Adirondack Riverwalking
and Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing
Riverwalking
Sensory Snowshoeing
Immersive Programs
People with Disabilities and Veterans
Wellness at Work and School
FAQ, Health Benefits, and Readings
Group Travel
Welcome!
What We Offer
Our focus is on helping you connect with the natural world through all your senses – sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste – with intention and playfulness.
We offer guided outdoor experiences that are relaxing and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. We share the Adirondacks up close, in every season, combining guided sensory activities with free time for exploration.
We also offer day and weekend immersions that combine experiential activities, learning and community. Carefully crafted, these programs focus on helping you develop a new set of self-care skills that are easy to use, whether you live in a city or the country. A nature sensory personal practice is an enjoyable way to support your ongoing physical and mental health.
Our programs are led by a team of certified guides with many years of experience in nature therapy, wellness and outdoor education.
What We Offer
Our focus is on helping you connect with the natural world through all your senses – sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste – with intention and playfulness.
We offer guided outdoor experiences that are relaxing and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. We share the Adirondacks up close, in every season, combining guided sensory activities with free time for exploration.
Our programs are led by a team of certified guides with many years of experience in nature therapy, wellness and outdoor education.
FOREST BATHING
Our sensory forest walks can accomodate children, seniors, and people with disabilities. We open the wonders of the Adirondack forest to everyone, and will work with you, and your group to provide a relaxing, memorable experience.
“Why do I need a guide? If you have forgotten how to truly relax, how to reconnect with nature, how to be alone and silent, you may need a certified forest therapy guide. The guide helps you awaken your senses and opens pathways of connection between you and nature. It’s letting someone else worry about the time and what’s coming next, giving yourself permission to truly relax into nature.”
Health Benefits
Why Forest Bathing in Five
- Reduces stress and anxiety as measured by lower levels of the stress hormone Cortisol
- Lowers blood pressure and heart rate
- Improves heart rate variability, a sign of reduced stress
- Increases immune system T cells, which are responsible for fighting infection
- Facilitates anti-cancer protein production
FOREST BATHING
Forest Bathing is a guided experience as well as a wellness practice. Restoration and mindfulness come effortlessly when you use all your senses in an intentional way to engage with nature around you. The forest lives as a community; feel yourself a part of it.
Our sensory forest walks can accomodate children, seniors, and people with disabilities. We open the wonders of the Adirondack forest to everyone, and will work with you, and your group to provide a relaxing, memorable experience.
“Why do I need a guide? If you have forgotten how to truly relax, how to reconnect with nature, how to be alone and silent, you may need a certified forest therapy guide. The guide helps you awaken your senses and opens pathways of connection between you and nature. It’s letting someone else worry about the time and what’s coming next, giving yourself permission to truly relax into nature.”
Health Benefits
Why Forest Bathing in Five
- Reduces stress and anxiety as measured by lower levels of the stress hormone Cortisol
- Lowers blood pressure and heart rate
- Improves heart rate variability, a sign of reduced stress
- Increases immune system T cells, which are responsible for fighting infection
- Facilitates anti-cancer protein production
RIVERWALKING
“There is a big space between slowing down the pace of life and living time differently. As you move along Riverwalking, taking in the flowing water of the Ausable River and the High Peaks via your senses, you see things you could not see before. Great way to spend a reflective, “uber” relaxing morning in the Adirondacks!”
RIVERWALKING
Relaxation and exploration come together on this guided journey in the scenic Ausable River. Your Riverwalking guide will help you open all your senses – sight, smell, hearing and touch and taste – to engage with nature around you from the unique vantage point of wading in the river. Waders and boots keep you dry and comfortable.
“There is a big space between slowing down the pace of life and living time differently. As you move along Riverwalking, taking in the flowing water of the Ausable River and the High Peaks via your senses, you see things you could not see before. Great way to spend a reflective, “uber” relaxing morning in the Adirondacks!”
