11 Forest Fitness Trails That Double as Therapy

4. Jordan Pond Path — Acadia National Park, ME

The Jordan Pond Path is a gentle, mostly flat loop that circles a reflective body of water framed by forest and distant peaks. Its steady surface and scenic viewpoints invite slow walking and regular stops to scan the water and the tree line—simple acts that calm the nervous system. The combination of open views and sheltered forest makes it easy to vary sensory focus, switching between visual expanses and close-up observations of lichen, bark, and leaf textures. Because the path is accessible and well-traveled, it’s suitable for group forest-bathing sessions or solo therapeutic walks. Early morning or late afternoon visits tend to be quieter and better for noticing small details in the woods. If you want to integrate breathwork, use the pond’s edges as markers for brief seated practices of five to ten minutes. The route’s moderate length lets you keep the experience to a single, restorative hour, or expand it into a longer, fitness-oriented hike in nearby Acadia trails.