The Sempervirens Fund Land Trust launched a new program last week that provides detailed guides to five trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains and suggested activities to promote health and wellness while hiking each trail.
The program, called Trails Rx, includes trails such as the Six Bridges Trail in Butano State Park, the Atkinson Bluff Trail in Ano Nuevo State Park and trails further south in Big Basin, Castle Rock and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Parks.
“TrailsRx not only promotes wellness, it helps demonstrate the deep connection between the health of these forests and the health of our communities,” said Sempervirens Foundation Executive Director Sarah Barth.
Trails Rx guides people to immerse themselves in the environment as they hike along each trail, and web pages dedicated to the trails feature prompts designed to highlight the health features of each hike.
On the Atkinson Bluff Trail, for example, guides encourage hikers to spend five to 10 minutes observing their surroundings: “Be quiet, look up at high places, look down at low places, look at things close by, and gaze into your distant surroundings.”
Atkinson Bluff Trail in Anne Nuevo State Park.
Photo by Orenda Randak, courtesy of Sempervirens Fund
The webpage also provides information and links to research on the health benefits of the suggested activities: The Six Bridges Trail webpage explains how the activities can help reduce blood pressure and depression, and boost the immune system.
“Nature has the power to heal and rejuvenate the body and mind,” says Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller, a health advisor for Sempervirens who helped develop the program. “Countless studies have shown that spending time outdoors not only improves physical health, but also mental health.”
The TrailsRX webpage also provides maps for each destination and detailed information about parking, trail difficulty and other features.
“Providing a warm welcome, encouragement and clear guidance to walk our beautiful nature trails will promote physical and mental wellbeing,” said San Mateo County Deputy Health Officer Curtis Chan.
