Land snorkelling
A different way of hiking
In early 2025 I came across the term Land snorkelling and it definitely piqued my curiosity about what it was because as a term its probably one that most hikers aren’t really familiar with, at least by name, even though they may be familiar with the practice. So what is Land snorkelling, what defines it and why should this form part of your hiking practice? Read on to find out more.
So what is land snorkelling?
Unsurprisingly this is a term out of the US but having said that its not a new concept originating in the early 1990’s when artists Clyde Aspevig and Carol Guzman created the term after hiking outside the desert town of Sedona, Arizona. The two were struck by how the colours of the red sands complemented the greens of the succulents.
“Land snorkeling is taking the time to savor aspects of nature we ordinarily don’t see or pay attention to. Land snorkelers wander thru nature with no intention of hiking to a destination. One contemplates what we find in nature and explores every possible connection with all parts of our natural world. Each blade of grass, rock, or creature has some connection to us…………
We open up all of our senses to experience the hidden treasures of nature. We develop our intellect thru our senses. We sniff it, touch it, examine the texture, color, shape, etc. etc.” Clyde Aspevig
Most hikers can relate to this concept and to varying degrees may already practice this. When you are doing a designated hike and are often on a deadline that requires you to reach a particular campsite or to meet the end of track transport, your focus is on the destination and meeting your timelines.
Alternatively your interest may lay in the broader landscape. The views from the mountain tops, the sunrise and sunset, the big bold rock formations rather than the views at your feet.
When Gill and I walked the Overland Track in Tasmania in 2017 we took a side trip to the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Within five minutes of leaving our hut came across an area of mosses and lichens that at best would have been less than 50 square metres and I could have spent the entire day just taking photos (I have a thing for mosses and lichens)!
The photos below are just a handful of examples and in some of the images I spent an average of 15-20 minutes with my Nikon SLR camera and 105 mm Macro lens taking photo after photo. In this instance I was truely wandering and not particularly worried about the destination which is why on some hikes it takes me longer than planned to get where I’m going.
Macro image of a Tiger Moth and a blade of grass. I spent around 30 minutes looking at this moth and taking photos
Billy Buttons Macro photo with over 20 insects. This flower, one of hundreds in this area, was the only one that had these insects, and I looked!
Lichen and moss on a tree in Tasmania
Lovely Red Fungi on K’gari (Fraser Island). This tiny little fungi was just off the edge of the trail and was the only one there – it would have been so easy to miss except my ‘fungi radar’ is always on
Octopus Stinkhorn on the Settlers Track in Namadgi National Park ACT – I hadn’t seen one in the past 10 years
Eucalyptus bark after rain. The bark is attractive in itself but the rain just adds that extra degree of ‘something special’
What defines land snorkelling?
So what defines Land snorkelling?
As a generalisation you are focused on the fine detail rather than the broad landscape and where you are going. In doing so:
- Your senses are engaged
- You aren’t just looking at what’s there but are using all your senses; sight, touch, and smell. You can visit the same destination on different days or at different times of the same day and have a different experience due to the prevailing weather, the light/shadow that are impacting the area.
- Your curiosity is engaged
- Rather than just engaging your senses you are also engaging your brain. Looking at the environment, down to the fine detail, and trying to work out why the thing you’re looking at is the way it is. If I have internet access on-trail or have offline access, I will use one of my various apps to identify something. If not when I get home I’ll do some research to try to identify what I saw. In my case this means I have taken lots of photos to help me remember.
Land Snorkelling versus Forest Bathing
For those of you who are familiar with Forest bathing you can be forgiven for thinking that these are the same thing but there are some differences. Forest bathing is as the name suggests, immersing yourself in a forest environment whereas Land snorkelling includes every type of environment.
More importantly Forest bathing is all about mindfulness and stress relief. I find that mindfulness shifts my focus away from the fine detail which is what you are trying to focus on in Land snorkelling. Yes I do get stress relief from hiking but that’s a by-product rather than a goal.
Forest bathing
Final thoughts
I enjoy a wide range of experiences when I hike. I love solo hiking, but I also love hiking with my wife. I love the expansive landscape views but also enjoy the fine details, so much so I drive my wife insane sometimes as I lag behind for the 20th time that day looking at some little detail that most people don’t notice.
Its good to finally have a name for this hiking practice as I’ve been doing it for years and on occasion I will head out bush with my bulky SLR camera and Macro lens that weigh just under 2 kg with no destination in mind just to spend a few hours looking at the fine detail. When I do this as a dedicated trip I don’t take any other camera lenses with me as it forces me into a Land snorkelling mindset. I also do this as part of any normal hike that I do but will engage in and out of this mindset rather than focus on this as a standalone activity.
So if you haven’t tried Land snorkelling a try, give it a go – it will bring new life to hiking trails that you may not have noticed previously.
References
- https://www.landsnorkel.com/landsnorkeling-blog/star-tribune-explores-landsnorkeling
- Land snorkelling website USA
Last updated
30 December 2025