Ancient Forests, Enduring Partnerships: Tara Lila’s Journey to Becoming an ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail
Some forests have been inviting people to slow down for generations. At Tara Lila, just south of Eagle River in northern Wisconsin, the invitation begins beneath towering pines and hardwoods, across a boardwalk winding through a sphagnum bog, and beside glacial boulders left behind thousands of years ago.
Part of a 1,600-acre conservancy dedicated to protecting and sharing these remarkable landscapes, Tara Lila is a place where ecological stewardship and human connection have long gone hand in hand. Today, that legacy continues with the certification of Tara Lila as an ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail. For Christopher Nafziger, Operations Manager of Tara Lila and President of the Three Eagle Trail Foundation, the trail represents another way to fulfill the conservancy’s mission of protecting the land while creating meaningful opportunities for people to experience it. Rather than simply hiking through the forest, visitors are invited to slow down, awaken their senses, and discover a deeper relationship with this living landscape.
Working alongside Christopher and the Tara Lila team was Cindy Conlon, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide and Trails Consultant. Together, they explored the landscape through the lens of Forest Therapy, listening to the character of the forest, identifying places that naturally invite reflection, and shaping a trail that honors both the ecological integrity of the land and the experiences of those who visit it. The process was never about imposing something new on the forest. It was about recognizing what was already present and creating thoughtful invitations for others to discover it.
The trail gently guides visitors through a mosaic of northern forest habitats, cedar swamps, mixed woodlands, quiet clearings, and wetlands rich with birdsong. Along the way, the landscape itself becomes the guide, inviting moments of stillness, curiosity, and connection.
This spirit of collaboration lies at the heart of the ANFT Trail, Space & Place Partnership Program.
Every certification is a partnership between land stewards who know and care for a place, Forest Therapy Guides who help reveal its unique qualities, and ANFT’s shared commitment to fostering relationships between people and the more-than-human world. The result is more than a certified trail. It is a place where conservation, community, and wellbeing come together, where the wisdom of an ancient forest can continue to inspire those who walk beneath its canopy for generations to come. Congratulations to Christopher, Cindy, and everyone whose vision and stewardship have brought this beautiful partnership to life. We are honored to welcome Tara Lila to the growing community of ANFT Certified Trails, Spaces & Places.
