Exploring barefoot trails on 2 continents as a way to connect with nature this Earth Day

GUTACH, Germany (AP) — At the edge of a trail in Germany’s picturesque Black Forest region, waterlogged steps sink into ankle-deep water and mud, requiring careful footing. An ocean away, a sandy trail in the ponderosa forests of northern Arizona demands treading just as deliberately when walkers reach a line of tree stumps arranged as stepping stones.

The pathways are located nearly 9,700 kilometers (6,000 miles) apart but share a notable feature: they were designed for visitors to use without wearing socks or shoes.

Barefoot trails exist around the world, inviting people to get closer to nature through sounds and sensations. Feeling cool mud squish between toes, stepping on pine needles and exploring meditation caves, scent stations and dark rooms transform a routine walk into an immersive experience.

Walking shoeless on varied surfaces also may contribute to emotional well-being and overall foot health, according to podiatrists and barefoot enthusiasts.

Below, more about where and why some people are bringing themselves down to earth one step at a time.

Theories about the benefits of going barefoot have gained popularity among runners and other athletes in recent decades, as well as with environmentalists and as an alternative mental health treatment, but the idea has been around for well over a century.

Sebastian Kneipp, a 19th century German Catholic priest and early pioneer of naturopathy, promoted nature exposure, water therapy and barefoot walking as exercise and a way to stimulate circulation and support overall health, including immune function. He recommended walking barefoot over “dew-wet grass” or snow and is said to have called shoes “foot-bending machinery.”

His philosophy inspired trails and paths across Europe, where they are sometimes known as Kneipp paths, and to a lesser extent in the United States. In Asia, reflexology trails made of stones, pebbles and grass are intended to stimulate acupressure points on the soles of the feet, a concept linked to traditional medical therapies.

Germany's Park mit allen Sinnen, which in English translates to “park with all senses,” reflects a broader focus on wellness tourism in the Black Forest, which covers more than 6,000 square kilometers (2,317 square miles) and where visitors can breath mountain air, soak in thermal baths and visit spas offering treatments that incorporate local plants and herbs.

The park charges an admission fee. Its website says that meandering barefoot over the 2 kilometer-long (1-mile-long) trail's different surfaces "is ideal for exercising your back and spine, and at the same time, it’s a perfect foot reflexology massage in the fresh air.”

Leah Williams, the owner of The Barefoot Trail park near Flagstaff, Arizona, opened a manicured trail of the same length near Route 66 two years ago after a family trip in Europe. Tickets are required, though Williams operates the park as a nonprofit charitable foundation.

Williams said her mother, who is from Germany, encouraged her to go barefoot as a child climbing trees and playing in the forests and creeks around Seattle — a practice Williams carried into adulthood and passed on to her own children. While living in the Netherlands, her family visited a barefoot trail in Belgium.

“I loved everything about it. I saw all ages, and I loved seeing older people at the park because you don’t see that here in the United States," Williams said. "I thought, ‘Wow, when I get back to the United States, I’m going to build one of these parks myself.'”

She offers educational materials for schools, summer programs and camps to children who visit the park.

“Being good stewards of nature is really our job as human beings, and we have taken 13 acres (5 hectares) of land at our park for our community enjoyment, ... for local, statewide and regional enjoyment,” Williams said, her eyes moist with emotion.

Most people don't walk outside barefoot regularly, and exposing their tender feet to different textures, temperatures and types of contact can take getting used to.

“You should see people’s faces when they start walking,” Williams said, chuckling at the thought.

While many parks with barefoot trails encourage users to walk the paths sans shoes, naked feet are not required. Guests with neuropathy, diabetes or other foot conditions are welcome to keep their shoes on at the parks in Arizona and Germany.

Some barefoot trails are designed to engage multiple senses.

At Park mit allen Sinnen, a sign that reads “Please be quiet” in German identifies a spot described as a meditation cave. Inside, a long bench faces tall windows overlooking the forest, and soft music plays through hidden speakers.

Elsewhere at the park, visitors can squeeze red bulbs to release the scent of papaya or apricots, or place their hands inside a box filled with wild boar fur.

Austria, Denmark, France, Hungary, Switzerland and the U.K. are among other European countries with barefoot trails. Some are meant for local residents and not tourists, so finding them can prove difficult. Searching the terms “barefoot” or “barefoot paths” in the local language might help.

In Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, some public parks have pebble trails, which are walkways with smooth stones cemented into place that can be used for reflexology and foot massage.

Similarly, there are so-called wellness parks and informal barefoot hikes on regular trails in the United States. But because of how rare they are in the U.S., Williams plans to expand the The Barefoot Trail concept elsewhere.

The foundation recently received about 8 hectares (20 acres) of land in a commercial and residential area of college town Lawrence, Kansas, to develop a park similar to the one she opened in Arizona.

“The park will be one of the components of a larger commercial space being developed,” Williams said. “It’s about integrating those natural environments into people’s daily lives and providing those safe spaces for people to enjoy.”

Mumphrey reported from Flagstaff, Arizona.

A sign at the Park for All Senses, known locally as Park Mit Allen Sinnen, is displayed, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Gutach, Germany. (AP Photo/Kelvin Chan)

The Park for All Senses, known locally as Park Mit Allen Sinnen, is seen, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Gutach, Germany. (AP Photo/Kelvin Chan)

A path of tree stumps lines a portion of a barefoot trail near Flagstaff, Ariz, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey)

A sign nailed to a tree stump indicates where the foot washing station is at the end of a barefoot trail near Flagstaff, Ariz, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey)

Shoes hang near the entrance of a barefoot trail near Flagstaff, Ariz, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey)

EDINBURGH, Scotland & LONDON & MANCHESTER, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 22, 2026--

Hampden Bank broke through £1 billion of client deposits during 2025, with deposits at the UK private bank increasing to £1.12 billion in the financial year to 31st December 2025, up 13 per cent on 2024.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260422507371/en/

Loans and advances were also up in 2025, at £640 million against £586 million in the previous year, an increase of over 9 per cent. Total income rose to £31.5 million from £30.3 million, with profit before tax of £7 million, slightly down on £8.2 million in 2024 due to organisational change, strategic investment, and earlier than forecast falls in Bank of England base rates. Adjusting for these factors, 2025 profitability would have surpassed that of 2024. Having paid its first full dividend in 2025, the bank has proposed a 5 per cent increase for the 2026 payment.

The bank marked its 10th anniversary last year, whilst launching a new North and Midlands base in Manchester and moving to new offices in Edinburgh and London. Additionally, several key executive hires were made during 2025, with the appointment of Chief Operating Officer, Angela Dowd and Chief Banking Officer Greig Townsend announced in the second half of the year.

The bank grew its client base by over 7 per cent during the year to almost 6,500 and enjoys a retention rate of over 99 per cent. In 2025, the bank achieved a Net Promoter Score of 79, one of the highest recorded across the UK private banking sector. Both figures reflect the dedication of 162 colleagues across the UK, working to deliver an exceptional client experience.

Hampden Bank’s CEO Tracey Davidson said: “Our strategy sets out a vision for a sustainable, growing private bank, recognised for the quality of its client relationships, the strength of its risk management, and the professionalism of its people, all of which are vital to deliver on our strategic ambition to generate in excess of £20 million of annual profit before tax by 2030.”

“In a market increasingly shaped by commoditisation and digitisation, we continue to believe in the value of a personal relationship-led approach to private banking, one where technology enhances rather than replaces the human experience. Our new team covering the North and Midlands demonstrates our belief that clients value connecting in person, and this new base enables us to expand the Bank outside our existing locations of Scotland and the South of England.”

Tracey Davidson added: “Whilst economic and geopolitical uncertainties are likely to persist, the bank enters its next phase of growth from a position of strength. We have a clear strategic direction, a resilient business model, a growing and loyal client base, and a committed team of talented colleagues.”

David Huntley, who became Chair of Hampden Bank in September, replacing Simon Miller on his retirement, commented: “The year witnessed several important milestones, including the bank’s first decade in business, surpassing £1 billion in deposits, expansion into the North and Midlands with the addition of a new banking team and significant new office upgrades in both Edinburgh and London.”

David Huntley added: “Our chief executive officer Tracey Davidson completed her first full year in post, leading a review of the bank’s strategy, investing in the executive team, and driving numerous transformational projects. The board is confident that the bank’s strategic direction and pace of delivery position it well for success in a fast-changing market.”

For further information please visit https://www.hampdenbank.com/

Tracey Davidson, CEO, Hampden Bank