Mindful Hiking: Bull Hill, Cold Spring, NY

A day to commune with nature, leave your phone behind, and recharge in the beauty all around you.

“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”— John Muir

Mindful Hiking is an opportunity to be in nature with more awerness, calmness and joy. To leave phone behind for a bit and listen to yourself and nature around. To have space to be with yourself, nature and others in meaningful way.

We’ll begin with a guided nature meditation and a period of noble silence, moving slowly, breathing deeply, and letting the land bring us back to presence. Later, we’ll gently shift into connection—sharing space, stories, and community.

What to Expect:

• Presence Practices: Gentle invitations to notice your breath, your steps, and the quiet wisdom of the natural world.

• Silent Walking: Time to walk in silence, allowing your nervous system to soften and settle.

• Mindful Connection: After silence, we’ll open space for conversation and authentic sharing with others.

• Community Lunch: Eating together mindfully, with the option for a closing circle.

Why Join?

• To step out of hurry and into harmony
• To calm the mind and open the heart
• To connect deeply with nature and community
• To meet new people in an intentional, mindful way
• To carry home inspiration that silence and connection together can spark

Practical Details:

Date: September 26, 2026

Meeting Point: Grand Central Terminal at 8:30 AM EST

Train Departure: 8:55 AM to Cold Spring

Return: Around 5:00 PM EST (you’re welcome to stay longer in Cold Spring)

Location of the hike: Bull Hill, Cold Spring, NY

👉 Please read information about the hike to ensure it aligns with your health and comfort level.

What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, hat, 2 liters of water, lunch, snacks, journal and pen, sunscreen, bug spray.

Phones Off

We encourage turning off your phone for half—or the whole—day. You can choose your mindful way of being with your device. We recommend taking just 2–3 photos of nature or yourself, but of course you are free to do what feels necessary.

Day Layout

• 8:30 AM — Meet at Grand Central
• 8:55 AM — Train to Cold Spring
• 10:15 AM — Arrive at Cold Spring station
• 10:45 AM — Orientation, noble silence, phones away, printed instructions for walking meditation
• 11:00 AM — Start hike in silence
• 12:00 PM — Check-in, continue walking
• 1:00 PM — Mindful lunch (minimal talking)
• 1:30 PM — Integration & sharing circle, open conversation
• 2:00 PM — Continue hike, silence optional, phones off except for emergencies
• 4:00 PM — Closing circle
• 4:30 PM — Walk back to station

✨ It will be a day of slowing down, pausing in nature, and reconnecting—with yourself, with others, and with the world around you.

Organizer: Marina Romashko (marina@bil.nyc).

Marina Romashko is the Founder of Big Idea Lab and a Mindfulness-Based Productivity Coach. A lifelong hiker, meditator, and nature lover, she is inspired to create spaces where we can slow down, set aside our phones, and experience deeper union with ourselves, nature, and others.

You can learn more about her work at www.bil.nyc.