An outdoor bachelorette party is not only a celebration of your bond with your close circle. It is also a call to adventure, an opportunity to go on a once-in-a-lifetime journey with the people you love.
However, it can be challenging to know what to do at a hiking bachelorette party suitable for everyone in your crew—the avid hikers, nature lovers, couch potatoes, and everyone in between.
Some thrilling and unforgettable things you can do at a hiking bachelorette party are backpacking an iconic trail, looking for geocaches, joining a survivalist workshop, exploring a nearby cave, and practicing archery.
Below are over 50 more ideas worth incorporating into your itinerary, along with some tips for planning and holding the hiking bachelorette party of your dreams.
Hiking Bachelorette Party Ideas for the Fearless Bridal Crew
1. Go Glamping With Your Besties
Roughing it out in tents in the wilderness is not everyone’s idea of an exciting outdoor bachelorette party. More than that, weather conditions and other unpredictable circumstances might interfere with your plans.
As such, glamping—or glamorous camping—can be a fantastic compromise. You can still enjoy a grueling, challenging hike, but you can come back to a luxurious rental with all the amenities you need.
2. Create Flower Crowns
A simple yet memorable and adorable idea for a hiking bachelorette party is creating flower crowns.
Gather wildflowers, leaves, and other natural items along your hike, then use them to create a flower crown. Each person can make one for themselves, and they can also create extra ones for others.
This activity does not require a lot of energy, making it perfect for a break during your hike. The crown can also be a wonderful memento for the special day.
3. Practice Shinrin-yoku: ‘Forest Bathing’
A hiking bachelorette party should not only be about the hiking itself. Make sure to include some time for relaxation, mindfulness, and rest.
The practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, originates in Japan. There are no set rules about what you should do; instead, it is all about mindfulness and meditation.
At its simplest, you can bathe in the forest by just looking around, taking measured breaths, paying attention to your thoughts, and immersing yourself in nature’s beauty. Giving yourself at least an hour can be wonderful for your mental health.
4. Have a Picnic in the Woods
Instead of just bringing individual lunches, why not have a picnic with your bridal crew in the middle of the woods? Pack some food and drinks to share, a blanket, and the utensils you will need to eat.
Before incorporating this hiking bachelorette party idea into your itinerary, you may want to check the venue’s policies first. In some cases, bringing food might not be advisable, as it can draw wildlife to your group.
5. Cook Your Food in the Woods
As an extension of the idea above, you can bring portable stoves and cookware to prepare the food yourself.
You can even make a competition out of it—divide your bridal crew into teams and see who can prepare the better meal. Oppositely, you can use this as a bonding activity; nothing brings a group of people together than making food that they will enjoy afterward.
6. Go Backpacking on an Iconic Trail
If you and your bridal crew can get away for a weekend or more, backpacking is an excellent way to make your hiking bachelorette party more unforgettable. Backpacking involves going on an adventure for multiple days with everything you need—food, gear, and whatnot—in a backpack.
Choose an iconic destination or trail, such as the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or John Muir Trail. Spend your days hiking, playing, cooking, and making memories for a lifetime.
You may want to work with an outfitter who can handle the necessary permits, shuttle services, gear rentals, and other important aspects. This way, you can enjoy your bachelorette party without worrying about missed paperwork or neglected needs.
7. Book a Private Guided Hike
For a stress-free experience, consider looking for a guide who can help you navigate the trail you want to hike. They can also teach you about the local flora, fauna, and communities that live there.
8. Relax in a Mountain Lodge
After hours of physically exerting yourself, nothing sounds better than a full-body massage and a scrumptious meal to end the day. If this sounds like a wonderful idea for your hiking bachelorette party, consider booking a stay at a nearby mountain lodge.
9. Choose a National Park in Your Area
When national parks are thrown into a wedding-related discussion, they are often mentioned as a wedding venue. For good reason—national parks offer breathtaking views that can make your special day even more memorable.
