Color walks are the upcoming trend that combines exercise and mindfulness to be a new form of walking meditation. Before going on a walk, choose a color, then see how many things you can find with that color along your path. Through the simple task of searching for colors, it places your mind in calm state and allows you to focus your attention on staying in the moment. Meditation plus a scavenger hunt equals the perfect way to reconnect with the world around you. With its diverse trails and rich plant life, Hamilton County has all the trails for every season and color.

  1. Spring
  2. Summer
  3. Fall
  4. How to Take a Color Walk

Spring

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April showers brings May flowers, so you can expect to see bright and fresh colors for the spring such as soft tones of blue and lots of greenery.

 

  • Not only can you take in the beautiful blue skies, but the striking blue bridge on the Hagan-Burke Trail connects the Monon Greenway and Greyhound Trail. With this paved, 1.4-mile-long trail, it gives you plenty of things to explore.
  • Hop on the trails of Prather Park where you can find Jack-in-the-pulpit, a unique plant with green and maroon stripes.
  • Visit the Woodland Gardens in Central Park in April and May to see a palette of spring wildflowers such as swamp milkweed, coneflowers, and marsh marigolds.

Summer

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Summer is nature’s party, where it’s bursting the world with the most vibrant and bold colors. Be sure to find pops of yellow, purple, pink, and blue.

  • As part of Westfield Green Together’s restoration project, they’ve created a new native plant garden that’s blooming in summer colors. Find them along the Monon Trail near the pedestrian bridge on the north side of SR 32.
  • Walk through the mowed trails of Geist Park where it’s surrounded by white and yellow wildflowers, perfect for your next stroll.
  • The Blatchley Nature Study Club has been a hidden gem for over a century, but in the late spring and early summer, they open their gates for their series of guided “wildflower walks.”
  • In Flowing Well Park, not only can you complete their Wildflower Bingo on your walk, but look out for bluebells, yellow trout lily, and bloodroots.
  • Go on a pretty prairie tour at all these parks in Carmel—Central Park, Meadowlark Park, and Founders Park.

Fall

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“Fall” in love with the warm tones of foliage such as red and orange.

  • On the Nickel Plate Trail toward 106th Street, walk under a vibrant tunnel of autumn leaves with trailside flowers planted by local residents for a splash of color.

How to Take a Color Walk

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1. Pick a color.

Under each season are expected colors you can find on your journey. Look for all of them or focus on one.

 

2. Take it slow and stay curious.

Let yourself go at your own pace and notice all the big and small details. Look at leaves, petals, and local art or signs. Plants bloom at different times, so no walk on a familiar trail will feel the same.

 

3. Take photos, journal, or go with a friend.

Be sure to take pictures to document your journey, so you can write about it afterwards or make a scrapbook page about it! Color walking with a friend can be comforting or make it exciting by picking different colors and share your experiences.