
Explore a course on your own
Permanent courses are an ideal way to try the sport on your own schedule. Get your compass, print your map and try it today!
Learn to orienteer
Our 8 week instructional courses will teach you the basics so you can get onto the trails with confidence.