Feel-Good-Trails: Promoting Health through the Establishment of Restorative Trails

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Hiking as a mean of actively experiencing nature has a positive impact on physical, mental and social wellbeing. While the physical benefits of outdoor recreation are well known and often promoted along hiking trails, the value of nature experience for mental and social health is less often communicated. In their joint campaign ‘WohlfühlWege’ (Feel-Good-Trails), the Naturefriends and Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf) promote the beneficial effects of hiking with an emphasis on mental and social wellbeing. The campaign highlights trails that are accessible for people of different age and physical constitution with the goal to create an offer for target groups for whom challenging hiking tours are beyond reach. The trails are promoted via a website that contains trail descriptions as well as descriptions of recreational exercises and outdoor games.
Keywords | Hiking, mental health, trails, wellbeing