How to Get Your Partner to LOVE Hiking

Last updated on April 13th, 2021 at 10:56 pm

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If you are reading this, you love hiking while your partner does not. Perhaps your significant other prefers the indoors. They like to stay inside, watch a movie, read a book, or do something else entirely. This likely leaves you wondering how to get your partner to love hiking as much as you do.

Worry not! We’ve put together a few tips and tricks to help quell your partnership woes and get your sweetheart out on the trails.

It Isn’t About Hiking…Its About Spending Time Together

Even though you’re eager to enjoy an adventurous hike, quality time with your partner is really the point.

Your primary focus should be on spending time together — look at the hike itself as a bonus.

As you introduce hiking to your partner, try to present it to your partner as a way to retreat from the ‘real world’ together, just the two of you. This will emphasize how special and meaningful it is as an activity to which you can surrender together.

Sharing an interesting activity together can strengthen your relationship. Hiking also has numerous physical and mental health benefits, which you can enjoy together as a couple.

Many people look to hiking as a way to unplug from the stresses of everyday life. Getting lost in pure, unobstructed nature can be therapeutic.

Select The First Trail With Your Partner In Mind

We’ve all heard the expression: “First impressions are lasting impressions.” In a large way, the first trail you select will define the experience of hiking as a whole for your partner. Be sure to select a trail that isn’t too difficult for beginners, especially if it is your partner’s first time out. Here are a few tips for selecting your maiden voyage:

Be Flexible About Where To Hike With your Partner

Consider all hiking trails in your local area, not just ones you find suitable for your own fitness level. You may need to do a bit of research to find lesser known or shorter options in your area.

Keep The First Hike Short

Select a trail that can be hiked completely in a few hours or less. Anything too lengthy might be a bit too intense for your partner right out of the gate.

Select an Easier / Moderate Difficulty Trail

Choose an easy to moderate trail for your first time out together. If your partner is too busy struggling with gritty trail conditions and steep climbs to enjoy themselves, they could have a bad experience — one they don’t wish to repeat.

Remain open to hiking less daunting trails with your partner, even though you might find them less stimulating.

Take Seasonality into Account in Your Planning

Seasonal weather is a huge consideration when picking a trail suitable for your partner’s fitness level and experience.

If it is winter in your area, consider that trails may be cold or snowy. Unless your partner enjoys this type of weather and has attire appropriate for low temperatures, wait it out for more favorable conditions.

Be alert to seasonal trail conditions and avoid choosing any trails that are known for extreme or fluctuating weather. Favorable weather will likely result in a favorable reaction from your partner.

Pick an INTERESTING or Unique Trail

A good first trail should have some interesting focal points and features that you both can enjoy.

For example, a journey down to a rushing river or along a wooded mountain ridge will be sure to stimulate your partner’s interest. Or you could opt for a trail with a great view to reward you both for traversing the distance on foot (more on this below!)

Views, Views, Views!!

A scenic vista out to the horizon is not only a satisfying reward for your trek, but it can be a romantic one, too.

Select a trail with a memorable view to share with your partner — you’d be surprised what a sweeping sight of the horizon can do for romance, especially on your first hike together.

Don’t let the trail selection process intimidate you. Just keep the above points in mind and your first experience hitting the trails as a couple will be a breeze.

Ask Them What They Want to Get Out of The Hike

In any relationship, communication is key.

Discuss hiking with your partner openly and encourage feedback on the topic. Respect any differences in opinion that might arise and consider your partner’s stance when attempting to integrate hiking in your relationship.

Be sure to express your values, too. Is it important to have your partner’s willful participation in your hikes together? How important will your partner’s ongoing interest be in the future?

Air out your concerns and queries until you have fully talked it through.

Share your Passion With Your Partner

Hiking is your passion — how wonderful! Now help your partner to see why.

What magic do you see in hiking? Why do you love it so much? How did you get started in the early days? What inspires you to keep going?

Sharing each of these points may help your partner relate to you and your love of the outdoors.

Discuss How Hiking Can Be Fullfilling

As an added boost, emphasize how gratifying it will be when your partner completes his or her first hike. Inspire your partner by ensuring the sense of accomplishment they’ll feel once they do something they never thought they could.

Hiking gives its participants numerous chances to surprise themselves, in ways that few other activities can. Highlight this point to help your partner feel the same excitement you do about hiking, but on their own terms.

After all, the only limitations we have are the ones we impose on ourselves.

Make the Hike Low Pressure

Once you’ve selected an appropriate hike to enjoy together, make sure your partner knows that there’s no pressure from your end.

Your partner should get a general sense that you are on the same level, so your expectations are irrelevant, if not extremely low.

Let your partner know that there is no need to rush or complete the hike quickly or uncomfortably. The hike will not require any special gear, and no one will be judging his or her pace or hiking style.

Remind your partner that it’s just the two of you out there together enjoying each other, and enjoying nature.

Prepare with Snacks

Nourishment is key to enjoying the hiking experience hiking. Proper nutrition is essential for maintaining energy levels and muscle oxygenation as you exercise on the trails.

Nothing could be worse than starting a hike only to discover you’re underprepared or underfed.

Make sure both you and your partner don’t leave home “hangry,” and make sure you bring along a sufficient supply of healthy, nutritious snacks to eat along the way.

The golden rule is to bring 1½ to 2½ pounds of food (or 2,500 to 4,500 calories) per person per day. For a smaller day hike, you’d do fine to stick to the lighter end of that range.

For beginners, keep it simple and choose lightweight, portable foods you know you and your partner like to eat.

Nuts, dried fruit, trail mix, dried meats, and peanut butter are just a few examples of healthy foods to bring on a hike. These will travel easily and provide enough calories and protein to sustain you on the trails.

For overnight hikes, be sure to bring an extra supply of food.

Have Something Planned for After The Hike

Positive reinforcement will lock in your partner’s confidence level after your hike has ended.

Surround hike time with other fun activities to ensure that your partner will associate hiking with fun. A cup of coffee together beforehand, a light lunch afterward, or even just a bit of whatever your partner enjoys will go a long way in shaping your partner’s overall hiking experience.

Think of these adjacent activities as small rewards to thank your partner for their flexibility, as well as additional ways to spend quality time together.

Don’t be shy — you’ll really score some extra points when you mention how important these shared experiences with your sweetheart are to you.

Don’t Force It – Just Enjoy Each Other And See What Happens

The first step to building healthy experiences is enjoying each other.

Relish each experience you have together as a chance to deepen your partnership connection. Hiking is just one such experience.

While it’s true that you can’t force someone to like something, at the end of the day it’s all about enjoying the journey.

Good Luck!

Sharing your love of hiking with your significant other is the perfect chance to bring together two things you love — your partner and the great outdoors.

Before long, you just might find that your partner enjoys hitting the trails as much as you do, and that hiking is an activity you have both grown to enjoy.

Either way, support and encouragement are the recipe for success.

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