It has been quite a taxing winter, full of tense news and gloomy weather. Luckily, spring is finally here and it’s time to get back outside. One of the best ways to feel happier and healthier is to get up and into nature.
College students, especially, need a boost in serotonin after this last year and a half. Young adults between age 18-24 disproportionately experience more mental health issues in comparison to the rest of the population, and the pandemic has only made that worse due to lack of socialization, according to The Washington Post.
Being in nature has shown to significantly improve mental health. A study conducted by Stanford researchers found that walking in nature can reduce feelings of anxiety and lower risk of depression. Fortunately for University of Idaho students, Moscow has plenty of close options for outdoor recreation. Here’s a guide to hike, walk, or bike safely and respectfully on the Palouse.
These are some of the closest hikes to Moscow, all within a 20 mile drive. All are accessible to the public and perfect for students wanting an easy nature break. Abby Croson, UI junior, is a frequent visitor of trails in the Moscow area. She uses being in nature and going on hikes to relieve stress and time to get in touch with herself and her beliefs. When in nature, Croson says she “feels less stressed and like she can take a breath.”
As college students, we often get wrapped up in our responsibilities and social lives, but Croson believes it’s important to remember to appreciate your surroundings while you’re there. “There really aren’t rolling hills like in the Palouse anywhere else and I think it’s so cool while in college we get to experience it,” Croson said. “I think people take advantage of it and don’t recognize how special it is.”
Croson believes if you spend time outside, you will have a better mental state. It allows you to show up more engaged and present to your other responsibilities when you are able to have that mental time.
Idler’s Rest Nature Preserve
Idler’s Rest is 7 miles from Moscow and is located at the foot of Moscow Mountain. It has options for both short and long hiking trails, for a total of 5 miles long. This spot is perfect for an afternoon hike because of its proximity to town and options for smaller hikes. Croson loves this spot for it’s beautiful wildflowers in the Spring, and the short trails are perfect for an afternoon walk and picnic.
Kamiak Butte County Park
Kamiak Butte County Park is located 20 miles from Moscow. This park is located just north of Pullman. and is considered a National Natural Landmark. There is a large picnic and campground site at the base of the butte with access to trails leading up to the summit, with a great view of the Palouse from the top. This spot is used by university students who take the entry-level environmental science class and is well-loved in the community.
Palouse Trails
Palouse Trails is also known as Paradise Path, Latah, Chipman, and Corkhill Trails. This trail system extends all throughout the Palouse. Paradise Path runs through the University of Idaho campus and connects to the Latah Trail, which connects Moscow and Troy. The Chipman Trail connects Moscow and Pullman. The Corkhill Trail connects Kendrick and Juliaetta. These trails are extremely accessible to students, with Paradise Path being right on campus and are bike, rollerblade, running and walking friendly. Croson frequents these trails for running, biking and even cross-country skiing in the winter. The Chipman trail especially is great for cross-country skiing because it’s flat the whole way through and has a nice paved trail under the snow.
Moscow Mountain
The Moscow Mountain trail system is located 6 to 8 miles from Moscow and includes many different paths open to bikes and foot traffic. Most of the trails are located on private land and protected by the Moscow Area Mountain Bike Association (MAMBA). Croson believes Moscow Mountain isn’t utilized enough for the diversity of its trails. From a quick afternoon walk to a day-long hike, Moscow Mountain has it.
Moscow Area Mountain Biking Association (MAMBA)
MAMBA is a volunteer based organization that works with landowners to manage the Moscow Mountain Trail System for the Moscow community. They encourage respectful use of the trails and offer many recreational opportunities for bikers, hikers, runners and horseback riders.
“We (MAMBA) say hey we think your land would be a great place for recreational opportunities,” Sandra Townsend, a member of MAMBA on the Board of Directors said. “We work with them to see what they would like on their land and make sure we have trails that are appropriate for their wishes and also our needs.”
To maintain the trails, MAMBA holds trail days which is when they build and reconstruct trails. Trail days are usually held in the summer and usually announced at their annual meeting. Community members can also hold their own trail days by getting in contact with MAMBA for further guidance.
To be respectful on trails, Townsend recommends people know where they are, stay on trails and utilize the Trailforks app.
University of Idaho Outdoor Program
The University of Idaho Outdoor Program offers many services to students wanting to get outside. They offer student discounted rentals for outdoor gear and equipment, guided trips and all the information needed for people to safely get outside.
This winter the Outdoor Program offered a snowshoe trip, Earth Day hike, rock climbing, bike rides, a backpacking trip and more for students to learn and participate in fun adventures.
“Getting folks outside is exactly what we do,” Trevor Fulton, the Outdoor Program director said.
They work together with MAMBA to ensure the lands used for trails are respected, well taken care of and people are still serving back.
They are a great resource for maps of trails and getting helpful knowledge for people who want to go on outdoor adventures without a university group.
“I would encourage students to come in and chat with us, that’s the best thing we can do and hopefully we can point them in the right direction,” Fulton said.
There are many other amazing outdoor recreation spots around the Palouse not listed above. More information is available at the Outdoor Program office located in the Student Recreation Center. They provide pamphlets with details about hiking spots in the Palouse and the different guided trips they do each year. The employees are also eager and willing to give any advice or assistance.
Spending time in nature is good for your overall health and well-being. Hopefully this list makes the task of getting outside easier, more achievable and most importantly fun.