Hiking
Contour lines explained: seeing hills on a topographic map
Read contour spacing, height and Topo50 scale to understand the hills ahead and make better sense of a walking map.
Contour lines turn a flat map into a picture of the hills. Each line joins places at the same height, helping you see where a walk climbs, descends or crosses steep ground.
Read spacing and height together
- Lines close together: steeper ground.
- Lines farther apart: gentler slopes.
- Labelled heights: show which way the ground rises.
LINZ Topo50 maps use 20-metre contours. Count the height intervals along the planned route, not simply the number of lines visible somewhere nearby.
Understand the scale
At 1:50,000, one centimetre on a correctly scaled paper map represents 500 metres on the ground. Two centimetres represents one kilometre. A phone screen or resized print changes the displayed size, so use its scale bar rather than measuring the screen as though it were the original paper map.
Apply it to a walk
Trace the actual track as it bends across the terrain. A straight line between start and finish understates a winding route, and repeated climbs add effort even when the finish is not much higher. I would compare a familiar hill with its map first, then use that experience when looking at a new trip. Read symbols and track information alongside contours: a gentle slope on the map can still contain difficult vegetation, cliffs or water hazards.
Read next: Offline hiking maps: set up your phone before leaving home.
Sources and photo credit
Information checked 29 September 2026.
Photo: Chmee2 / Valtameri. Original photograph; CC BY 3.0. Resized for web display.
