WALK THE WALK OF GRATITUDE: BEAUTIFUL HIKES
Hikes can be walks of gratitude. When we walk through the forest, up a mountain trail, or through any natural landscape, we connect with the beauty of nature. That alone is a gift to our bodies, minds and souls, with benefits far beyond the obvious.
Beyond the physical exercise, hiking gives us a chance to reflect on many things, including gratitude. As we heighten our awareness of the beauty of trees, flowers, wild landscapes and wildlife, we appreciate them more and we gain a bigger understanding for its interconnectedness.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to hike with gratitude in mind. New York Insight Meditation Center organizes meditative Thanksgiving hikes, such as their Meditative Hike to Hook Mountain, on extraordinary land designated by the New York Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area.
The hike is led by Lin Gordon, a graduate of Awake in the Wild Nature Meditation Teacher Training.
Gordon leads nature meditation programs around NYC and the Hudson Valley. In stillness and silence, she discovers the transformative power of mindfulness practices to help live a life of flow, joy, grace and gratitude. Learn more about her nature meditation programs at Being in the Wild.
We are grateful for Hudson Valley, for so many reasons. In Autumn, it is simply unparalleled for hiking its many mountain trails, with incredible vistas, spectacular color, and gorgeous landscapes. There are several wonderful organizations that lead a variety of hikes throughout, including The Outbound Collective and Hike the Hudson Valley. Check out some of the best places you can do a gratitude hike below.
The mountain ranges that flank the Hudson River offer some of the best places to hike. Since BeautifulNow headquarters is in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley is within short striking distance and it is our first choice hiking destination.
Hike the Hudson Valley and The Outbound Collective are 2 excellent resources for information, recommendations and more.
Hike the Hudson Valley offers information about hikes on either side of the river:
You can simply click on the name of the hike to see the full trail guide. It also lists over 70 hikes alphabetically.
The site offers hike ratings, tips, and other general information, along with loads of great photos. Scenery ratings are 1-5 cameras, with 5 being the most awesome. Difficulty ratings are 1-10, with 10 being the hardest.
And you can also sort and filter these hikes using the site’s new Hike Finder. Exact trailhead locations marked with Google Maps.
The Outbound Collective was founded to help make the outdoors more accessible. It aims to inspire people to discover, explore, and share their favorite outdoor activities and experiences.
The Outbound Collective is also committed to constantly improving the level of education within the community to ensure responsible use and enjoyment of these favorite nearby places.
The team members come from a variety of backgrounds and outdoor interests. They are hikers, surfers, climbers, paragliders, mountaineers, and fishermen, all united by a shared passion for the outdoors.
Check out The Outbound Collective to find adventures! You can filter by place, features, seasons, type of activity, and skill level.
Check out The Outbound Collective coverage of the Beautiful Hudson Valley here.
Read more about Beautiful Leaves all this week on BeautifulNow, including 10 Reasons to be Thankful for Travel and Gratitude: Good for Body Mind & Soul. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.
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