Getting lost, whether in a city or in the wilderness, isn’t a fun experience. You’re disoriented, you don’t know where anything is, and there could be danger around any turn. But what if it could be fun? As I get ready to go on a trip to Ireland at the end of this week, I thought I would write this article both as a reminder to myself and some insight for you.
I remember going on a hike with my friend in Farragut State Park in North Idaho. At every fork in the trail we purposefully went the direction less traveled (like the Robert Frost poem). We had no idea where any of the trails went, and it ultimately made the experience much better.
So how and why would you get lost on purpose?
Getting Lost in Mazes
When you do a maze, whether it’s a corn maze or a paper one, it’s for entertainment. You’re perfectly safe as you navigate all of these wrong turns and dead ends to try to find the exit.
If you were put into a corn maze against your will, though, then it would suddenly be a lot less fun. Fill that maze with traps and other potential dangers (like the one I’m currently (lovingly) subjecting my D&D players to), and now you’re in a Greek Myth; the maze is a lot less fun. Every wrong turn could lead you further into danger and farther from a way out.
I grew up in (and still live in) the woods. As a kid, I spent a lot of time running around in the forest, exploring anywhere I could go. I encountered deer, found ponds and creeks, potential secret hideouts, and cars/ car parts my dad stashed away. I was in a maze of my own design. One that I could potentially leave at any time by just walking home. It was great for hide-and-seek and for make believe games.
That’s where the difference is: for the maze to feel fun, you need to be able to leave at any time, feel totally safe where you are, or both.
See, when my friend and I wandered all over the place in Farragut, we knew we weren’t in any danger. It was broad daylight. Any trail we took led right to another trail. We were surrounded on all sides by a lake, a highway, campsites, and other signs of civilization. If we truly got lost, finding our way back just meant going in a single direction for a while.
Now obviously there’s always some danger in the wilderness from wild animals and such, but it wasn’t a huge concern so close to civilization and well-trodden paths.
Having the Correct Mindset
A certain amount of childlike whimsy is necessary to do this properly. If you don’t stop and smell the roses, look at every animal that appears, or take an interest in all the unique plants and fungi, you’re doing it wrong.
Every time you reach a fork in the road, take the one that just feels right in the moment. Don’t worry too much about which path is right for the trail you’re taking. You can always turn around and come back, but the one you’re on might take you somewhere unexpected (or meet back up with your original trail).
When my friend and I explored the trail in Farragut, we came across a chain-link fence blocking part of the trail with a sign indicating that everything beyond it was private property. I remember wondering why the trail continued past it even though it was private. I also remember wondering how far out we were if we had reached the edge of the state park.
Getting lost on purpose like this can make even something mundane feel interesting simply because you don’t know exactly where you are. There’s an air of mystery when you’re “lost”, so finding anything is an interesting, memorable experience.
Take everything in stride, make choices on a whim, and do so safely. You’re in a maze of your own design. You’ll have a great time.
Getting Lost in the Right Place
Finding a good place for this can be difficult. The easiest, though, is right where you already live! If you normally take a left turn when you go on a walk, turn right this time. Keep doing this. You probably know the area pretty well, so it’ll be easy to find your way back. It’s a maze where everything familiar suddenly feels new again!
I did this for a time when I lived in Pocatello, Idaho. I was in college, so I didn’t have a ton of time to go on walks, but when I did I wanted to use the time to learn my surroundings better. Every time I went on a walk, I tried to go a different way. It was a maze to me, but I knew how to find the way home.
On every walk, I discovered something new and understood the town a little bit better.
At the same time, exploring the woods behind my house or the hiking trails in Farragut also put me in a maze of my own design. I did not, however, do this in a place like San Ignacio where I was entirely unfamiliar with the town and culture. When I first arrived, I only went with other people or people who already knew their way around.
If it wasn’t clear already, finding the right place requires taking some of the familiar and flipping it on its head. If you’re in a new, completely unfamiliar area, you need to have a way to leave whenever you want. Make yourself familiar with places to avoid, stay on well-trodden but unfamiliar paths, and you’ll be in the fun kind of maze, not the dangerous one.
Navigation and maps are your best friend, if nothing else!
Conclusion
This post was originally a bit of a windy, rambling piece. Then I went to work on the maze I’m preparing for my D&D game and got the perfect analogy, so I rewrote nearly the whole post.
(Update 9/12/2025): Also, after returning from Ireland, I went to a corn maze, and did in fact get lost on purpose. It’s pretty fun when you don’t do it alone!
Ultimately, mindset is everything. Use common sense, stay in places where you know you can navigate home again, and avoid obviously dangerous situations. Take the road less taken. It could make all the difference!
