You may have heard or read that walking was the preferred exercise during the pandemic. Folks put on their walking shoes and took to the streets, parks, and trails for diverse reasons – fresh air, social distancing, scenery changes, and, of course, exercise.

More people ventured into the state’s public and private forests to walk. Sometimes these were extended walks, perhaps, involving overnight adventures. More likely, though, they were short jaunts following a path or trail that looped across the landscape and back to the house or car. Even if you had never walked there before, becau...