An Engaging Outdoor Experience
The Barefoot Trail is an outdoor adventure park located near Flagstaff, Arizona. We made the easy hour-and-a-half drive from the Grand Canyon to check out the park in Flagstaff. The outdoor adventure park was modeled on similar barefoot parks in Germany and Belgium that owner Leah Williams experienced while in Europe.
I was super excited to try this trail since I love being active. I wanted to see what grounding was all about, and it had been a long time since I’ve walked barefoot for any length of time.
Are you ready to explore off the beaten path? Let us inspire you!
Barefoot Adventures in Flagstaff
According to The Barefoot Trail website, walking barefoot counteracts the absorption of positive ions from computers, phones, and other electrical equipment and allows the exchange with negative ions to detoxify our bodies. This can help with several health issues including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and fatigue, and can help improve cardiovascular health.
At One With Nature
The Barefoot Trail is special because it is a place where you can fully immerse yourself in nature, yet be close to home. Within a couple of hours, you can experience all the best and most healthful aspects of nature here. There is no need to go backpacking or camping for a week, just grab the kids and go the trail for natural grounding, tree bathing, adventure stations, and a ton of fun. According to Leah, research shows kids need movement for optimal youth development. The Barefoot Trail is a fun and healthy way to get the family outdoors together.
A Grounding Park Explained
There’s been so much interest in getting outdoors and back to nature. The term “grounding park” was a new one for me, as it might be for you. According to WebMD, grounding, also known as earthing, is when you stand on the earth or have contact with a product that’s grounded into the earth. This connects your body to the natural electric charge of the earth, transferring electrons into your body. All this to say, it feels great and is great for you! I’d equate The Barefoot Trail to something like walking meditation. It takes quite a bit of concentration to traverse through the different adventure stations. Many have a balancing component and are more difficult than they appear.
The Barefoot Trail Is A Great Experience For All Ages
The park centers on a 1-mile out-and-back trail that’s sprinkled with adventure stations that include things like balancing challenges, zip lines, and more. The manicured trail is designed for participants to comfortably walk barefoot on the sand or dirt portion of the trail, whatever you prefer. Along the way, your feet will encounter different substances including mud, water, stone, rocks, cork, peat moss, rubber, and more. The trail is appropriate for any age.
Tips for the Best Barefoot Trail Experience
- Be prepared for any weather. We went in the morning and the weather was cool. By the time we were halfway through the trail, we had warmed up enough to remove a couple of layers. The park is open rain or shine, so bring a rain jacket if it looks like raindrops are in the forecast.
- Bring sunscreen and bug spray. We were glad we brought both with us in our small string bags.
- Go barefoot or wear shoes. I wore shoes for about half of the trail to try it both ways. Grab a sling bag at the check-in desk to store your shoes while you walk, or stash them inside if you’re going barefoot.
- Dress comfortably. You’ll be climbing, twisting, and bending at the activity stations so you’ll want to wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move.
- Bring the kids and the grandparents. The trail is fun for all ages.
- Bring your food or buy snacks at the park. Bring your picnic basket and have lunch at one of the picnic tables, or you can purchase limited snacks on-site.
Barefoot Trail Details
- Open seasonally, May through October. First trail tour 9 am. The last trail tour 4pm.
- Closed Monday and Tuesday
- Entrance cost is $10 for up to 2 hours of trail time.
- Kids aged 0-2 are free.
- Trail elevation is 7200 feet.
- No pets allowed.
- No strollers or wagons are allowed on the trail.
Getting There
The Barefoot Trail is located at 17440 Forest Service 146W Road, in Bellemont, AZ. It is somewhat off the beaten path and they recommend NOT using Google Maps. Follow these directions instead. Take exit 185 off of the I40 in Bellemont, AZ (which is 10 minutes west of Flagstaff). Proceed north and follow to the roundabout (take the3rd exit), and continue through to the stop sign. Drive west on Brannigan Park Road 9202K. Look for the park signs at the turn-off. Drive 0.6 miles and turn left again onto Forest Service Road 146W. Drive 0.4 miles and the park will be on your right. Parking is limited. There is NO access through the ADOT rest stop.
SheBuysTravel Tip: I recommend driving to the park. Rideshares would not be a good choice since the park is not in a superpopulated area.
Other Hikes in Flagstaff To Explore
While there is nothing else like The Barefoot Trail in Flagstaff, If you’re looking for other hiking trails to explore, there are many to choose from. Flagstaff is home to over 100 hiking trails. Red Mountain Trail, located about 20 minutes outside of Flagstaff is known to be one of the most scenic trails in the area. If you’d like to tackle the biggest mountain in Flagstaff, head to Humphreys Peak.
Leave a Reply