Texting someone and ready to plan the first date? Check out these hiking date ideas to make your planning go as smoothly as your date will.
Planning the first date is stressful. There are so many details that you want to get right and you may not know the other person’s honest preferences as well as you will on the fifth date.
But, the best kind of dates are the ones that get you both out of your comfort zone and trying new things. This is why a hiking date can be perfect.
You can talk while you engage in a different activity, you can customize the hiking or walking trail to your skill levels, and you can always resort to watching the scenery around you if you’re feeling awkward or unsatisfied with the date.
These 23 hiking date ideas will make sure that all of you have to worry about on your hiking date is learning about the other person and whether they’re right for you.
This post is all about the best hiking date ideas.
HIKING DATE IDEAS:
1. Your hiking date outfit
The first step in planning the perfect hiking date is the outfit. Find the perfect hiking outfit to get you in the mood for a fun date. Think of the type of comfortable clothing that makes you feel cute while also being entirely functional.
Avoid sacrificing comfort for the sake of an adorable fit. Remember that you can always wear the super cute heels and bodycon dress on your second date. So, get a supportive pair of shoes and a breathable outfit that will let you get sweaty and still feel good.
Whether you go with a sports bra and bike shorts or a loose-fitting t-shirt and leggings, remember that this date is all about getting to know the other person and figuring out whether you like them no matter what outfit you decide on.
2. Get ready for those awkward silences
We know they’re going to happen, so prepare yourself. Do some journaling or research some cute conversation starters if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Overall, keep in mind that it’s totally fine to have lulls in the conversation. Depending on whether you two choose a location with difficult terrain or not, you might huffing and puffing the entire time anyway.
Awkward silences are normal. They can even be a positive sign that you and your date care enough about each other that you’re nervous to say the right thing.
3. Avoid social media for the day
As much as you’ll be looking your best for this date and you’ll want proof of how good you looked, this is a great opportunity to unplug.
Yes, this is a date and you get to learn about someone cool that you met in person or on a dating app, but it’s also a good way to unwind from your day-to-day life. This is even truer if you’re not an experienced hiker.
Use the date as an opportunity to get to know the other person while also letting yourself enjoy the beautiful scenery. So, avoid the fit pics and take them on your fifth hiking date when the person will know all of your angles and be 100% ready to capture them.
4. Choose your hiking destination well
Think through your options and choose the best type of hike for you and your date. Ask them about their skill level, preferences, and any of their favorite places. They might be active and athletic but still want a slower date with you.
Regardless, if the two of you are experienced hikers, then you might want to choose a more strenuous hike. However, the two of you may be looking for more of a romantic, calm hike that doesn’t stress your bodies out while you’re trying to talk. So, you might choose some easy hikes.
Bonus points if you send your date three options and tell them it’s their pick.
5. Research your local national park
There’s no better way to explore the great outdoors than to find a national park around you if it’s accessible, and visit it with a cute hike. National parks almost always have a variety of difficulty levels.
Plus, they have incredible views that make every hike worth the work and a great idea. Plus, you get to support the national park system, and caring about the environment on the first date is a definite green flag.
If you’re lucky and do the proper national park research, you two nature lovers might even find a national park with a beautiful waterfall.
6. Figure out which time of day makes the most sense
The time of day comes down to preference. Communicate with your date about what they prefer or what works best with their schedule. Plus, you might want to add in some time to get ready after work or time for decompression because we all know that work can be exhausting.
Be sure to choose your location before you think about the time of day just in case you need to visit the location at a certain time to get a great view. Secure this detail, so you can decide when to meet up and if you want to grab some food before the big or not-so-big hike.
7. Check the weather forecast to avoid unpleasant surprises
Bad weather has the potential to make your date even better and bring out your adventurous side. But, it also has the potential to completely disrupt the flow of your date. No one likes to freeze while they’re on a hike that’s supposed to be warm and comforting.
So, do the research beforehand to make sure that you schedule your hike date for a day that won’t have any type of extreme weather. However, if you’re worried about bad weather hitting you out of nowhere, do yourself a favor and bring some lightweight supplies like a rain jacket.
