Mindful walking
Where to walk mindfully
Mindful walking does not need a special place. A heath, a river path, a small park near you, any green stretch will do for five quiet minutes. Here is where to start, city by city, with a short practice you can carry to any of them.
Cities
London
Hampstead Heath. Open hill and old woodland, with long views back over the city from Parliament Hill.
New York
Central Park. The Ramble and the Reservoir loop give you woodland and water in the middle of Manhattan.
Boston
The Emerald Necklace. A connected chain of parks from the Common to Franklin Park. Jamaica Pond and the Arnold Arboretum are the quiet stretches.
Austin
The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. The loop around Lady Bird Lake, with the city on one side and water on the other.
Los Angeles
Griffith Park. Miles of trail above the city. Even a short stretch gives you distance and quiet.
Portland
Forest Park. Deep fir and fern on the Wildwood Trail. Quiet, green, and close to downtown.
San Francisco
Golden Gate Park. A wide green corridor running to the ocean, with quiet groves off the main paths.
No city in mind?
You can do a mindful walk anywhere. Try the free guided mindful walk. Pick a length, step outside, and a calm sequence of noticing prompts plays one at a time. No sign in.