Escape the Crowds at These 15 Forests Worth Exploring

Forest bathing, anyone?
In the 1980s, a term called ‘forest bathing’ arose in Japan. It referred to a trend where people visited forests and found a peaceful escape, interest in nature, and an overall improvement in their well-being. Today, people visit forests for all sorts of reasons. Some want to simply bathe in the beauty of nature, while others wish o escape the crowds of tourist hotspots. And many seek out adventurous activities that can only be found in forests like hiking, canyoning, and mountain biking. Whatever your reason, read on to learn about the most unique and serene forests worldwide and why they’re worth a visit.

Black Forest, Germany
The Black Forest covers a mountainous region of Southwestern Germany where the cuckoo clock and Black Forest cake were invented. Picturesque towns and castles pop out of large swaths of evergreen forest that invite visitors to hike, mountain bike, camp, and e-bike. Many hotels in the region have paths that lead into the forest, like Hofgut Sternen in Hinterzarten. You can hike to the source of the Danube River in the Black Forest at Kolmenhoff before going on a more rigorous hike on the West Way Path, which is a 177-mile hiking trail that starts in the Black Forest and ends in Basel, Switzerland. Stop in little hotels along the way, like Berggasthof & Hotel Brend which has a tower from which you can climb and see all the beauty the Black Forest has to offer.

Atlantic Forest, Brazil
While many visit Brazil to see the Amazon Rainforest, we can’t help but be impressed by the Atlantic Forest. The Atlantic Forest is home to nearly 200 bird species that can’t be found elsewhere on the globe. Not to mention, it’s where five percent of the world’s vertebrates and eight percent of the world’s plants live.

You can visit the Atlantic Forest after flying into Sao Paulo. Stay in the Atlantic Forest at places like Serra dos Tuscanos Lodge or the Guapi Assu Bird Lodge. Here you can take tours into the forest to see an extensive network of caves, like at Caverna do Diabo (Devil’s Cave) State Park, kayak or raft on rivers, or hike on the PETAR hiking trails to waterfalls like Coutu Waterfall. Tour operators like Ekoways can guide you through various parts of the forest and connect you with the local Quilombolas community where you can learn about their history and take workshops related to their traditional ways of cooking, hunting, and fishing.

Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
If it weren’t for some student communist groups that took over the park in the 1970s, the beautiful forest of Khao Sok National Park may not have survived the efforts of the logging industry. Known as one of the oldest rainforests in the world (even older than the Amazon), Khao Sok’s forests are home to tigers, elephants, 200 species of plants per hectare, and the largest flower in the world. To truly experience the rainforest of Khao Sok, stay in a floating bungalow on the Cheow Larn Lake. You can take kayak or canoe tours on the lake and hike through the jungle to caves full of bats. Animal sightings are a guarantee!

Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota
Over 1.2 million acres of forested hills and mountains cover South Dakota and Wyoming and it’s called the Black Hills National Forest. The Lakota called the area Paha Sapa which means “hills that are black,” because from a distance, the piney forest appears to be black in color. This free forest beckons to travelers to camp, hike, or ride horseback on over 450 miles of non-motorized trails. Many seek out hikes to important Lakota Ogala sites like Black Elk Peak, while others want to take their kids to see stalagmites and stalacites in the Black Hills Caverns. After you’ve spent the day soaking under canopies of trees, check out one of the many lakes within the forest. You can swim, boat, fish, and waterski on these bodies of water. .

Hallerbos Forest, Belgium
The Hallerbos Forest in Belgium has been nicknamed the “Blue Forest” because every spring bluebells cover the forest floor creating a sea of blue. While April to May is when Hallerbos is at its ‘bluest,’ you’ll still find this a charming 1,360-acre wood forest to visit year round (autumn is phenomenal too!). Your jumping off point into the forest is from Halle, Belgium, which has a bus connection from the train station to the forest. Otherwise, take a car or a rent a bike. In the forest you can go on multi-mile hikes. Just don’t step off the path, as the hyacinths (also known as bluebells) damage easily.

Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina
Every fall, travelers hop in their cars to see the golden, red, and orange hues of the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. That said, we highly suggest visiting this national forest well before then. This 500,000-acre hardwood forest is full of trails that crisscross mountains and hills and alongside waterfalls. Take the whole family out to the Pisgah for a camping trip, or stay in Asheville and explore the national forest on day trips full of mountain biking, hiking, climbing, fishing, and horse riding. In the summer, it’s the perfect place to swim and go tubing.

