Avid hikers already know intuitively that walking in nature is great for the body, mind, and spirit. And science agrees.
A few years ago a team of researchers from Stanford found something quite remarkable when comparing individuals who walked in a natural grassland area with those who took a walk along a busy city street. The folks who walked in the natural setting had lower neural activity in a section of the brain associated with negative emotions.
It’s just one of many studies showing that hiking offers lots of benefits for your physical and mental health:
- Decreases stress
- May improve memory
- Lowers risk of high blood pressure
- Lowers your risk of stroke
- Lowers your risk of coronary heart disease
- Helps control and lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes
- Improves bone density
- Strengthens legs and core muscles
- Improves balance
- Helps control your weight
Beautiful Hiking Trails in Springfield, MO for Farmers Park Residents
Perhaps the best news for Farmers Park residents is that there’s no need to search far and wide to discover the benefits that nature has to offer — with great local hiking trails right here in Southeast Springfield, MO.
Just a short 5-minute drive or 8-minute bike ride away from our luxury apartment community, the Springfield Conservation Nature Center features 79 acres of diverse habitat that includes forest, glade, woodland, prairie, and creeks, as well as a frontage along Lake Springfield.
Residents may also have the chance to meet a wide variety of wildlife such as deer, turkey, foxes, frogs, and turtles, along with more than 170 species of birds — all while taking in the sights and sounds of nature on one of 3 miles of walking trails.
- Savannah Ridge Trail (Easy) — 0.2 miles, single loop
- Photo Blind Trail (Easy) — 0.1 miles, linear
- Sycamore Cutoff (Easy) — 0.1 miles, linear
- Ozark Greenways Connection (Easy) — 0.1 miles, linear
- Long Trail (Moderate) — 1.7 miles, linear
- Boardwalk Trail (Moderate) — 0.3 miles, single loop
- Fox Bluff Trail (Moderate) — 0.3 miles, loop and linear
Southeast Springfield is also home to two popular Ozark Greenways trails, which were featured in a recent blog article on local biking opportunities.
Galloway Creek and James River Greenways are both open to walkers and joggers, as well as bicyclists, inline skaters, wheelchair users, and strollers.
The Galloway Creek Greenway takes hikers to the Nature Center and the Old Iron Bridge. Hikers have the chance to see a historic cave and visit the restaurants and shops of Galloway Village.
The James River Greenway includes a segment that runs along the north bank of Lake Springfield, extending from the park entrance to the boathouse at the lake shore.
For our residents, getting to enjoy a taste of the great outdoors right in your own neighborhood is just one of the many perks of active luxury living at Farmers Park!
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