11 Forest Fitness Trails That Double as Therapy

10. Dipsea Trail — Mount Tamalpais, CA

The Dipsea Trail moves quickly from redwood-shaded sections to coastal vistas, offering a varied sensory experience that many hikers find refreshing and clarifying. Alternating environments—deep forest, open ridgeline, and ocean glimpses—helps break habitual thought patterns and anchors attention in changing sensory inputs. You can choose short segments under the redwoods for slow, contemplative walking, or extend the route for more vigorous exercise followed by a coastal cooldown. The variety supports different therapeutic aims: calm and grounding under canopy, then perspective and release on exposed overlooks. Because the trail includes stairs and steep stretches, adapt your pace to stay mindful rather than competitive. Morning or late-afternoon windows often deliver softer light and quieter trails. If you’re integrating breathwork, use transitions between shaded and open sections as natural prompts to shift focus.