Full moon hikes and night paddles offer new experiences on conserved lands
Massachusetts land trusts are finding creative ways to connect people with nature after dark.
Around the country, land trusts are finding creative ways to connect people with nature after dark. In Massachusetts, Kestrel Land Trust, Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and The Trustees of Reservations, all of which are accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, have partnered with Adventure East, a local business, to host moonlit hikes and paddles, inviting people to experience conservation lands in a new light.
The events are part of a global trend in “noctourism,” with travelers seeking nighttime adventures from stargazing to eclipse chasing. A $9.3 billion industry worldwide, noctourism reflects a growing desire to avoid daytime crowds and excessive sun while embracing the quiet mystery of the natural world after dark.
Kestrel Land Trust has found that the shift resonates in their work.
“While being in nature during the day can be rejuvenating and healing, if you're not used to being outdoors at night, it can feel like a whole other world,” said Kari Blood, the land trust’s community engagement director. “It’s a nice way to stretch your comfort zone. People experience nature differently at night. They hear different sounds, their senses are attuned differently.”
Hikes up Mount Norwottuck and Peaked Mountain, treks with Mount Grace to Stratton Mountain, and rambles at The Trustees’ Notchview offer unique perspectives under the full moon. Adventure East also leads kayak excursions on the Connecticut River, sometimes timed to meteor showers.
This article originally appeared in Saving Land, Fall 2025 (Vol. 44 No. 4).