As the semester goes on, you may be finding yourself getting more stressed by the day. The diminishing sunshine and increasing workload can have a massive impact on your mental health, so it’s important to find ways to cope with that stress. One way to do that is by hiking!

The idea of hiking might seem daunting to some. You might envision someone with expensive gear trekking a steep incline. You might think that a hike has to be a long, all day endeavour, but a hike is simply a walk in the country or woods! It can be as short or as long as you want it to be.

Where to Go

The best spot for hiking around here is the Brandon Hills Wildlife Management Trailhead. It’s about a 15 minute drive south of the city. To get there, drive south on 18th Street (past the mall and bowling alley). Then, turn left onto Highway 453. Drive for a couple minutes before turning left on Road 108 West. Soon after that, take a right onto Road 49 North. The trailhead should be right there.

The Brandon Hills trail system is absolutely massive. The intersections have signs, so you’ll be able to see where you are fairly easily. I recommend planning your route using the large sign at the trailhead. You can take a short 20 minute walk, hike for an entire afternoon, or anything in between! The pathways are colour-coded for difficulty. There are some steep inclines, but they’re easy to avoid if they are not desired. Just stay on blue or green paths and you should be fine!

What to Bring

You don’t have to bring much for a hike. Dress for the weather and bring water. You may want to bring a snack for a long hike - something like a granola bar, trail mix, or fruit. Just be sure to clean up after yourself - don’t leave any food or garbage on the trail. If you’re hiking alone, you may want to consider purchasing bear spray or a bear whistle, just in case.

You should also bring a friend or a group of friends! It’s safer and more fun. Make sure to chat and make lots of noise to deter bears.

Why You Should Hike

Connecting with nature might be one of the best things you can do for your mental health. Mentalhealth.org reports that “people who are more connected with nature are usually happier in life and more likely to report feeling their lives are worthwhile.” They also say that nature brings about emotions such as calmness, happiness, and creativity. A walk in nature can help to clear your mind from the chaos of university life, which might be just what you need to get that creative spark to finish a paper. It’s also just a lot of fun! Enjoy the sounds of the birds, the colours of the leaves, all the cool mushrooms that grow on the trees. It may seem like the hiking season is over now, but autumn and winter hikes can be just as fun as summer ones. Make sure to dress for the weather. It’s worth it!