Maps and North

[Hawkings]

When looking at a map, up is North. I've known that for as long as I can remember.
Yesterday on my way to work, it was a clean sky and I past the time looking at the stars. (I ride a bicycle on an old train track, with the tracks removed, trough a small wooded area. No pedestrians were hurt doing this tread)
Then it hit me, I don't know if map North is true North or magnetic North .......... Shame on me. Somebody help me out.

 

[BlackHills]

It's true north, though a good topo map will have a declination diagram on it.

 

[James 61]

Some maps are set to grid north. As BlackHills mentioned a good map will have a declination diagram and if the grid lines are set to grid north the diagram will have this anotated on it also.

 

[mete]

Remember that declinaton changes over the years and of course it's different in different parts of the country. Some scientists predict that earth is ready for another reversal of magnetic poles .That should be interesting !!