Reduce Your Stress On The Best Nature Walks In Salt Lake City
by MADISAN HINKHOUSE
One of the simplest forms of human movement and, according to plenty of research, one of the most beneficial to our bodies and minds is one many of us take for granted: walking. .
The physical benefits of walking include heart health, lower blood pressure, stronger bones and many more, but the mental benefits are impressive and increase when you walk in nature or a green space in the city.
Mental benefits include stress relief (we could all use a lot of that), increased happiness and even an increase in creative thinking. Many of the mental benefits come from the release of endorphins and the fact that simply walking and focusing on your surroundings is a form of meditative mindfulness.
“Experiments have found that being exposed to natural environments improves working memory, cognitive flexibility and attentional control,” reads an analysis from the American Psychological Association.
Green spaces near schools and workplaces have shown benefits for children’s learning and adults’ stress levels. Luckily in Salt Lake City, we have a lot of green space at our disposal.
As the temperatures cool, now is a great time to explore a new walking area in your area. Here are a few of Salt Lake City’s best:
Jordan River Parkway
The Jordan River Parkway Trail is a 45-mile hidden gem for Salt Lake City residents. Don’t worry, you don’t have to commit to an entire 45 miles for your afternoon walk, the trail has great sections and you can easily choose your own adventure when it comes to location and distance.
This trail is mostly paved, with gravel in some places, making it a great spot for a bike ride or rollerblading/skating adventure. Surrounded by trees and the sounds of the river, you won’t be disappointed by this area as you take in some nature time.
The Jordan River Parkway Trail is wheelchair and stroller-friendly. Dogs can use the trail but must be kept on a leash.
Bonneville Shoreline Trail
The Bonneville Shoreline Trail offers a little more adventure, it’s like a cross between a hike and a nature walk offering gorgeous views of the entire Salt Lake Valley. One of the best sections of the trail begins near Salt Lake’s Hogle Zoo and ends at the Natural History Museum of Utah, that section is about three miles round trip making it perfect for your daily walk.
The trail is not paved but it is a wide dirt path, making it easy for walkers, bikers and runners to all use the trail safely. You can take your dogs on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail as long as they are kept on a leash.
Liberty Park
The walking loop around Salt Lake’s favorite, Liberty Park is a little more than a mile, but there is so much to see at Liberty Park if you take some of the paths that cut through the center. Liberty Park is the perfect example of “green space” in the middle of a bustling city. In fact, Liberty Park is pretty lively itself, from Farmers Markets to social sports leagues, Liberty Park has a lot to entertain. If you’re out with the kids, stop by the Tracy Aviary to check out some local and exotic birds.
Liberty Park is completely paved making it stroller and wheelchair-friendly. Leashed dogs are allowed all over the park except for in the aviary.
Parley’s Trail
Coming in at 11.9 miles, Parley’s Trail is another long one with lots of great sections you can check out to break it up. Located right out of Parley’s Canyon near the intersection of I-80 and I-215, the trail is easy to access for anyone driving on the highway. The trail goes through Tanner Dog Park and becomes Parley’s Nature trail for the 1.9-mile section. In the Tanner Park section, dogs can play off-leash but must stay on leash on the rest of the trail.
Parley’s trail is paved making it wheelchair and stroller friendly, but watch out for some big hills that will help get your heart rate up.
Enjoy your walk and enjoy the weather as the seasons change. Do you have other favorite Salt Lake City spots to walk? Let us know on social media.