Posted By auntie on October 11, 2016

2.5 miles; Hopkinton, RI

“Forest Bathing” is a Japanese term that describes the act of immersing oneself in the woods. From the now-defunct Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) website:

Shinrin-yoku is a term that means “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “forest bathing.” It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Now their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy throughout the world.

The idea is simple: if a person simply visits a natural area and walks in a relaxed way there are calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits to be achieved.

Today’s walk on the Hopkinton Land Trust’s Hoxie Preserve at Canonchet Preserve was like that. It just felt so damned good to be outside in the woods—I can’t hardly describe the feeling of intense well-being I experienced. Can’t wait to out again. Also, parenthetically, passed the 300-mile mark for this year. That’s a lot of “bathing.”

Canonchet Brook from the Old Mill Bridge

This is a fairly short walk. I extended it as much as I could by doing a double figure-8 using the two crossover trails. Such a lovely walk.

Signage

You can find out more about this property from the massively informative signage at the trail head on Route 3 in Hopkinton. The website Hopkinton Outdoors also has a slightly outdated trail map, in that it does not include both crossover trails, but the trail map posted on Route 3 is complete.

Categories: Rhode Island, Walks and Hikes
Tags: 2–5 miles, Hopkinton RI, RI