Mindfulness trails in Germany: walking against stress

The idea of ​​mindfulness trails in the forest was introduced only a few years ago by the German Forest Protection Association launched and is enjoying growing popularity. This contemplative form of forest bathing, which invites you to linger, breathe consciously and notice the smallest natural wonders, reduces stress levels and has a balancing effect.

It is not only the nature conservation association that has been there since then Germany Distributed mindfulness trails have been launched and municipal tourism departments have also been inspired by the trend. And clinics are now also using the healing effects of guided forest bathing. The travel reporter introduces you to trails throughout Germany where you can immerse yourself in nature with all your senses.

1. Mindfulness path “Path of the Senses” in Großenbrode, Schleswig-Holstein

In the far north you can experience the forest with all your senses on the “Sense Trail” in the Baltic Sea spa town of Großenbrode Schleswig-Holstein. You should plan about one and a half to two hours to walk the forest path. At six stations you can follow audio instructions via QR code on the subjects of breathing, seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling and walking.

Along the way you are mostly protected from the sun by a canopy of leaves, which also has a sound-absorbing effect. The purpose of the path is to enable conscious access to the forest and to bring the senses into focus.

2. Mindfulness path “Kleine Kyll” in the Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate

Stretch your feet in the water at the barefoot bath or listen to the sound of the stream, enjoy the moment in a hammock at the side of the path or listen to a sound system and then get your body going in a Kneipp stair bath at the end of the circular walk: on the mindfulness path “Kleine Kyll” in the Eifel The senses are appealed to at seven stations under the Mosenberg.

For the six kilometers you should plan about two hours. 120 minutes to collect moments in nature, let your thoughts wander and find balance.

3. “Path of mindfulness” in South Spessart, Bavaria

Cuckoo! That’s how it sounds on the ‘Path of Mindfulness’ in South Spessart, far away from the noise of the city. Bird sounds and the water music of the Sellbach form the acoustic backdrop. That alone is relaxing. Along the four and a half kilometre long route, there are impulse signs at eight stations to help you slow down.

The starting point is the hiking car park Dreikreuzweg on the edge of Stadtprozelten and at the first stop it is time to “hike”. And who does that these days? Hike carefree, enjoy the journey step by step and do not rush headlong to your destination. How does a forest path appear when you banish distractions such as mobile phones and watches? Which details stand out?

The practices on the path of mindfulness are also designed using Qigong exercises and are meant to ground and push everyday life a little further away. Sounds pretty tempting, right?

4. Mindfulness path in Bad Karlshafen, Hesse

With all your senses through the forest, this motto also applies to the mindfulness trail in Bad Karlshafen Hesse. Together with the Reinhardswald nature park, a mindfulness path was created on part of the Diemeltal Butterfly Route.

The approximately two-kilometre long path runs in the city forest of Bad Karlshafen between the hiking car park “Wechselberg” and the hiking car park “Im Knick”. As in Großenbrode, there are six stations that specifically appeal to the senses and whose instructions can be played via QR codes in the form of audio files.

5. Mindfulness Trail in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia

The Kottenforst is a 40 square kilometre forest area in the south-west of Bonn. The nature reserve combines forests and deadwood, streams and riparian forests and offers a habitat for numerous endangered animal and plant species. The mindfulness path runs through this nature and accompanies concrete sensory observations at six stations.

Experience the forest in the here and now, let everyday thoughts pass by, keep your attention under control: all this is covered on the approximately two-kilometre long path. The path, which takes two hours, starts about 100 metres from the Tides-Haus Klinik Bonn and ends not far from the Forest Hospital.

6. Mindfulness trail at Windeck Castle, Baden-Württemberg

This mindfulness path is designed as a branch of the forest experience path in the Bühler city forest at Windeck Castle. As with all mindfulness paths, the goal here is not just to see nature as a backdrop for a walk, but to enter into a conscious relationship with it.

The six stations mentioned several times, which teach mindfulness exercises via QR code, are also part of the concept here. Taking the time to see the sun on your skin, consciously visualizing the green of the forest or hugging trees are among the possibilities for guided forest bathing.

7. Mindfulness path “natura jenensis” in Jena, Thuringia

Since autumn 2021, the Jena city forest has had the mindfulness trail ‘natura jenensis’, which invites you to forest bathing. It starts at the stone cross, under the Fuchsturm, where the entrance sign for the trail is located. Experience the forest with all your senses, breathe consciously, smell the forest – you can learn all this at six stations in Jena.

This trail was also launched by the German Forest Protection Association and leads 1.4 kilometres through the beech forest. After slowing down from forest bathing, you can regain your strength in the restaurant of the Fuchsturm.

8. Mindfulness paths in spa and clinic parks

The effectiveness and health-promoting nature of mindfulness paths is also evident from their emergence in the medical context. More and more of these paths are appearing there. For example, in the Oberlin rehabilitation clinic in Bad Belzig in Brandenburg, where patients and visitors can consciously experience the deceleration of forest bathing at six stations in the clinic park, located in the middle of the Hoher Fläming nature park.

The topic of mindfulness is also in the foreground in the spa and medicinal forest in densely wooded Schömberg in Baden-Württemberg, which will open in 2024. A route ‘Path of inner strength’ and a route ‘Great happiness – impulses and thoughts on the topic of happiness’, as well as sensory stations for taking a break, are part of the range of trails open to patients of the rehabilitation center, but also locals and holidaymakers.

Looking for more inspiration? Here are tips for all the top travel destinations bundled with the travel reporter.