Forest bathing & more: 6 places in North Carolina that help you reach a state of zen

These forest trails, lodges, and wellness retreats across North Carolina invite visitors to reach a state of zen.

Twelve people walked silently on a wooded trail at Juneberry Ridge, a farm in a rural town about an hour east of Charlotte. Everyone in the group signed up for a weekend of wellness activities but were unsure about what comes with forest bathing—a new concept for all of them. A few worried about having to take off their clothes.

For the next three hours, Angie Stegall, a certified forest therapy guide through the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy, led the group in a forest bathing experience. She assured them during her introduction that no clothes would be shed.

Journaling in Pisgah National Forest. (Angie Stegall)

What is forest bathing?

The term Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, originated in the early 1980s in Japan as a way to combat sensory overload, depression and other negative effects from a busy lifestyle.

“It’s about getting out of your head and getting into your five senses out in nature,” Stegall says. “It is meant to be meditative, gentle and easy, and pleasurable. Good for your immune system, cardiovascular system. [It is] very good for your creativity because it relaxes your brain.”

In her forest therapy practice, Stegall offers participants a series of invitations to interact with nature. She asks them to find things to touch such as bark, leaves, and moss. Stegall invites members to find a comfortable spot to sit and listen to the forest. At the end of the forest therapy, the group may have only walked a quarter of a mile. Stegall concludes the experience with a tea circle.

“I invite people to come to my table,” she explains. “The tea circle is the opportunity to answer the question, ‘What would you like to say to make today’s experience complete?’”

Stegall lives in Gastonia and offers forest therapy throughout the year at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont and Turtle Island in Boone.

Forest bathing at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. (Angie Stegall)

You can participate in wellness activities—like forest bathing, journal writing, meditation, mindfulness exercises, and yoga—at various places throughout the state. Find one that fits your style and budget:

1. Adawehi Wellness Village
Columbus

Adawehi Wellness Village offers lodging, a variety of holistic health services and wellness classes, and walking trails on 125-acres in Polk County. Its Beneficial Foods Organic Grocery carries produce grown on the campus, as well as dairy and meat alternatives, gluten-free and organic products, and prepared dishes to-go.

Activities: Guests have the opportunity to sign up for services and workshops such as acupressure with color and sound, awareness classes, drumming, massage therapy, yoga, spiritual class, Tai Chi, and virtual events. The labyrinth and walking trails provide a quiet place for meditation.

Cost: Rates vary depending on service and workshop.

2. Earthshine Lodge
Lake Toxaway

Earthshine Lodge specializes in retreats, outdoor education, and adventure programs. It’s a place to connect with nature, others, and yourself. Plan your own getaway or sign up for a curated retreat.

Guests can enjoy the climbing wall, team building elements, a Llama Hike, Blacksmithing & Brews, or go off property for hiking, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting.

Activities: The Paddle and Pose is June 6–8. Guests follow a three-day itinerary with regenerative yoga, guided lake trips on canoes and stand up paddleboards, shared meals, and evening time at the fire pit.

Cost: The Paddle and Pose retreat is $495 for double occupancy, and $795 for single occupancy. This includes lodging for two nights, meals, and programs.

3. Juneberry Ridge
Norwood

Twice a month, Juneberry Ridge, a 750-acre farm in Stanly County, plans two-night and three-night regenerative farm stays. 

Activities: Guests begin their wellness journey with yoga nidra (yogic sleep) on Friday night and continue the weekend with forest bathing, a greenhouse tour, mixology class, and farm to fork meals.

Cost: Regenerative Farm Stays range from $850 to $1200 (one person) to $1200 to $1650 (two people) for two and three night retreats. Lodging, meals, and programs are included.

4. Klondike Lake Trail
State Road

In 2020, Elkin Valley Trails Association opened the Klondike Lake Trail in Surry County. It’s considered the first forest bathing trail in the state. The trailhead is on Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery and parking is behind the tasting room.

Activities: The 1.7 mile loop includes an invitation to put your phone away and pay attention to your surroundings. Several benches along the route provide a place to listen and meditate.

Cost: Free

5. Pinnacle Park
Sylva

Take a self-guided forest bathing hike in Pinnacle Park, a 1500 acre park in Jackson County. The trail is one of 20 Certified Nature Forest Therapy Trails in the world and the only one in North Carolina.

Activities: Brochures at the trailhead or an audio walking guide will guide you through the experience.

Cost: Free

Pinnacle Park Trail. (Nick Breedlove)

6. Well of Mercy
Hamptonville

In Yadkin County, Well of Mercy is a peaceful haven with calm and quiet at its center. Guests may partake in an unscheduled retreat and wander the labyrinth, walk on trails, and rest on a hammock. 

Activities: Embrace Your Wings is a small group retreat happening May 7–9. Participants will use the symbolism of the butterfly to discuss personal transformation.  

Cost: Embrace Your Wings is $350 per person, and includes two-night accommodations, meals, materials, and a foot soak in your room.

A structure at the Well of Mercy. (Vanessa Infanzon)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.