5 Great Places to Forest Bathe in the West Metro

The western edge of the Twin Cities holds some of the most rewarding forest bathing terrain in the metro — from a world-class arboretum to a 200-year-old stand of maples most people don't even know exists. Here are five places worth slowing down in, all within the west metro.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum — Chanhassen

The Arboretum is where I co-host ongoing public forest bathing walks, and it remains one of the most extraordinary settings for this practice anywhere in Minnesota. Spanning over 1,200 acres of gardens, woodlands, and prairie, it offers an unusual range of textures in a single visit — from the quiet formality of the Japanese Garden to open prairie restoration areas that shift dramatically with the seasons.

Our walks often move through the Sensory/Wildflower Garden walk - where there is a little secret bridge over a gentle trickling brook, as well as some wonderful woodlands and trails adjacent to the Farm at the Arb. If you're looking for the fullest expression of what forest bathing can be, this is where I'd send you first.

Fox Woods Nature Preserve — Chanhassen

A newer addition to the area's public land, Fox Woods Nature Preserve opened to the public in 2018 after Chanhassen residents voted, decades earlier, to set this 58-acre stretch of mature forest and wetland aside.

I walked its trails in the fall and it was wonderful, the smells, the senescence, the colors. Peaceful. It's a quieter, less-visited option than some of the busier spots on this list.

Wood-Rill Scientific and Natural Area — Wayzata

Wood-Rill is one of my favorite old-growth "Big Woods" forests. Gifted to the public by the Dayton family in the late 1990s, its rolling terrain and centuries-old maples make it feel far more remote than its location — just off Lake Minnetonka's north shore — would suggest.

Walking in these woods makes you feel as if you have entered a time portal into an ancient forest, one that has healing power.

Wolsfeld Woods Scientific and Natural Area — Long Lake

Few people realize one of the last true remnants of Minnesota's old "Big Woods" forest sits quietly in Long Lake, just northwest of Wayzata.

Established in 1978, Wolsfeld Woods protects a mature maple-basswood forest that includes some of the state's largest sugar maples — trees well over 200 years old, predating the Civil War. The ravines and topography here, plus the limited understory make the visuals top-notch.

It's an easy 2.7-mile loop, and one of the most genuinely underrated spots on this whole list.

Lone Lake Community Park and Preserve — Minnetonka

Tucked into the southeast corner of Minnetonka, Lone Lake offers a different character than the others on this list — open water views, wetlands, restored prairie, and wooded morainal hills all within one 146-acre park.

The trail is a loop, but there are some hills that may make you winded, so take it slow. That's why you're going anyway! I love sitting under the trees and looking out across the lake. Spectacular. It's an easy, accessible option if you're looking for variety within a single walk.

There are also pickle ball courts here if you have some family who isn't quite ready to slow down with you.

Ready to Try Forest Bathing in the West Metro?

Whether it's the Arboretum's gardens, Wood-Rill's old-growth quiet, or the open water at Lone Lake, the west metro offers real variety for anyone looking to slow down. If you'd like a guided introduction to any of these spots — or want help finding the one that fits you best — I'd love to have you join an upcoming walk.