The Trail Journal is a collection of reflections, practical hiking guidance, and articles exploring Christian solitude, spiritual formation, and guided wilderness experiences. Whether you’re preparing for your first hike or looking to deepen your walk with God, these writings are intended to help you slow down, pay attention, and journey with greater intention.
New to Eremos? We recommend starting with Why Eremos Exists, then exploring the Solitude Guide before joining us on the trail.
Every trail leaves something behind.
Sometimes it’s a photograph. Sometimes it’s a conversation. Sometimes it’s a question that stays with us long after the hike is over.
The Trail Journal is where we gather those moments. Here you’ll find reflections on Scripture, the wilderness, guided hiking, solitude, and the quiet ways God often meets us when we slow down enough to pay attention.
Whether you’re preparing for your first hike, practicing solitude at home, or simply looking for encouragement in your walk with Christ, we hope these writings help you continue the journey.
New to the Trail Journal? Start here.
New to hiking? Or not sure what you need to hike with Eremos?
Recent Trail Journals
- What Shapes Your Desires?
Beneath Every Step There is a question beneath nearly every decision we make, though we rarely stop long enough to ask it. What do I desire? Most of us spend our lives evaluating our choices. We ask whether we made the right decision, chose the right path, or handled a… Read more: What Shapes Your Desires? - What Do You Actually Do During Solitude?
It’s one of the questions I hear most often. “What am I supposed to do during solitude?” It’s a fair question. For many of us, life is built around accomplishing something. We measure our days by what we finished, what we learned, or what we crossed off the list. Then… Read more: What Do You Actually Do During Solitude? - How to Begin a Simple Practice of Solitude
If you’ve never practiced solitude before, it can feel overwhelming. We tend to imagine solitude as something reserved for pastors, monks, or people who can disappear into the mountains for days at a time. We picture hours of uninterrupted silence and profound spiritual experiences. Most of us don’t live that… Read more: How to Begin a Simple Practice of Solitude - Before God Transforms
Life has a way of revealing the hidden things in us. Sometimes we don’t know they are there. Sometimes we choose to believe they aren’t. Eventually, we all discover something about ourselves we didn’t expect to find. Anger. Bitterness. Fear. Grief. Whatever it is, we are rarely prepared for what… Read more: Before God Transforms - The Gift of Paying Attention
There is a difference between seeing and paying attention. Most of us move through life seeing thousands of things every day. We see people, places, responsibilities, problems, opportunities, and distractions. Our eyes are constantly taking in information, but very little of it receives our attention. Paying attention is different. It… Read more: The Gift of Paying Attention - Lessons from a Quiet Trail: The Porch Was Part of the Trail
I spent the weeks leading up to Eremos’ first beta hike wrestling with doubt. The plans had been made. Several people had said they would come. Then, one by one, life happened. Schedules changed. Conflicts came up. The group became smaller than I had imagined. With every cancellation, discouragement grew.… Read more: Lessons from a Quiet Trail: The Porch Was Part of the Trail - Why the Destination Matters More Than the Distance
Ask someone about their favorite hike, and they’ll usually begin by describing the destination. A waterfall tucked away in the woods. A mountain summit with miles of uninterrupted views. A quiet overlook where the world seems to slow down for a while. Those places are worth remembering. But at Eremos,… Read more: Why the Destination Matters More Than the Distance - WHAT THE WILDERNESS REVEALS ABOUT OUR INNER LIFE
The wilderness has a way of removing distractions we did not realize were carrying so much weight. When the pace slows and the noise fades, something else begins to surface: thoughts, desires, fears, clarity, confusion; things that were always present but easier to ignore in busier environments. The Wilderness Removes… Read more: WHAT THE WILDERNESS REVEALS ABOUT OUR INNER LIFE - What to Expect on Your First Guided Hike.Joining something new always comes with a few unknowns. You might be wondering what the day will feel like on a guided hiking trip, who you’ll be hiking with, or whether you’re expected to say the right things or keep a certain pace. At Eremos, we don’t expect you to… Read more: What to Expect on Your First Guided Hike.
By Category
- Foundations (2)
- Podcast Trailhead (2)
- Solitude & Practice (4)
- Trail Reflections (3)
By Date
- August 2026 (2)
- July 2026 (9)
By Tag
- Attentiveness (1)
- Desire (1)
- Direction (1)
- Discover (6)
- Lessons From A Quiet Trail (1)
- Longing (1)
- Practice (4)
- Prepare (2)
- Psalm 139 (1)
- Reflect (3)
- Revelation (1)
- Season 1 (2)
- Self-Examination (1)
- Spiritual Formation (2)
Reading can point us toward the wilderness, but at some point the invitation becomes personal. When you’re ready to step away from the noise and experience these rhythms for yourself, we’d love to walk with you.
Every journey begins somewhere.
The question is not how far you go… but whether you are willing to slow down enough to notice what is already present.
Making the Journey Possible
We believe finances should not be the reason someone misses the opportunity to step away, slow down, and listen. If cost is a barrier, Trail Vouchers are available to help make an Eremos experience possible.
Every participant joins the same experience with the same preparation, expectations, and opportunity to encounter God on the trail.
Learn more about Trail Vouchers