Forest-bathing trail opens at Tara Lila, first of its kind in Wisconsin

From hiking, biking, boating, fishing, birdwatching and beyond, there’s no shortage of outdoor pursuits in the Northwoods. Soon, another option will join that list: forest bathing.

Wisconsin’s first certified forest-bathing trail is opening this month at the Section 9 unit of Tara Lila in Eagle River, part of a 1,600-acre wilderness conservation project with more than 20 miles of public trails spread across three park units in Vilas and Oneida counties.

Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku as it’s known in Japan, where the wellness practice originated in the 1980s, encourages people to slow down, disconnect from technology and connect with nature through mindful awareness of their surroundings.

According to project leader Cindy Conlon, it’s also intended to appeal to people who may feel intimidated by traditional hiking.

“I’m really trying to appeal to people who wouldn’t necessarily get a map from the national forest office and go hiking on the Anvil Lake Trail,” said Conlon, a certified forest therapy guide and trail consultant who spearheaded the project.

Conlon said she chose the Tara Lila Section 9 property because its wide, relatively flat trails make forest bathing accessible to a broad range of visitors.

Located about 10 minutes from downtown Eagle River, the self-guided route follows a section of the Three Eagle Trail and incorporates several smaller side trails. Trail markers were manufactured by Three Lakes High School students through the school’s Fab Lab, adding a community-made element to the project.

“It’s flat, it’s wide, there’s no poison ivy, there’s no obstacles,” Conlon said. “It’s accessible to anybody. That’s what I think is great about that particular piece of property.”

The experience

Visitors begin by picking up a printed guide at the trailhead that leads them through designated stopping points along the trail, allowing them to leave their phones tucked away and minimize digital distractions.

At each stop, they’re invited to respond to a series of prompts, or “invitations,” designed to deepen their connection with the forest.

“It’s a curated experience,” Conlon said. “I’m offering what we call invitations that allow you to connect more deeply with nature and offer you the opportunity to just be present without having to think.”

Unlike a traditional hike, the self-guided trail removes the need for planning or navigation. The experience typically takes about an hour, though participants are free to move at their own pace and spend as much time as they’d like at each stop.

One invitation asks visitors to close their eyes, if comfortable, and slowly turn in a circle while focusing on the sounds around them. When they reopen their eyes, Conlon said, many notice details in the landscape they hadn’t seen before.

“When you open your eyes, everything pops,” Conlon said. “You’re going to see this place like you’ve never seen it.”

Health benefits

Conlon said forest bathing can offer many of the same benefits as meditation while appealing to people who find it difficult to sit still.

During a month-long meditation retreat in India, she said she learned about walking meditation, which instructors described as a practice particularly well suited to Americans.

“They were like, ‘You are wired and tired. Wired and tired, all of you,’” Conlon said.

Like meditation, research has linked forest bathing to a variety of physical and mental wellness benefits, including improved sleep, better focus, increased creativity and a more positive mood. Conlon said spending time in the forest can also help regulate the body’s stress response, allowing people to relax and recharge.

“Everybody probably knows you feel better outside, but it’s much more sophisticated than that,” Conlon said.

First certified trail in Wisconsin

With those benefits in mind, Conlon set out to create a trail that would introduce more people to the practice.

Last January, she came across an article in the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) newsletter about certified forest-bathing trails around the world. The story inspired her to pursue certification for a trail in Wisconsin.

“I read it and thought, ‘Oh, I wonder if I could get this trail certified and be the first one in Wisconsin,’” Conlon said. “So I emailed the land manager at Tara Lila — I’d never met him — and within 20 minutes, I got an email back that said, ‘I love everything about this idea. How do we proceed?’”

The partnership ultimately led to the certification of the Tara Lila trail, the first in Wisconsin and one of 55 certified by ANFT worldwide.

Chris Nafziger, Tara Lila’s land manager, said the project aligned with the organization’s mission of connecting people with the forests, streams and other natural resources that make the Northwoods unique. Although he wasn’t familiar with forest bathing when Conlon first approached him, he said the idea was a natural fit for the property.

To earn certification from ANFT, the trail underwent an assessment of how well it supports meaningful interaction with nature and the forest therapy experience, with evaluators reviewing factors such as safety, ecological health and therapeutic design.

Conlon said the review looks at everything from practical elements like accessibility to the quality of light filtering through the forest canopy.

“They really want a certain pattern of shade and dappled light, like 60% shade,” Conlon said. “You don’t want it completely overgrown and you don’t want to bake in the sun.”

Grand opening

Visitors can experience the new trail for themselves during a grand opening celebration Sunday, July 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Tara Lila Section 9 trailhead, just south of downtown Eagle River off Highway 70.

The free event will include a presentation at 1:30 p.m. by Nafziger and Conlon. Attendees can walk the self-guided trail, learn more about forest bathing and enjoy refreshments from local businesses.

To get there, take Highway 70 to Sundstein Road, travel south on Sundstein Road for 2 miles to Section 9 Road, turn left (east) and continue one-quarter mile to the trailhead parking lot. Free parking will be available at the trailhead and along Section 9 Road.

Those interested in experiencing forest bathing with a certified guide on the new trail will have another opportunity during a free Trees For Tomorrow program on Saturday, Aug. 8. Led by Conlon, the three-hour program is open to the public, though advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit treesfortomorrow.com/current-activities or call 715-479-6456.

Conlon, who also teaches yoga and breathwork, said she’s always been drawn to the forest.

“Now I feel even more connected to the forest and grateful for what it offers all living beings,” she said.

Nafziger hopes visitors leave with a similar appreciation.

“We hope people will explore the Tara Lila trails, reconnect with themselves in a new way, and gain insights into how they fit into the larger picture of the Northwoods,” he said.