Discovery Walks
The Discovery Walks program aims to expose the public in the Gallatin Valley to the Main Street to the Mountains trail system. Many people can be intimidated by finding trails or even knowing where to start with hiking. This program provides a way for busy people who are new to hiking to meet people, find trails, and learn some new information about a variety of topics.
Each walk lasts an hour, which makes it easy for even the busiest person to have time for it. The walks include learning activities such as yoga, history, photography, and wildflower identification. The hikes occur at different times to allow for many availabilities. Typically, there are between 9 and 12 walks each month, and the program is run from May through September. These walks are free to participate in to encourage a diverse group of individuals to join. The program has attracted people of all ages, ranging from young children to senior citizens.
The program is supported by the Private Family Foundation Grant. Success is attributed to having numerous hikes a month, including learning opportunities each hike, and being able to not charge a fee.
For more information, contact Laura, Development & Events Coordinator, at LAURA@GVLT.ORG, or visit their website at https://gvlt.org/events/discovery-walks/.
Evidence-Based Resources
Hiking is a great way to get exercise and to get outside. The exercise from hiking releases endorphins, which have been found to increase happiness. It has been found that hiking also reduces stress. Hiking different trails provides levels of difficulty, making hiking and accessible form of cardiovascular exercise for many people. For more information on the benefits of hiking, visit the websites below.
- https://americanhiking.org/blog/hiking-natures-therapy/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6091217/
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/health-benefits-of-hiking-raise-your-heart-rate-and-your-mood-2016092810414
- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/trails/benefits-of-hiking.htm