Find the Path to Wellness By Taking a Hike
NFocus Magazine | October 2026
Photo by Eric England
As a protected Class II State Natural Area, Radnor Lake is devoted first to preserving the ecosystem within its boundaries and creating a refuge for wildlife – and, perhaps, inadvertently, for people as well. Those 7.5 miles have become a treasured place for Nashvillians to stretch their legs and escape the rhythms of the city just a few miles south of downtown. Steve Ward, park manager at Radnor Lake, says he and his staff regularly hear from visitors who cherish having a “safe, quiet place to hike with a well-maintained system of trails”.
Those visitors may be getting more from their time on the trails than they realize. The benefits of walking are well established, but a growing body of research suggests that taking those steps through a natural environment may offer additional rewards, particularly for mental well-being. Studies of nature-based walking have associated the practice with reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood, and even a decrease in the repetitive negative thinking known as rumination.
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