Physical health can be greatly improved by hiking—and so can your mental health. Research continually shows that spending time outdoors, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, contributes to a healthy mind. A 2015 study from Stanford University found that time spent in nature calms the portion of the brain linked to mental illness and reduces your mind’s tendency toward negative thought patterns. Similarly, the journal “Environmental Science and Technology” published study results showing that outdoor exercise has a direct correlation to greater feelings of positivity and energy and fewer feelings of tension, anger and depression.

Outdoor exercise has a direct correlation to greater feelings of positivity and energy and fewer feelings of tension, anger and depression.Doug explains that immersing ourselves in wilderness also increases attention span, improves problem-solving skills and allows hikers to reconnect with themselves and others. The research is clear—hiking/walking is just as good for your mental health as it is for your physical health.