Cairn Making – A Meditative Activity That Can Bring You Closer to the Earth and Your Community

Cairn-making is a surprisingly meditative exercise that can bring people closer to the earth. It’s a great way for you to get your mind off of the everyday and focus more on balance and permanence.

Throughout the history of mankind, cairns have served many different purposes. They may have been made to mark a route, to indicate a food source, or to warn of danger. In North America Native Americans also made here cairns to serve as burial places, a tradition known as inukshuk.

The word “cairn” comes from the Gaelic for “heap of stone”. They are usually constructed in the form a hill. They can range in size from tiny rock sculptures to huge man-made stone hills. Some are comparable to kistvaens or dolmens, but built out of stone instead of ephemeral Earthworks.

Hikers, in particular, have a long and varied use for cairns. They can be used to guide hikers back to the trailhead after a tough day of hiking, or to aid them in finding their way in remote areas of wilderness.

A well-placed trail cairn is a lifesaver and can guide stranded hikers or those who have difficulty finding their way. Some people claim cairns are not part of the natural environment and that they violate Leave No Trace.