In recent news, the Sempervirens Fund land trust has launched a new initiative called Trails Rx, which offers comprehensive guides to five trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Each trail comes with suggested activities to promote health and wellness as you walk.
The Trails Rx program features some of the most popular trails in the area, including the Six Bridges Trail in Butano State Park, Atkinson Bluff Trail in Año Nuevo State Park, and trails in Big Basin, Castle Rock, and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Parks farther south.
Sara Barth, executive director of Sempervirens Fund, emphasized that Trails Rx is not just about promoting health but also about building a stronger connection between our communities and the forests we inhabit. The program encourages individuals to fully immerse themselves in nature as they hike along each trail.
Each trail has its own webpage with prompts designed to bring attention to the wellness features of the hike. For example, the Atkinson Bluff Trail guide suggests taking 5-10 minutes to observe your surroundings in silence, focusing on looking up high, down low, at objects up close and observing your surroundings from afar. Additionally, webpages provide information and links to research on the health benefits of these suggested activities. The Six Bridges Trail webpage mentions how hiking can help reduce blood pressure and depression while boosting your immune system.
Nature has been shown to have healing properties for both body and soul. Sempervirens wellness advisor Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller said that spending time outdoors can improve physical health and mental wellbeing. The Trails RX webpages offer maps and detailed information about parking options at each destination as well as trail difficulty ratings so visitors can prepare accordingly.
Deputy Health Officer Curtis Chan from San Mateo County believes that providing guidance and encouragement for walking on beautiful nature trails is an effective way to promote physical and mental health among individuals in our community.
Overall, Trails Rx is an excellent opportunity for those who want to explore nature’s beauty while also benefiting their health and wellbeing. So why not take a break from technology today and spend some time outdoors?
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