You may not need it, but at least you’ll have something to assuage your anxiety.
8. Decide on the best hiking trail for you
Do the hike that you want to do. This isn’t the time to stress out about flexing. The only time you need to leave your comfort zone on this hike is when you’re getting to know your date and laughing with them.
So, if you remember none of the hiking date tips, do keep in mind that you should pick the type of hiking adventure that excites you. Choose a great place with a beautiful natural setting unless that’s not your thing.
If your idea of the perfect hiking date has nothing to do with some remote location, then go for a walk around a public place. Not only is this super safe when meeting someone new, but you can find a beautiful place without leaving your city.
9. Consider a sunset hike to make it extra romantic
If you’re in the thick of planning your hike and you’re just not sure what to do with all of the choices, you can also opt for a late hike. Watch the sunset and get some incredible views along the way.
Not only is it the perfect way to end your day, but it’s also a great first date. Or a great date idea in general if this isn’t the first date. You can slow things down a little bit and enjoy the scenery.
You may not get to see the sunset very often or, if you do, you don’t sit down to appreciate it because you have a life and lots going on. Going for an end of day hike is the best of both worlds because you can start associating calm and joy with the new person in your life.
10. Be sure to pack a first aid kit
You can’t forget the essential items. They may not be the fun things to pack and they take up space in your valuable backpack, but you need them. Or, better, hopefully, you don’t need a first aid kid.
That makes it all the more necessary if one of you falls and hurts yourself. Bring some Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, ointment, and a wrap. While there’s a good chance you’ll be fine, your first aid kit is one the most important things you can use to take this from an average hike to an unforgettable and romantic hike.
11. Bring along the bug spray even if you don’t think you’ll need it
There’s a smaller chance this will come in handy. But, if it does come in handy, you won’t want to go without it. An excellent way to ruin a date night is to get eaten up by bugs and go home with a bunch of bug bites.
To avoid carrying around something major you may not need, get a small spray bottle and imagine how impressed your date will be when you whip that out in the nick of time to keep the bugs at bay.
12. Refresh yourselves with a cute picnic lunch
There’s no denying that a picnic means carrying more around on your hike. If you’d rather forgo this idea or wait until the next date, then it’s understandable and you can have a great time with meaningful connection without it.
But, if you are interested, then load up on the yummy cheeses, prepared fruits, and refreshing beverages. For longer hikes or even an easy trail, you can ask your date if they’d be willing to share the load.
Since you both will be enjoying the meals equally, you might ask them to help out with the delicious food.
Plus, there’s no rule saying you have to take a long time getting to your destination. This time, you could opt for a short hike that focuses on you two having a good time while you eat.
13. Consider bringing a bottle of wine along (but leave it in the car)
A bottle of wine is a big commitment to make when you’re talking about a picnic. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth it or that it’s not a good first date idea. It doesn’t get much better than a refreshing glass or plastic cup of wine in the middle of the beauty of nature with fresh air.
And, if all else fails, you can go for your hike, do the physical activity, then come back to the car and pop the cork or unscrew the lid. No matter how you go about it, this is a great way to unwind with someone else who enjoys wine and the outdoors as much as you do.
14. Plan out plenty of time to finish the hike
Provide yourselves with plenty of time to get done without getting stranded. The best hikes are the safest hikes and the ones that don’t involve any added stress besides first date jitters.
So, make sure you do your research ahead of time to determine how long you’ll need to finish the hike. Since it will likely be your first time doing a new trail, assume that you and your date will take a slow, leisurely pace to avoid landing in the dark with half of your hike still to finish.
This is definitely not the time to test for any red flags by having to engage your survival instincts with someone you just met or are newly dating.
15. Bring granola bars because you two will want snacks
Granola bars can provide you with the perfect snack mid-hike. They’re great for times when you want to refuel your body without stopping, which is why this is one of our top tips.
Bring some type of energy bar with you that is portable, tasty, lightweight, and provides a little oomph of energy if you need it going up that hill. Bonus points if you bring one for your date.
