Is Hiking a Good Date Idea? Tips for a Romantic Outing

A hike can be very romantic, and an opportunity to show your interests to a date. Every hiker at one point has found a great romantic spot that is perfect to take a date to. But is hiking a good date idea?

Hiking is a great date activity since it is both relaxing and sociable. It’s also a terrific way to share pleasant moments with your date and show off your individuality. Only hike with someone you are comfortable with, and make sure they enjoy the outdoors.

Read on to learn more about hiking as a date, about whether it’s a good idea for a first date, and some tips on taking a date on a hike.

Hiking as a date

Hiking can be a good date idea, especially if you’re both into the outdoors. It’s an opportunity to spend time together in nature while doing some exercise. Of course, you’ll need to make sure you’re both into the idea – if your date doesn’t like the outdoors, they might prefer another activity.

Hiking is very low pressure, compare to other date ideas. You can casually talk and get to know each other better. Periods of awkward silence feel less awkward, because you’re doing an activity, and because you just might be out of breath for a second.

Another cool aspect of hiking as a date is that it can be very social because you’re just walking together without distractions. There’s usually bad cellular reception, so you won’t be checking your phone. It’s a quiet environment where you can talk and get to know each other.

Having adventures and shared experiences helps you form a bond, and doing a cool activity like hiking together is a great opportunity for that. You share the difficult and the fun parts and create memories together.

Going on an activity like hiking as a date also shows your personality and what you like to do as a hobby. If you’re very outdoorsy, you probably want to be with someone like you, and going on a hike together shows you’re in the same headspace.

Hiking is also a low-cost activity compared with other date options, and it usually doesn’t feel cheap because it’s a cool experience. Even if you bring snacks and a bottle of wine, it should still cost less than a pint of beer at a bar.

If you want to do a group date, to see how your date is with your friends, taking a hike together can be a great option. A hike is very social but you don’t have to constantly talk with the entire group, so you can spend some of the time with your date and the rest with the group.

Is hiking a good first date?

Hiking is not a good first date, because you don’t really know the person you’re meeting with, how safe they feel with you, and whether they like the outdoors. It’s better to go on a hiking date after you’ve already met.

I’ve gathered a few polls done on the subject, the biggest one being from Twitter with over 22,000 votes, where the question was something along the lines of “is going on a hike a good first date?”. In most polls, the majority voted no. In the big Twitter poll, for example, about 59% of voters said hiking is not a good first date idea.

Commenters had a few thoughts on the subject, and I’ve gathered the main issues mentioned in the polls with hiking as a first date.

First, the person you’re going on the date with doesn’t know you and might find it intimidating to spend time in a secluded area with a person they don’t know. Think about it, they know nothing about you, so they’re very likely to feel scared to go with you somewhere with no people around.

Some people also don’t like the outdoors, so going on a hike won’t be fun for them. On a first date, you don’t really know if your date likes hiking and how fit they are, so it’s safer to go on a different first date.

There’s no escape on a hike if you find you and your date aren’t compatible. Even if you don’t like the person you’re on the date with, you’re still committed to finishing the hike with them – there’s nowhere to leave in the middle.

Some people also want to present the best version of themselves on a first date, and being sweaty and dirty on a hike might not feel like it.

What to bring on a hiking date?

Let’s consider the different things you can bring with you on a hiking date, to make sure you and your date have a fun time.

Tips for hiking dates

If you’ve decided to go on a hike with your date, there are a few tips you can adhere to so you’ll have a fun and successful date:

• Pick an easy trail that will fit both of your fitness levels. You might be outdoorsy and fit, but if the hike is too hard for your date, they won’t have a fun time. Go for an easy hike you both can leisurely complete, so you can focus on talking, getting to know each other, and seeing some nice scenery. I wouldn’t plan a hike of more than a few miles for a date.
  Plan ahead to make sure you’re not lost and bring a map with you. If you’re using a navigation app, make sure to download the map of the area beforehand.
• Pick a romantic destination with nice scenery. You can go by recommendations, to somewhere with a nice view, or to some trail you’ve already done and liked. It’s best if there’s a spot along the trail where you can sit down on a blanket, relax, and talk.
• Bring snacks, and maybe wine if you like it. On a quick day trip, you can spare the weight, and some snacks and a bottle of wine can add a lot to make the hike feel more like a date.
• Make sure your date is prepared. Maybe they’re not into hiking and don’t know what to bring and what to wear, so talk to them beforehand so you know they’ll have everything they need to have a fun time.
• Inform someone of where you are. Especially if you’re going on the date with someone you haven’t been out with a lot before, make sure someone knows where you are and let them know when you’re back.

Final Thoughts

In this post, we’ve discussed whether a hike is a good date idea, and considered a few tips on making the date successful.

Ideally, I wouldn’t recommend suggesting or going on a hike as a first date, because you don’t really know the person you’re going with. But if you’ve already been out for a while, and you trust who you’re with, a hike can be a really fun date.