SENSORY SNOWSHOEING
“All of us found our time reconnecting to nature and each other to be the highlight of our trip. The invitations to open our senses to the wonder of the natural world helped us to just stop, and be.”
SENSORY SNOWSHOEING
There is tranquility and magic in the forest in winter. This guided exploration is an opportunity to discover all the sights, sounds, smells, textures and tastes of a winter forest up close, to rekindle your sense of wonder and playfulness. Snowshoes are included, no experience needed.
“All of us found our time reconnecting to nature and each other to be the highlight of our trip. The invitations to open our senses to the wonder of the natural world helped us to just stop, and be.”
Our Values
- Integrity – we practice what we guide and teach
- Quality – we continuously seek ways to improve our offerings and the value we offer our clients
- Sustainability – we strive to have the smallest impact on nature and to consume the least resources
- Community – we foster caring community through sharing
- Inclusiveness – we value and honor diversity, welcome functional differences in humans and in nature
- Reciprocity - we honor nature’s infinite generosity by giving back through our riverbank tree planting partnership with ASRA and other initiatives
Our Values
- Integrity – we practice what we guide and teach
- Quality – we continuously seek ways to improve our offerings and the value we offer our clients
- Sustainability – we strive to have the smallest impact on nature and to consume the least resources
- Community – we foster caring community through sharing circle
- Inclusiveness – we value and honor diversity, welcome functional differences in humans and in nature
- Reciprocity - we honor nature’s infinite generosity by giving back through our riverbank tree planting partnership with ASRA and other initiatives
Events
The Cosmos Within and The Adirondacks: A Place of Healing & History
Save the dates! In 2025 we are offering two exciting new programs with partners: July 27 - 29, The Cosmos Within, with Dr. Aileen O'Donoghue, Astronomer and Physics Professor at St Lawrence University and August 22-24, The Adirondacks: A Place of Healing & History, with Alex Krach, Program Coordinator, Historic Saranac Lake. Details coming soon.
DATES: July 27-29, 2025 and August 22-24, 2025
EVENT LINK:
LOCATION: Great Camp Sagamore, 1105 Sagamore Rd, Raquette Lake, NY 13436
Sensory Snowshoeing - A self-care practice for ALL
Join us for outdoor self-care every Friday morning this winter. We will explore nature around us through our senses, with a focus on playfulness, relaxation and community. Gentle activity level on easy terrain. Everyone is welcome, with or without snowshoes or snowshoeing experience. Drop in or sign up for the series.
Suggested donation: $5 per session.
Rentals available from Dewey Mountain Recreation Area, suggested donation $5 per rental
Runs snow, rain or shine. We'll use snowshoes, micro spikes or go on foot depending on conditions. If needed, we'll move to a nature sensory activity indoors followed by sharing a cup of wild evergreen needle tea.
For more information call: (519) 651-6560
DATES: January 10 - March 21, 2025
TIMES: 10 - 11am
LOCATION: Dewey Mountain Recreation Center, 238 George H Lapan Memorial Hwy, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Adirondack Nature Festival for People with Disabilities
Adirondack Riverwalking, co-founder of the Adirondack Nature Festival for People with Disabilities, is excited to announce that Saturday, September 13th, 2025, is the date for this year's festival. Save the date! More opportunities to connect with nature and with each other! More outdoor workshops, live music and singing by the campfire. More artists and artisans showcasing their work. Great food to gather around for a sense of community. Meet new friends and catch up with old ones.
Are you a person with a physical, mental health or developmental disability and interested in leading a program, sharing your art and craft works, or your music? We would love to hear from you! Please use the contact form on the Festival's website, and General Inquiry as the subject to reach out.
DATE: September 13, 2025
EVENT WEBSITE: www.AdirondackNatureFestivalForPeopleWithDisabilities.org
LOCATION: Paul Smith's VIC, 8023 NY-30, Paul Smiths, NY 12970