The Rocky Mountain Outdoor Festival returned to Colorado Springs on June 21, 2025, drawing an unprecedented crowd of more than 15,000 visitors. The surge in attendance highlighted a growing movement where outdoor recreation intersects with mental health awareness—particularly for men seeking more meaningful connections with nature and one another.
The annual event, known for celebrating adventure sports and eco-conscious living, featured an extensive lineup of activities including rock climbing, mountain biking, and wilderness skills workshops. Notably, men accounted for nearly 60% of the festival’s attendees, marking a clear interest in outdoor pursuits that also serve as vehicles for personal and emotional wellbeing.
This year, a key addition to the festival was the debut of “Rugged Resilience,” a men’s wellness tent that placed a spotlight on stress relief through nature immersion. Curated by licensed therapists and seasoned outdoor guides, the tent hosted guided “forest bathing” hikes, mindfulness-based wilderness walks, and survival clinics that emphasized mental endurance alongside physical capability.
Forest bathing, a Japanese-originated practice known as Shinrin-yoku, encourages mindful walking through wooded environments. Backed by research linking it to lower cortisol levels and improved mood, this practice resonated deeply with attendees—many of whom shared anecdotes of clarity, calm, and renewed focus following the sessions. The initiative aligns with a growing body of evidence suggesting that time spent in green spaces can significantly enhance psychological resilience, especially among men who may otherwise be reluctant to seek traditional mental health services.
Also drawing attention was the festival’s eco-marketplace, where more than 100 vendors showcased sustainable outdoor gear and locally crafted products. Attendees had the opportunity to test eco-friendly hiking boots, solar-powered camping gadgets, and biodegradable trail gear—all aligned with the festival’s mission to promote sustainability. These products weren’t just about reducing environmental impact; they also catered to a demographic increasingly interested in aligning values of health, responsibility, and personal integrity.
Several communal experiences, such as group trail runs and peer-led skill-sharing circles, reinforced the theme of connection. Men participating in these events reported feeling less isolated and more engaged—an outcome organizers attribute to the inclusive and collaborative environment fostered throughout the day. One participant described the shared hike as “the most I’ve talked to other men about real stuff in years,” adding that the natural setting made the conversation flow more easily than in typical social environments.
Festival director Laura Jensen emphasized the importance of designing programming with emotional wellness in mind. “There’s this assumption that men just want to push limits in the outdoors, but what we’re seeing is that they also want space to slow down, reflect, and connect,” she said. “That’s what this festival is evolving into—a place where high-octane adventure meets inner balance.”
The Rocky Mountain Outdoor Festival’s success mirrors a nationwide trend: nature is becoming a refuge for men looking to address stress, burnout, and a desire for deeper interpersonal connections. From mountain retreats that incorporate meditation to men’s hiking clubs focused on emotional openness, a growing number of initiatives are challenging outdated notions of masculinity and encouraging more holistic approaches to wellbeing.
Health professionals are taking notice, too. Dr. Marcus Allen, a psychologist specializing in men’s health, noted that “outdoor programs offer a culturally acceptable ‘gateway’ for many men to address mental health. You’re not going to get a guy to sit on a couch and open up right away, but get him hiking with others, and those walls come down.”
Organizers in Colorado are already exploring ways to expand the festival’s impact. Plans are underway to partner with veteran groups, youth mentorship programs, and mental health organizations to create year-round workshops based on the festival model. The long-term vision is to replicate the event in other outdoor destinations across the country, offering tailored experiences that prioritize both adventure and emotional resilience.
In the broader context, this festival is part of a cultural rethinking of how men engage with health, community, and the environment. As stress and mental health challenges rise nationwide, particularly among working-age men, events like the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Festival offer a timely and needed outlet—not just for escape, but for growth and reconnection.
By merging physical challenge with emotional support and sustainability, the festival isn’t just a celebration of the outdoors—it’s a blueprint for a healthier, more connected future for men across America.