1. The Shadow-Stick Method (Most Reliable Daytime Technique)

The shadow-tip method is an ancient, foolproof survival technique that works anywhere on Earth where the sun casts a clear shadow:

Find a level, clear patch of dirt. Plant a straight stick (about 2 to 3 feet long) vertically in the ground.
Place a small stone or peg at the exact tip of the stick's shadow. This is Point A (West marker).
Wait 15 to 20 minutes. As the sun moves across the sky from East to West, the shadow will move in the opposite direction.
Place a second stone at the new tip of the shadow. This is Point B (East marker).
Draw a straight line on the ground connecting Point A to Point B. This is an approximate East-West line.
Stand with your left foot on Point A and your right foot on Point B: you are now facing True North.

2. The Analog Watch Sun Method

If you wear a traditional analog watch (or can draw one on paper based on the current time), you can easily determine your North-South line:

Hold the watch flat horizontally.
Point the hour hand directly at the sun.
Find the exact halfway point along the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark.
That halfway imaginary line points directly South; opposite it is North.

Hold the watch flat horizontally.
Point the 12 o'clock mark directly at the sun.
Find the halfway point along the angle between 12 o'clock and the current hour hand.
That halfway imaginary line points directly North; opposite it is South.

Note: If you are currently in Daylight Saving Time, use the 1 o'clock mark as your reference point instead of 12.

Survival pop culture is filled with misleading directional advice. Here is the scientific reality:

The "Moss on North" Myth: Moss thrives on moisture and shade. In dense forests, deep ravines, or rainy climates, moss grows on all sides of a tree trunk. While moss may favor northern bark in dry, exposed open fields in the Northern Hemisphere, relying on it for wilderness navigation can lead to severe mistakes.
Slope Snowmelt & Vegetation: In temperate northern latitudes, southern-facing hillsides receive dramatically more solar radiation. In early spring, southern slopes will be dry and snow-free, while northern slopes retain thick snowpack and ice weeks longer. Trees on southern slopes often exhibit lusher growth and more vibrant branches.

In exposed alpine or coastal areas, strong prevailing winds leave indelible physical signatures on the environment:

Tree Flagging (Krummholz): Isolated trees in open meadows or alpine passes grow branches predominantly on their downwind (leeward) side. If you know the regional storm winds blow out of the West, flagged tree branches point toward the East.
Sand & Snow Ripples (Sastrugi): Wind carves linear ripples into sand dunes and hard-packed snow. The gentle, sloped incline faces upwind; the steeper drop faces downwind.