The Best Outdoorsy Dates for You and Your Valentine
I’ve had some pretty epic Canadian dates, from a spontaneous campfire and s’mores roast in the snow to sharing maple syrup pops from a trough full of ice in Quebec.
In case you *cough* forgot *cough*, Valentine’s Day is this Saturday. Don’t fret! We’re ready to help you plan and execute the perfect outdoorsy romantic date. Ranging from find-something-on-AllTrails to get-on-the-phone-and-book-a-flight, these adventurous date ideas will never have your loved one guessing you didn’t plan for this far in advance.
Easy Last-Minute Adventures
Nature is as beautiful as your loved one, so dust off your hiking boots, fill your backpack and find a special snack to make a sudden jaunt into the Great Outdoors seem like a well-thought-out date.
Don’t forget to bring a (fully charged!) headlamp for each of these adventures, or your date will quickly descend from romantic to dangerous.
1. Coffee and an Outdoor Winter Walk
The acronym KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) can be applied to last-minute Valentine’s Day ideas, too. Your loved one probably doesn’t need a new car or big displays of adoration. Just show them you’ve been thinking about them by treating them to a coffee and going on a winter walk. Explore a new neighbourhood or find a quiet forested trail and take off your mittens to hold hands.
2. Scenic Hike
Pick an accessible trail for a day hike with your boo. We’d suggest something shorter than four-kilometres with less than 300-metres of elevation gain, though if you want to get your heart racing, feel free to push yourselves together. For the ultimate “date” vibes, bring a thermos with hot chocolate or wine to share at the summit.
3. Snowshoeing Through a Provincial Park
There are a ton of stunning provincial parks with snowshoeing trails. Start with crampons and carry your snowshoes on your back. (For brownie points, carry your date’s, too.) If available, plan your snowshoe to end at a frozen lake or a cozy lodge where you can warm up with tea and a shared poutine. Canadian Valentine’s Day, eh?
4. Sunrise or Sunset Lookout Hike
For the perfectly timed sunrise or sunset hike, you’ll want to arrive 15-20 minutes before the official sunset/sunrise time. Dress in warm layers, bring a flask with coffee (and maybe a drop of whisky) and carry a blanket to snuggle up and watch colours ignite across the sky. It’s the best way to say goodnight or good morning to nature with the one you love.
Moderate Adventure Dates
These might take all day, and include a little sweat, a bit more planning and a lot of bonding. If you’re looking for an active date, it will require some forethought, but you’ve got a couple of days left to firm up plans and impress your date.
1. Cross-Country Skiing Date
Rent gear and glide through groomed trails to work up a sweat and get your heart racing alongside your skis. Find a spot with scenic trails for sunset or get up early for those first light views as dawn dances off the snow in yellow sunshine. Make sure your date is up for a bit of extra effort as gravity won’t help you out like it does on a downhill date!
2. Fat Biking on Snowy Trails
Hard-packed snow is the ideal terrain for big meaty tires on fat bikes. The ultra-wide tires work best on shallow or frozen, granular snow, not right after a deep, fresh, powdery snowfall. Pick a trail along a half-thawed river or around a frozen lake for a self-guided adventure, or at a ski resort or a Nordic centre for groomed tracks. For a more relaxed and accessible date, rent e-fat bikes.
3. Hot Springs or Nordic Spa
Warm up with a romantic trip to a Nordic spa with a hot-cold hydrotherapy circuit or a rustic hot spring in the forested backcountry. Surprise your partner by packing their swimsuit and travelling to the closest natural mineral pool to relax, unwind and soak in nature together. We’ve found the best Nordic spas in America and Canada, and the best hot springs in BC.
4. Ice Skating on a Frozen Lake or River
Bring your skates (or rent some) for an afternoon of laughter, joy and love on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa or Abraham Lake in Alberta, where you can see the phenomenon of thousands of bubbles trapped within the crystal-clear ice. Match nature and pop champagne if you’re celebrating—but wait until after you’re safely back off the ice.
Difficult, More-Effort-Required Outings
Multi-day, spontaneous winter adventures are still possible! Book a last-minute camping trip or flightseeing adventure. If the weather is good, pack the RV or tent and firewood. If you can’t make it overnight, simply load the truck bed with a mattress, loads of warm blankets and a charged laptop to snuggle up and watch a movie together as the sun sets. Being flexible, prepared with a plan B and having a positive attitude will help these bigger outdoor adventures keep the romance alive for you and your loved one.
1. Impromptu Road Trip
Pack the car, book a last-minute cabin or Airbnb and hit the open road with your loved one! Bring the dog for an overnighter or settle in for a weekend adventure. Bonus points if you choose a cozy treehouse, an A-frame in the woods or a bedroom in a lodge with its own private hot tub.
2. Flightseeing Adventure
Call the local helicopter, skydiving and flightseeing operators right now—plead your case, watch for perfect weather and you might get lucky. Flying high together in a tiny prop plane or jumping out with a parachute and nothing but trust is an epic way to show your loved one how much you care.
3. Ice Climbing Lessons
You might get lucky and find a spot on a guided trip to learn something new this weekend. Consider ice climbing, skating, skiing or snowboarding. Or stay indoors and create something that reminds you of outside: sculpt a mug with mountain designs in a pottery class, learn to crotchet a scarf for your next winter hike or embroider a sign to hang above your fireplace in the cabin. Try and choose something your Valentine would want to learn.
4. Northern Lights Camping Trip
Head north and chase the aurora for the ultimate romantic fantasy weekend. Pack all the layers you own, plus hand warmers, gloves and toques. If you want to really impress, consider camping at Liard Hot Springs in northern BC, where you can enjoy natural warm mineral water surrounded by puffy white clouds of snow before turning your attention to the inky black sky for an aurora borealis spectacle.
Want to really spark the romance? Pair your choice of adventure with the 2026 version of a mixtape (a shared playlist dedicated to your Valentine that you can listen to on the drive to the adventure) or go all-out and execute a perfect proposal at the summit. If you’re not ready to buy a ring, you can still surprise your loved one with a gift—a little box containing their favourite jewelry or special chocolates to commemorate your love and time together in the outdoors.
Looking for the perfect present? Gift an explore magazine subscription to anyone who loves nature, the outdoors and adventure.
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