According to one government estimate, the average American spends 90 percent of his or her life indoors. On rainy winter days in the Pacific Northwest, it’s easy to see why we might be reluctant to venture out.

The parking lot of Redmond Watershed Preserve is an easy 10-minute drive from downtown Redmond. It’s raining as I climb out of the car, so I pull on a waterproof jacket, and set off down the trail.

I’m in a forest of cedar, Douglas fir and maple trees, a giant umbrella of branches keeping me dry. Soft chirping of birds and the patter of raindrops are the only sounds.

A pileated woodpecker chisels a tree for insects, its red crest glowing against the backdrop of browns and greens. Another movement catches my eye and a flock of chickadees, feathers the color of tree bark, take shape as they flit above my head.

Brighten Your Day

Stresses fade away against this backdrop. And for good reason! Studies have shown that being out in nature has many health benefits.

Gray skies and shorter days can affect our mood. Approximately 20 percent of the adult U.S. population is affected by seasonal changes, ranging from a mild case of the winter blues to the more severe seasonal affective disorder. Reduced levels of sunlight can lead to a drop in serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects our moods, as well as disrupting the body’s level of melatonin which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

It comes as no surprise that, just like plants, humans need light to thrive. Even on these rainy days, being outdoors can give us that dose of light. It may not be quite as effective as basking in the summer sunshine, but it’s enough to boost our serotonin levels sufficiently to have a positive effect on our mood. (Source: Psychiatry MMC)

Being outside in nature has also proved to be beneficial in dealing with chronic depression. Researchers have discovered that time in nature reduces a tendency for rumination; a term cognitive specialists use to refer to a mental state, familiar to many of us, where we mull over all the things wrong with ourselves and our lives.

Brooding is neither healthy nor helpful and can be a precursor to depression. This thought process is associated with increased activity in an area of the brain known as the subgenual prefrontal cortex. Time spent walking outdoors in natural settings reduces this neural activity and disrupts the “broken record” negative thought patterns. (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America)

Clear Your Mind

Ever found yourself wrestling to come up with a solution to some intractable problem? Or working at your computer only to hit a mental block? Overwhelmed by tasks you feel too distracted to focus on anything?

Research points to the restorative power of taking a walk in nature. Being outdoors in green spaces gives us a “brain break” from mental fatigue; our minds are engaged effortlessly helping to restore focus and attention. Fresh air and exercise effectively clears away the mental fog, enabling us to think more clearly and improve short term memory.

Walking also encourages the free flow of ideas, stimulating creative thinking. We might just come up with a solution to that problem by taking a walk in the woods. (Source: Association for Psychological Science and here)

Walk the Walk

And there’s the physical benefit! As Nike reminds us, just do it! When we take a walk outside, not only does our brain increase production of those feel-good chemicals; exercise is also beneficial, from helping to control weight to preventing or managing a wide range of health concerns including stroke, heart disease and diabetes. (Sources: American Psychological Association and Mayo Clinic)

Gazing at the flock of chickadees above my head, I’m reminded that just being in nature makes us feel good. Soothing sights, sounds and smells of the forest surround me; the bustle of traffic, crowds, deadlines, holiday planning seems very far away. It might just be the perfect natural, winter prescription!

The Wild Side of Redmond

Three great parks to enjoy all the health benefits from a walk in the woods can be found within a 10-minute drive of downtown Redmond.

Winter is a quieter time in the forest when much of the wildlife lies dormant. However, if you look closely you can still see signs of activity: trees gnawed by beaver, animal scat and tracks in the mud, wood chips at the base of snags where woodpeckers have been pecking for insects.

Spring and the nesting season may seem a long way off, but not for owls. October through December, owls establish their breeding territories. If you’re heading out on the trails later in the day, listen out for the distinctive hoot of a Great Horned Owl or the “who-cooks-for-you” call of a Barred Owl.

• Redmond Watershed Preserve is located 21760 Novelty Hill Road. There is a large parking lot, picnic tables, a restroom and additional space for horse trailers.

Since this beautiful 800-acre wooded area is managed as a nature preserve to protect the forest, wetlands and ponds, no pets are allowed on the trails. The park provides important habitat for a variety of wildlife, including deer, beaver, coyote, numerous bird, amphibian and reptile species, with occasional sightings of bobcats, bear and cougars.

There are more than seven miles of multi-use trails including an ADA accessible trail, to accommodate family groups, hikers, trail runners, trail bikes and horseback riders. A brochure with trail map can be picked up in the parking lot and maps are posted at trail intersections. Trails are also clearly marked to indicate which ones are open to which users.

• Farrel-McWhirter Park is located 19545 Redmond Road. There is a large parking lot for vehicles. Restrooms and covered picnic shelters with electricity and running water are located in the park.

This unique 68-acre park with meadow, stream and forest, includes a children’s animal farm and horse arena with parking for trailers. On the west side of the park you can look out for coyotes hunting for voles in the meadow. A multi-use 1 ¼-mile trail loops through the forest with shorter trails intersecting. A trail from the west side extends north connecting to Juel Park open space and community gardens. Dogs are welcome on the trails but must be kept on a leash.

• Evans Creek Preserve is located just off Redmond-Fall City Road. The lower trailhead is on 224th Ave Northeast; the upper trailhead is on Sahalee Way Northeast, one mile up the hill from Redmond-Fall City Road. There are restrooms at the lower parking area and a portable restroom at the upper lot.

Evans Creek is home to chinook, coho and sockeye salmon. The 179-acre Evans Creek Preserve protects important forested and wetland habitat adjacent to a section of the creek. There are 2.6 miles of trails that lead hikers through meadows full of lupines in the spring, along sections of boardwalk over the wetland and a gentle climb through the forest. Dogs are welcome on the trails but must be kept on a leash.

Sheila Dearden is a freelance writer and longtime Redmond resident. She was a co-founder of the nonprofit environmental education organization Nature Vision and has been a Lake Washington School District teacher for many years. She strongly supports the City of Redmond’s vision for creating a vibrant community inspired by nature.