Just be sure to check for allergies because you definitely don’t want to break the ice by jamming an Epipen into their thigh. Whether you and your date or avid hikers or not, this is one essential you don’t want to go without.
16. Stay hydrated with a water bottle
Always bring your water bottle. It’s always a good idea to bring a water bottle with you wherever you go, but it’s especially true when you go on a hike. Whether you end up choosing a leisurely stroll through the city or a hard-core mountain hike, you need to stay hydrated.
There will be a lot conditions that you can’t control on this hiking date, like the quality of the other person, how hot it gets all of a sudden, and how badly your feet hurt from your new pair of shoes.
Luckily, hydration is the biggest thing within your control, so bring your cold, full water bottle and drink it.
17. Enjoy quality time with someone new
You’re prepared for your hike with your water bottle, cute and comfortable fit, and essential items all packed away. At this point, you get to do the fun part.
You can focus on getting to know the person who motivated you to get prepared, pack ahead of time, and plan out a beautiful route to hike. So, have a great time with your new person.
Whether this date leads to another or stops after one, you’re trying new things and meeting new people. Reward yourself by letting yourself enjoy the date, even if you just look around at the scenery while you listen to the other person talk about themselves for an hour.
18. Spice up the date with a scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts make for the best dates because you have something to talk about when the conversation comes to a natural lull. Plus, you both get to embrace your creative side and look more closely at the scenery around you to find everything in the scavenger hunt.
The scavenger hunt gives you plenty of opportunities to make it as simple and generalized or as complex and specific as you want. You can research what type of scenes you’ll encounter, whether that’s flora and fauna or people-watching.
Think of prompts like “Find a tree with a broken branch and retrieve the broken branch to use as a walking stick for five minutes” or “Identify a couple who is arguing and interject to tell them they make the cutest couple.” The prompts can look however you want them to.
Remember that the goal of this is to laugh, add interest to the date, and get to know the other person in a fun way.
19. Remember how beautiful the stars will be during a night hike
The further you get out of the city, the more you get to see the stars. When you’re under the stars in the dark, with the appropriate lighting from a flashlight to avoid twisted ankles, you can’t help but make your hiking date romantic.
You get to bundle up during the colder months and spend the warmer months staring up at the stars. There’s no better feeling than having a meaningful conversation with someone you might start calling your partner while looking up at the stars.
Plus, if you live in the city, you may not get to see them very often, so this might be a good excuse.
20. Plan out your second date on the spot and suggest a sunrise hike
You can even plan out your next date with the other person present, as long as this one is going well of course. Offer a sunrise hike to test out how spunky and adventurous your date is, even if you suggest it as a joke.
It’s okay, we’re not all morning people and we can always find videos and pictures of beautiful sunrises. And, yet, something is fascinating about meeting someone in the early morning before most people wake up.
You can learn a lot about people when you get them up early and meet them before they’ve made themselves presentable to everyone else.
21. Remember that a romantic walk is always an option
When all else fails, go for a pleasant walk. You can still venture out into nature and find a comfortable, relatively flat loop to walk around while you talk to your date.
The two of you don’t have to plan anything especially exciting or use any of the best hiking date ideas for your date to turn out well. All you need are two people who are interested in getting to know each other better and some time to have a conversation.
Any good date idea that has you two talking and enjoying each other’s company is enough to make this the best date you’ve ever been on.
22. Take note of the memorable moments
Take pictures of each other, laugh together, and be present with your date. Notice the moments that bring you joy because these will either be the moments that you share with your grandkids or the moments you look back on when you were having the best time.
Take videos of each other, get vulnerable about your struggles to connect, and play music that you think the other person will like. Memorable moments come out of nowhere, so be ready!
23. Plan out an activity to do at the end of the hike
Talk with your date about getting some food afterward, depending on the time of day you complete the hike. Maybe you can go to a movie or hang out at a bar.
It’s always fun to end a hike in a unique way by spending some time together in a different setting to see if you can get to know each other in new and interesting ways.
