HIKING
"Possibly, it’s our way of reaching back into our long-lost past and connecting with a wild and natural world that used to be the only home we’ve ever known: the untamed earth."
- Dr. Heid Schreiber-Pan
Founder, Center for Nature Informed Therapy
NATURE IS EVERYWHERE
Choose Your Path
Hiking offers therapeutic benefits against stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. It holistically supports your overall well-being and helps you discover your inner strength. It lowers stress levels and improves focus. It allows you to connect with peers and build a social community.
Nature Walk
Difficulty: Easiest
Length: From less than a mile to 3 miles
Time Required: 1-2 hours
Pace: Slow
Setting: Garden, Nature pathway, Park
Therapy Components: Mindfulness, Stress Management Techniques
Day Hike
Difficulty: From moderate to Strenuous
Length: 2 - 6 miles
Time Required: 1-3 hours
Pace: moderate
Setting: Hiking trails
Therapy Components: Mindfulness, Stress Management Techniques, Positive Psychology Practices, Team and Community building
Backpacking
Difficulty: From moderate to Strenuous
Length: 10+ miles
Time Required: 2+ days
Pace: moderate to fast
Setting: Long Hiking trails
Therapy Components: Resiliency Building, Stress Tolerance, Self-awareness, Internal & External Strength Building, Team and Community Building, Self-discovery
Mental Health Benefits of Hiking
Stress Reduction
Improve Cognitive Ability
Improve Sleep
ADHD
Reduce ADHD Symptoms
Increase Creativity
Reduce Rumination
Positive Mood
Build Resiliency
Upcoming Hiking Programs
Spending time in the woods wholly rejuvenates your mind, body, and soul. It imbibes new energy and elevates your mood. Let our Hiking Therapy Programs help you recover from challenging phases of your life with evidence-based tools. Check out our upcoming hiking programs:
Multi-day Hike, Backpacking
Intro to Backpacking for Mental Health Spring 2025
Immersive nature experiences have been shown to increase creativity and “clean off the mental windshield.” Join our team of expert therapists and outdoor leaders on a two-night backpacking trip full of tools to assist you in connecting with the natural world around you and increasing self-awareness.