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Forest Bathing

Sensory Forest Walks

Forest Bathing

On a Forest Bathing walk, your guide will combine guided sensory activities with free time for exploration. The sensory nature activities are ever changing, depending on the weather, the season and what the forest has to offer.

Let us introduce you to the wellness practice of Forest Bathing. Discover for yourself how engaging all your senses while in nature leads to relaxation and mindfulness, without trying. Using our senses – sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing – to explore nature, brings us into the here and now. We help you slow down, so you can notice up close all the beauty of nature. Awe, wonder and your sense of playfulness are rekindled. Nature can be a great mirror for our own life experiences.It’s healing for the body and the mind. It’s uplifting for your spirits. And the effects will last days and possibly, up to several weeks.

FOREST BATHING

Sensory forest walks are accessible to everyone. A walk is tailored to your group’s needs and abilities. Your walk location will also depend on where you are lodging or living in the area.

We have a number of trails to choose from for your walk location. We guide on gentle terrain so you can focus on your senses instead of safety.

“You didn’t come into this world, you came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here.”
Alan Watts

“The guide opens the door. The forest is the therapist.”
Amos M. Clifford

Woman Reaching out for Leaf Adirondack Forest Bathing

Learn a new set of wellness tools in just one or two sessions that you can use regardless of where you live to improve your wellbeing. Practice on your own or as a family to empower everyone with self-care tools for life. It will also strengthen your family bonds with each other and with nature, a great way to foster stewardship of nature in your children. A backyard, neighborhood park or local trail is all you need to practice at home.

Our experiences are inspired by the Japanese wellness practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to Forest Bathing or Forest Therapy, adapted for nature in the United States and to our culture. It means to bathe your senses in the atmosphere of the forest.

Adirondack Forest Bathing pine tea in glasses spread out on forest floor

Forest Therapy is backed by several decades of research studies to understand its many physical and mental health benefits. They include reducing stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression, strengthening our immune system’s ability to fight infection and cancer and better sleep. To learn more, visit our Health Benefits page.

Pine Trees while Adirondack Forest Bathing

FOREST BATHING

Sensory forest walks are accessible to everyone. A walk is tailored to your group’s needs and abilities. Your walk location will also depend on where you are lodging or living in the area. We have a number of trails to choose from for your walk location. We guide on gentle terrain so you can focus on your senses instead of safety.

Woman Reaching out for Leaf Adirondack Forest Bathing
Learn a new set of wellness tools in just one or two sessions that you can use regardless of where you live to improve your wellbeing. Practice on your own or as a family to empower everyone with self-care tools for life. It will also strengthen your family bonds with each other and with nature, a great way to foster stewardship of nature in your children. A backyard, neighborhood park or local trail is all you need to practice at home.
Our experiences are inspired by the Japanese wellness practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to Forest Bathing or Forest Therapy, adapted for nature in the United States and to our culture. It means to bathe your senses in the atmosphere of the forest.
Adirondack Forest Bathing pine tea in glasses spread out on forest floor
Forest Therapy is backed by several decades of research studies to understand its many physical and mental health benefits. They include reducing stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression, strengthening our immune system’s ability to fight infection and cancer and better sleep. To learn more, visit our Health Benefits page.

“As part of a conference, I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to go Forest Bathing and loved it! Our guides supported our group of mostly urban dwellers, and we slowly found the peace, quiet and serenity that exists within the forest…and within ourselves. We all had the “best brag” when we compared notes with the other delegates who went on different experiences that day!”

S. R.

Booking Forest Bathing

Our Forest Bathing guiding season will run from April 1 to December 15, 2024. Our experienced guides are Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guides and Licensed NY State Hiking Guides.

Please use our Contact Form to request a reservation, or call Suzanne for next day or same day trips at (518) 651-6560.

Option 1 – Private Group

Book a private experience for you and your family, friends or work colleagues exclusively. We can tailor the experience to your group’s location, abilities and objectives.

  • Duration: approximately 2.5 hours
  • Children 6 and under: $25
  • Maximum group size: 16 people
  • Rates start at $200 for 1-5 people
  • Additional participant fee: $40
  • Main locations: Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and Tupper Lake areas.

We can also add an informal workshop on how to take this wellness practice for more ongoing physical and mental health benefits, regardless of whether you live in a city, suburb, small town or the country.

Book early to ensure we have a guide available on the day of your choice.

Option 2 – Public Groups

DATES: October 20, November 17, and December 15

We offer monthly introductory Forest Bathing programs where you can register by yourself or with other friends or family members. It is an opportunity to discover the practice and to meet new people with a similar interest.

The introductory guided nature sensory walks are offered on Sunday mornings, from 10am to Noon. Registration is open to all – children must be 5 years and up. Pricing is inclusive, with a suggested donation of $25. Registration is required, and open until 7pm the prior evening. Location will be sent with your booking confirmation. Dates for the upcoming months can be found in the booking form.

We meet in the parking areas at Heaven Hill Trails, 470 Bear Cub Rd, Lake Placid, NY 12946

We also partner with other organizations and events in the area to offer nature sensory walks. Registration is through our partner.

Logo for Hotel Saranac Lake New York
Are you looking for lodging in the area? We have partnered with Hotel Saranac to offer you discounted rates. Ask us for the code when you book your experience.

Testimonials

“Forest Bathing helps me connect with nature and with myself, and the living community that I am a part of.”

H.C.

“Opening my senses landed me in my body, which quieted my mind without any effort.”

Anonymous

“As part of a conference, I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to go Forest Bathing and loved it! Our guides supported our group of mostly urban dwellers, and we slowly found the peace, quiet and serenity that exists within the forest…and within ourselves. We all had the “best brag” when we compared notes with the other delegates who went on different experiences that day!”
S. R.

How We Work

1. Contact Us

Email or call us with your inquiry

2. Booking

Schedule a brief call so we can answer your questions, and take your payment

3. Confirmation

Your email confirmation will include all the details you need.