This year, skip the boring date night and head for the hills for a truly special and memorable adventure with your crush. We've hand selected our favorite hikes with our friends at the American Hiking Society, Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Washington's National Park Fund, photographer Caitlin Laurent, and her boyfriend- and read how Roy Steves took a girl on a hiking first date (along with some Pad Thai)...and now they are celebrating 10 years together!

While we can't claim Backpacker's Pantry Pad Thai will make you fall in love, it sure helps!

Lake Louise: Caitlin Laurent, photographer

"The short period between seasons in the Canadian Rockies is such a special time for embracing new weather while trying to make the most of the conditions you are about to leave behind. 

In an effort to make the most of this time - and not yet ready to say goodbye to our summer backpacking adventures - we ventured out on a day hike at Lake Louise.

This famous lake is usually bustling with tourism but on this day the trails were quiet and we had the whole overlook to ourselves. With a picnic blanket in tow, we had the perfect canvas for a cozy mountaintop picnic overlooking the lake. 

It was cold enough that our fingers froze while we waited for our lunch to cook, but mild enough that the lakes had yet to freeze, making for the most stunning views of blue glacial water contrasting the fresh white snow. 

Nothing beats having a mountain top completely to yourselves. Add a hot lunch and a fresh layer of snow and you have the perfect winter afternoon."

- Caitlin Laurent, photographer

 

Arizona Desert: Customer Roy Steves (and his now wife)

"It was a warm Arizonan September, 2014, and I had a date with an outdoorsy girl I fancied! She stated flatly that you can't really get to know someone over a dinner or a coffee, so she wanted to go hiking and camping as a first date. I found this fascinating, so I went out and bought all new backpacking gear (having just moved there), and let my coworkers know where I was going.  

"I'm going to either be murdered in the desert or have a great time--either way, should be interesting!" I remember telling them.

So, after a beautiful hike down to a gushing natural spring, our first meal together was prepared over a borrowed MSR camp stove with only the finest plastic sporks for cutlery, and a beverage pouch of dark rum for dessert. That set an excellent precedent, and now a decade later, we are married, and still have a particular fondness for Backpacker's Pantry's Pad Thai, which now reminds us of not only that adventure, but so many of others we've had since."

- Roy Steves

 

Take these stories as a sign to skip the stress of restaurant reservations this Valentine's Day and take your romantic dinner to the trails- because nothing suits an adventurous couple better than an equally adventurous date. 

We asked some of our favorite nonprofit organizations- who are not only working hard to protect the trails we love, but are also experts on them- for their favorite romantic hikes.

Consider this your Michelin Guide for outdoor dining this Valentine's Day: 

What could be more romantic than taking on a challenge and summiting a 14er together with some of Colorado's most impressive and colorful views?! We'd pack some Vegan Pad Thai because this climb is a little spicy, especially if you want to make it a double and tack on Sunshine Peak, too!

    - American Hiking Society