Where to Try Forest Bathing in the U.S.

We don’t always realize how loud the world has gotten until we finally step away from it. The notifications, the deadlines, the constant Zoom calls. Honestly, it builds up. Especially if you’re an introvert like me. So, why not take one day out of your week, month, or even your year to lose yourself deep in a forest, no cell service, no rush to be anywhere. This will feel like an exhale for your nervous system, and it actually has a fancy-sounding name — forest bathing.

Originally developed in Japan in the 1980s under the name Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is all about being present. It’s about being quiet among trees, letting your senses reset, and reconnecting with something we evolved alongside but somehow drifted away from. The best part? All you need to try this out is a forest. Or at least a few trees and the willingness to slow down.

So, here are the best places in the U.S. where you can truly try forest bathing.

Redwood National and State Parks, California

If your soul’s been running on empty, the redwoods are a full-body reset. These trees are older than most religions, taller than skyscrapers, and surrounded by a hush that feels almost sacred. Start at Prairie Creek Redwoods, especially the Revelation Trail — an interpretive path designed to engage your senses. You won’t want music in your ears here. The way the light filters through the canopy is its own kind of meditation.

Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington

Walking into the Hoh feels like stepping into a dream. Thick moss hangs from every branch. Ferns blanket the ground. The air is so damp and green that it practically clings to your skin. Take the Hall of Mosses trail. It’s short, quiet, and gently immersive. So perfect for sitting on a log and doing absolutely nothing except watching sunlight drip through mist.

Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont

If you want a place that feels deeply human-scale, I’m talking walkable, cozy, not intimidating, Vermont’s forests are ideal. The Green Mountains are covered in soft trails, still lakes, and old sugar maples that seem to breathe alongside you. Look into the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail near Ripton. It’s short and quiet, and scattered with poems if you want some literary companionship while you walk.

Shawnee National Forest, Illinois

One of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets, Shawnee is peaceful and surprisingly diverse. Oak-hickory woods. Rocky bluffs. Quiet, winding trails that go for miles without interruption. If you want a place that doesn’t feel curated or manicured, this is it. Garden of the Gods is the most famous section, but for solitude, head to the Rim Rock Trail. Bring a thermos and let your mind settle.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Wedged between Cleveland and Akron, this park doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, which makes it even better for forest bathing. Try the Tree Farm Trail or the Ledges Trail. They’re the kind of places where you can sit quietly and actually hear leaves drop. Which is rarer than it should be.

Adirondack Park, New York

Six million acres of forest. The Adirondacks are enormous and somehow still feel intimate. You’ll find trails where no one goes, lakes with loons calling, and entire afternoons where your only agenda is listening to wind in the birches. For a structured but peaceful intro, the Paul Smith’s VIC has guided forest walks and mindfulness trails. Or just find a quiet trailhead and wander.