They come down to a main road usually at angles not at crossroads, like in a city. Think of these branch roads like stream branches and go with the flow. In most cases this practice will lead you to a main road. Do not fear the forest without a trail. The woods can t hurt you.
Trees are harmless.
There are no creatures in the woods that will hurt you either. In the East, you are not prey for any large creature. So put that fear out of your mind. Just concentrate hard on finding your way down out of the mountains on a straight compass course or along a stream course. If you are walking the trail late in the day and you have a good pack and a pup tent on your back, you can stay overnight without worry anyway.