Nature-Based Health Science

Discover how trails boost your immunity, reduce stress, and enhance your wellbeing

Research in Action

Proven strategies for a healthier you

  • The Art of Trail Solitude: Finding Peace in Movement

    Most people hike to "get away from it all" but carry mental noise with them every step. This isn't about finding empty trails—it's about creating internal quiet regardless of crowds.

  • Reading Your Own Rhythm: Personal Pacing Strategies

    Most hikers either rush uphill until they're gasping or plod so slowly they never find their flow. The secret isn't fitness—it's learning to read your body's natural rhythms and match them to terrain.

  • Trail as Teacher: What Wilderness Reveals About Life

    The trail doesn't care about your schedule, your stress, or your plans. It simply presents what is—steep climbs, sudden storms, breathtaking views. Most people fight these lessons. Smart hikers learn from them.

Top Trails

Research-based wellness outcomes

  • A dirt trail running alongside a body of water with trees on the opposite bank under a clear blue sky.

    Texas: Northshore Trail, Grapevine Lake

    22.5 miles of singletrack proving Texas has serious terrain. Minutes from Dallas, this Lake Grapevine gem winds through oak forest and limestone outcroppings with seven loops for every skill level. Experience red clay paths, spring bluebonnets, and calls of red-shouldered hawks.

  • Scenic view of a lake and surrounding landscape from a rocky hilltop on a clear day.

    Oklahoma: Mount Scott Trail, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

    Oklahoma's highest refuge peak with 2.3-mile granite climb to panoramic prairie views. Free-roaming bison and elk herds graze across 59,000 protected acres below. Experience ancient pink granite formations, 360-degree vistas, and sweet smell of native grasses after spring rains.

  • Wooden boardwalk winding through a forested area with trees and grass.

    Louisiana: Palmetto Trail, Jean Lafitte National Preserve

    Authentic Louisiana swampland 30 minutes from New Orleans. This 1.5-mile boardwalk leads through pristine bayou where alligators sun and herons stalk through cypress shadows. Experience 400-year-old trees, Spanish moss curtains, and rich wetland scents mixing with magnolia.

Healing Stories

Personal moments of clarity, healing, and transformation from the trail

"Stupid is refusing to learn from the mistakes you're lucky enough to survive."

"Sometimes the wrong turn is exactly the right time."