Forest bathing near you in Hocking Hills Ohio: Coyote Run Nature Preserve and Raven’s Retreat.

As a forest therapy guide, I’ve seen many people arrive at a walk carrying the weight of mental blocks—musicians stuck on a song lyric, writers stuck on a sentence, professionals tangled in decisions, artists doubting their next move. Yet after a slow, mindful wander under the trees, those same people often leave with fresh ideas and surprising clarity. Sometimes the ideas will even emerge a few hours or days immediately after the walk. The forest has a way of coaxing creativity out of hiding.

An ANFT Certified Forest Therapy guide’s sit spot in Hocking Hills, Ohio.

Making Guided Forest Bathing a Ritual of Renewal

Tea ceremony from a recent forest therapy walk at Raven’s Retreat in Hocking Hills, Ohio.

I invited participants on a recent forest therapy walk to stop for a moment at this pond and notice colors and shapes.

Grateful for nature’s abundance - Chicken of the Woods on recent hike in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Imagine stepping into a quiet forest. The air is cool and crisp, filled with the earthy smell of pine and soil. Your senses come alive as you walk slowly, noticing the subtle rustling of leaves, the gentle breeze, and the distant sound of birdsong. This isn’t just a hike—it’s something deeper. This is forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku. And more people than ever are signing up for guided forest bathing tours to fully experience the calming, restorative power of nature.

There’s something deeply peaceful about stepping into a forest. The air is fresh, filled with the scent of damp earth, and that unmistakable smell of life all around you. It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe but easy to recognize. As a certified forest therapy guide, I’ve spent many hours guiding people through nature walks, helping them reconnect with the world around them and rediscover that ancient bond humans share with nature.