Sagano Bamboo Forest, Kyoto, Japan
Perhaps one of the smallest forests on this list is the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, which is also known as the Sagano Bamboo Forest. It’s located in Arashiyama which is a 20-minute train ride north of Kyoto. Here you can walk on a short path through the 3,950 acre-bamboo forest. The stalks of bamboo grow high, creating a spectacular visual. The bamboo forest is open 24/7 and is free to visit. Try to arrive early in the day or late in the evening when the crowds may be thinner.

Spiny Forest, Madagascar
Step into the Spiny Forest of Madagascar and you’ll think you’ve been transported to an otherworldly dimension where trees grow upside down. The baobab is perhaps the most iconic tree of the Spiny Forest, but the ocotillo, which looks like a cactus, is the most dominant tree here. The Mandrare River Camp is a good accomodation choice if you want to explore the Ifotaka Sacred Forest (one of the spiny forests) where lemurs abound. Their night tours are especially popular for those who want to see the forest’s animals when they’re super active.

Elfin Forest, Saba
Never heard of Saba? This tiny Caribbean island may not have been on your radar but it should be! It’s home to the Elfin Forest (also known as the Cloud Forest) which covers the upper 150 feet of Mt. Scenery. To get to the Elfin Forest, you’ll have to hike through ther tropical rainforests located on the bottom half of Mt. Scenery by way of the Mt. Scenery Trail. You’ll then connect to the Elfin Trail which will take you to the top of the mountain. It’s a strenuous hike, but well worth the experience as it gives you a chance to soak in a magical green forest full of fruit, flowers, and animals.

Sherwood Forest, England
Robin Hood may or may not have hidden in Sherwood Forest after he stole from the rich to give to the poor, but it’s a myth that attracts many to this forest today. Visitors can access over 900 acres of the ancient oak forest including the Major Oak, a 1000-year-old oak tree. While you may want to walk and bike throughout the forest, we suggest looking through the events page to do something unique upon your visit. Sherwood Forest offers yoga classes, music concerts, forest bathing experiences, and tours that focus on the myths and legends of this forest.

The Giant Forest, California
You’ll be in awe of the ancient sequoia trees in California’s Giant Forest. This forest covers the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and offers everything from hiking to camping, caving, and waterfalls. Learn more about the trees that make up the Giant Forest by stopping at the Giant Forest Museum, before going to see the largest tree in the world, the German Sherman Tree. From the German Sherman Tree, take off on the Congress Trail, a loop through a spectacular sequoia grove.

Caddo Lake, Texas
East Texas is home to the largest cypress forest in the world and you can experience it in the Caddo Lake State Park. This cypress tree forest arises out of a naturally formed lake in Texas. Covered in Spanish moss, these towering trees that sit in a bayou make for an ethereal scene. Rather than hike through the forest, you’ll have to explore it by kayak or canoe. The bayou is shallow and full of herons, gators, fish, and amphibians. It’s an experience you won’t forget.

Laurisilva Forest, Madeira Island
On Portugal’s Madeira Island is a UNESCO-heritage site called the Laurisilva Forest which translates to “Laurel Forest.” The Laurisilva Forest is the largest laurel forest in the world and dates to the time of the dinosaurs. To see this laurel forest in person, you’ll need to go to the Madeira National Park. You have the option to hike on foot, take a jeep tour, or explore the forest on horseback via one of the many trails. Keep an eye out for the Madeiran long-toed pigeon, which is an endemic species of the forest.

Cloud Forest, Ecuador
Imagine a forest so high up in the sky that it touches the clouds. Ecuador is home to numerous cloud forests or tropical montane forests. Because of their location on the top of mountains, they sit among the clouds and are lush with trees covered in moss. You can hike through cloud forests at Buenaventura Reserve, Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve, and the Maquipucuca Cloud Forest Reserve. Many travelers choose to lodge in the cloud forests at hotels like Mashpi Lodge or the Bellavista Lodge. These lodges can assist with cloud forest adventures such as ziplining, hiking, bird watching, waterfalls, swimming holes, and river tubing.

Tongass National Forest, Alaska
At 1.67 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the U.S. Located in Alaska, the Tongass National Forest is a wild one full of bears, eagles, and salmon. There is no way you could see all that this coastal temperate rainforest has to offer in one visit, but it’s always best to book a cabin in the forest for a front-row seat to 19 wilderness areas and 450 miles of hiking trails. Many people visit for the phenomenal salmon fishing and bear viewing areas. Others like to take kayaks and canoes on waterways, explore caves, or merely experience diverse scenery like glaciers, salt water fjords, and peat bogs.