Urban Reset Overnight: A Catskills Mindfulness Retreat
Extend your reset beyond the day with an immersive overnight experience in the forest.
Adventure Snapshot
🌿 Activity: Mindfulness retreat, guided hiking & overnight camping experience
⏱️ Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
🥾 Distance: ~7 miles over three days
⛰️ Elevation: ~1,700 ft gain and loss (includes summit of Big Indian Mountain)
🧭 Difficulty: Moderate
📍 Location: Catskill Mountains, NY
👥 Group Size: Small group experience
What if the reset didn’t end at sundown?
Our Urban Reset experience, breathwork, sound meditation, sensory walks, and deep forest immersion, unfolds over three days in the Catskills. With more time in nature, the reset deepens: the quiet that settles after dark, the stars overhead, the sound of a nearby stream, and waking slowly to birdsong and morning light.
Led by NYS-licensed guide and nature-connected coach Herb Brooks, this three-day retreat expands on the core elements of our signature Urban Reset, creating space for a more gradual arrival, fuller days in the forest, and a more integrated close to the experience.
On day one, we transition out of the city and into the mountains, arriving at camp and settling in with a guided hike, grounding practices, and an opening circle to set intentions for the days ahead. As night falls, we gather for a shared meal, light sound meditation, and a chance to ease into the stillness of the forest.
Day two offers a full, unhurried day of immersion. We begin slowly with a mindful morning before setting out on a guided hike to the summit of Big Indian Mountain. The afternoon invites rest, reflection, and solo time in nature, followed by sensory practices and a deeper evening experience of sound, connection, and stargazing.
On day three, we turn toward integration. Through gentle breathwork, reflection, and a closing ceremony, we create space to carry the experience forward before hiking out and returning to the city.
This experience blends mindfulness, movement, and time in nature, offering a more complete reset, one that unfolds gradually and stays with you long after you leave the forest.
What You'll Learn
🌬️ Breathwork techniques to calm the mind and regulate the nervous system
👣 Mindfulness practices including sensory awareness and silent walking
🎵 The role of sound and vibration in meditation and relaxation
🌿 How nature immersion supports mental clarity and emotional well-being
🧘 Techniques for reflection, intention setting, and personal reset
🏔️ How physical movement and time in nature work together to restore balance
The Destination Backcountry Difference
Why reset with us? Our NY State licensed wilderness guides are not just hike leaders—they are passionate facilitators dedicated to helping people reconnect with nature in meaningful ways.
This experience is led by Herb Brooks, a wilderness guide and nature-connected coach trained through the EarthBased Institute in Colorado. Herb brings together mindfulness practices and outdoor experience to create a retreat that is both grounding and transformative.
This is more than a wellness experience. It’s an opportunity to step fully away from daily routines and allow the natural environment to shape your reset.
By the end of the retreat, you’ll leave feeling grounded, refreshed, and more connected—to yourself and to the natural world.
What's Included?
🚐 Transportation to and from NYC
☕ Breakfast: Fresh fruit, donuts, and a selection of coffee and tea for the drive
🍽️ Meals: Gourmet lunches, a campfire dinner, and breakfast in the woods. Vegetarian and vegan options available, and we’re happy to accommodate dietary needs and allergies
🏕️ Group camping gear (tents available to borrow)
🌄 Full guidance from Herb Brooks, NYS licensed guide and nature-connected coach
Schedule
Day One
Between noon–3pm TBD Brooklyn Pickup near Barclays
12:30–3:30pm TBD Manhattan Pickup at Grand Central
Rest Stop
Arrival at Trailhead + Guided Hike to Camp + Camp Setup
Opening Circle + Intention Setting (sage / palo santo)
Campfire Dinner + Light Sound Meditation + Stargazing until Bedtime
Day Two
8:00–10:00 Breakfast + Coffee + Slow Morning Wake-Up
10:00–1:30 Guided Summit Hike + Mindfulness + Lunch During Hike
~1:30–3:30 Rest + Hammock Time + Journaling + Optional Solo Wanders
~3:30–5:30 Sensory Forest Immersion + Silent Walk + Nature Connection Practices
~6:00 Campfire Dinner + Group Reflection + Sound Bath + Stargazing until Bedtime
Day Three
8:00–10:00 Breakfast + Coffee + Breathwork Session
10:00–12:30 Creative Nature Practice (journaling / sit spot / group sharing)
12:30 Light Lunch + Integration Circle + Closing Ceremony
~2:00–3:00 Pack Up Camp + Hike to Van
~4:30 Rest Stop
~7:00 Manhattan Drop Off
~7:30 Brooklyn Drop Off
All times are intentionally flexible. We adjust every experience to the needs and pace of the group.
What Do I Need to Bring With Me?
Must have
🎒 Backpack (daypack is fine — no heavy gear required)
💤 Sleeping bag
🛏️ Sleeping pad
💧 2, 1-liter water bottles
🔦 Headlamp
🎽 Wear: Comfortable, breathable layers suitable for hiking and sleeping outdoors
🥾 Footwear: Sturdy sneakers, trail runners, or hiking boots
Good to have
🌧️ Rain shell
🕶️ Sunglasses
🧢 Hat
🩴 Camp shoes
FAQs
What happens after I book my adventure? You will receive a confirmation email for your adventure within 24 hours of booking. Your guide will reach out 7-10 days before your adventure with an update on trail conditions, weather, a final packing list, our adventure waiver, and more.
More questions? Visit our FAQ page here.
