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Find Your Peace: 8 Stunning Forest Bathing Destinations In The Us
The immersion in nature that you need
Forest bathing is one of many wellness activities at the Lodge at Woodloch — Photo courtesy of Annie Killam / The Lodge at Woodloch
When the world (the greater or your own) feels like it's spinning out, sometimes you need to take a beat. Running to nature is one of the easiest things you can do for your well-being. Forest bathing is a wellness practice encouraging mindful observation of nature's sights, sounds, and scents. It's intentionally slow-paced and combines walking, meditation, stretching, and breath awareness outdoors, creating a profoundly peaceful experience.
The best news is that you can do it just about anywhere, whether walking in a nearby park or garden or heading to an actual forest. Even better, you can build it into a vacation itinerary or make it the destination. Here's everything you need to know about forest bathing, plus eight beautiful destinations where you can do it.
Benefits of forest bathing
Forest bathing grounds you and contributes to overall well-being — Photo courtesy of PamelaJoeMcFarlane / E+
Intense sensory attention to the natural world may offer physical and emotional healing and preventive health benefits beyond the actual experience. Forest bathing, called shinrin-yoku in Japanese, gained mainstream popularity in Japan in the 1980s as a potential remedy for various ailments, from high blood pressure to depression. It draws inspiration from ancient Buddhist practices that emphasize nature’s restorative power.
Whether or not you swallow forest bathing’s medicinal qualities, communing with nature is, at the very least, a therapeutic retreat from the hustle of daily life.
Where can you go forest bathing?
Despite the name, forest bathing doesn’t require water; bathing pertains to soaking in the elements. You don’t need to be in a real forest either — any serene, open-air environment, from an arid desert to a tranquil city park, will do. An expert guide can help you make the most of the experience.
For a relaxing bond with Mother Nature, visit these hotels that offer forest-bathing experiences.
Brewery Gulch Inn and Spa, Mendocino, California
The deep woods in Mendocino are perfect for forest bathing — Photo courtesy of Brewery Gulch Inn & Spa
Perched on California’s north coast, Mendocino is in a remote part of the state geographically blessed with old-growth redwood forests and rugged cliffs overlooking the windswept Pacific. Brewery Gulch Inn & Spa is a bed-and-breakfast surrounded by wooded glens and wetland ponds. Its main building, constructed from reclaimed redwoods, has striking 15-foot cathedral ceilings.
Forest bathing here might include a half-day respite with a gentle hike, lunch, and yoga class or a 90-minute option with walking, meditation, and sipping locally made tea. Both experiences offer exploration of Van Damme State Park, where the lush tangle of ferns and velvety moss look like a habitat for hobbits.
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Scottsdale, Arizona
Forest bathing in the Arizona desert hits different — Photo courtesy of Allison Tibaldi
The area surrounding the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale in the Sonoran Desert is punctuated with towering saguaros, vibrant desert blooms, and groupings of large rocks that wouldn't look out of place on Mars. Adobe-style guest casitas incorporate natural materials, blending into the surroundings and providing a sense of place. The property is adjacent to Pinnacle Peak Park, where the hikes offer panoramic payoffs.
The resort’s 60-minute desert bathing activity starts with yoga stretches and simple breathing exercises to prime you for a walk on sand-dusted paths that are easy on the joints. Your guide will help you purposefully tune into subtle scents and sights, pointing out prickly pear cacti and aloe plants along the way.
Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport, Maine
Being immersed in Maine's natural beauty has restorative powers — Photo courtesy of Hidden Pond
Located in a quintessential Maine seaside village, Hidden Pond's birch groves and forest of balsam firs offer a wilderness escape. It's only minutes from the soft sand at Goose Rocks Beach and the luscious lobster rolls served at The Clam Shack.
Guests stay in seasonal cottages and treetop lodges that offer peace and privacy. A destination resort favorite, Hidden Pond facilitates contact with the natural environment through gardening, fishing, and forest bathing. Led by a certified forest therapy guide from Connect to Wilderness, it’s an invitation to explore the pine-scented woods as you walk quietly, taking time to process the world around you with all of your senses. A concluding tea ceremony allows time for reflection.
Mandarin Oriental Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
Urban forest bathing is a great option for anyone stuck in the city — Photo courtesy of Suzanne Wenz / Meet Boston
Boston’s Emerald Necklace is a series of urban parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Many consider the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University its crown jewel; the rambling preserve has a vast collection of temperate woody plants from eastern North America and eastern Asia.
Located in Back Bay, the Mandarin Oriental’s lobby is a swanky sanctuary filled with floral arrangements as beautiful as sculptures. To combat stress, book the hotel’s urban forest bathing option. Participants head to Arnold Arboretum, where a certified forest therapy guide leads a 90-minute meditative session and tea ceremony to refresh and restore while remaining within the city limits. The hotel and forest bathing are dog-friendly, so bring the pooch.
Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, Texas
Forest bathing can take place anywhere in nature — Photo courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort
Lake Austin Spa Resort is an easy drive from downtown Austin’s dynamic music scene and vibrant nightlife; yet, it feels a world away. This award-winning spa resort leans into wellness with multiple daily fitness classes, locally sourced meals, and a top-notch spa.
Lake Austin, a dammed portion of the Lower Colorado River, is the resort’s centerpiece. Fittingly, many activities focus on water, including forest bathing. The experience begins with a boat ride across the calm waters of Lake Austin, setting the stage for a serene adventure. Once ashore, you’ll embark on a guided sensory journey through Hill Country scenery, where you’ll be encouraged to be fully present as you look, listen, and feel Mother Nature's embrace.
AutoCamp Catskills, Saugerties, New York
Sleeping under a canopy of trees is a form of forest bathing — Photo courtesy of AutoCamp
The patchwork of mountains, meadows, and streams in the Catskills has been a balm for generations of city folk who crave communion with nature near New York City. AutoCamp Catskills sits just west of the Hudson River. The resort’s custom-designed Airstreams invite guests to sleep in an icon of mid-century design. Classic cabins and glamping tents are also available.
AutoCamp is a hub of health-conscious activities, from a sound bath in the woods to aromatherapy. Forest bathing includes breath awareness and a council sharing circle, an informal meeting to promote kinship between participants.
Blackberry Mountain, Walland, Tennessee
Forest bathing may include wandering in a labyrinth at Blackberry Mountain — Photo courtesy of Blackberry Mountain, a Relais & Châteaux
Blackberry Mountain offers a back-to-the-land experience without sacrificing creature comforts. Painterly scenes of mountain streams and meadows look like they're from a fairytale. With a seemingly endless sky, healing makes sense here.
Positioned in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, luxurious guest accommodations include secluded tree houses and multi-bedroom homes with private decks. Forest bathing may be customized to include sunrise yoga and wandering along the circuitous path of a labyrinth, a venerable practice used to promote inner harmony.
The Lodge at Woodloch, Hawley, Pennsylvania
Forest bathing can happen anywhere in the Poconos — Photo courtesy of Annie Killam / The Lodge at Woodloch
Located in the Pocono Mountains, The Lodge at Woodloch is a Best All-Inclusive Resort winner adorned with a carpet of ferns and a cranberry bog. Guest rooms blur the line between indoor and outdoor with whimsical terrariums, fresh flowers, and air-purifying Himalayan salt lamps. From Pilates to lectures on improving sleep, health-focused activities await here.
The extensive nature therapy program includes foraging and beekeeping workshops. A certified expert leads forest bathing, which involves wandering around the property's pristine woods. The goal is to lower stress levels through breathing techniques.