However, they can also be a fantastic venue for your bachelorette party. Most national parks have trails you can hike. Just remember to be responsible with your belongings and your waste—clean as you go!
10. Go Geocaching
Does an international treasure hunt sound like something you want to do at your hiking bachelorette party? If so, consider going on a geocaching adventure.
Download the app and look for the nearest geocache in your area. You can incorporate this activity into your party if a geocache coincides with the trail you are planning on traversing.
You must use a GPS to locate these geocaches, which might have a small ornament or trinket inside. You will also find a logbook, where you can write your details—such as when you found the cache.
11. Organize a Scavenger Hunt
If the idea above sounds lovely, but you want something a bit more customizable and involved, a scavenger hunt is something worth exploring. In a scavenger hunt, you have to collect certain items and perform tasks to accumulate points.
You should come up with activities and items specific to a hiking bachelorette party. Here are some ideas:
- A rock with a unique shape
- A piece of trash you picked up along the way
- A picture of a rare wildlife
- A selfie with a hiker not part of the bridal crew
- A leaf bigger than your head
- A picture of someone in the bridal crew sleeping on the hike
12. Go Rock Climbing
For the bridal crews seeking some adrenaline, rock climbing is a fun—if not a bit dangerous—idea for your hiking bachelorette party.
Try to look for beginner-friendly or easy rocks you can climb. You may also want to do some training or practice runs with someone more experienced at the sport.
Symbolically, rock climbing can mean that you are ready to do whatever it takes to conquer life’s challenges and come out unscathed.
13. Go Rafting at a Nearby River
If your hiking trail has a river, consider going rafting. The water can be a refreshing addition to your day.
14. Do Some Outdoor Yoga and Meditation
Hiking can be a much-needed opportunity to tap into your soul. As you walk along your trail, take the time to examine your thoughts, feelings, and anxieties. Let nature soothe you; let yourself relax.
You can stop at a certain point on your trail to do some outdoor yoga. Not only will the stretching feel good, but it will also allow you to meditate and clear your mind.
15. Take a Swim at a Nearby Waterfall
If your trail has a waterfall along the way, make some time to dip into the water and swim for a while. Not only is it refreshing, but it can also be a breathtaking opportunity to take some pictures for your Instagram.
16. Paint the Scenery
You and your bridal crew can bring some art supplies—think easels, blank canvases, brushes, jars of paint, and so on. Find a spot where you can set up your materials and get inspired by the gorgeous nature surrounding you.
17. Sing Around a Campfire
If your hiking trail allows guests to start a campfire, take full advantage of the opportunity. Gather around the fire to keep yourself warm and start telling stories from the day—and even from your past. You can also roast marshmallows to make smores.
To make the night even more memorable, consider singing some songs. Bring a ukulele, guitar, or any instrument you can play.
You can even go full Pitch Perfect 2 and have a heartfelt conversation with everyone at the party. This can be a wonderful opportunity to get to know your friends and relatives better.
18. Have a Starlit Dance Party
If singing is not your forte, why not have a dance party in the middle of the woods instead? Bring a small portable speaker, put on your favorite playlist, and have the time of your life with your besties.
19. Catch the Sunrise
If you do not have a lot of time for activities in your hiking bachelorette party, you can still make it unforgettable by getting the timing right.
Try to plan your hike in a way that lets you see the sunrise. Ideally, you should be at the viewpoint around 30 to 60 minutes before the time indicated as sunrise. This allows you to get settled in, set up some chairs, and do what you need to do to prepare.
Likewise, read up on the trail you plan on taking. You might need specific permits. You might also need to take extra precautions regarding nearby wildlife.
20. Plan a Spooky Hike
Opposite to the idea above, you can consider going on a night hike. This will give your bachelorette party a spooky vibe.
Make sure to meticulously prepare your equipment and read up on any safety precautions you have to take. Wear headlamps or illuminated headpieces to light up the trail.
Make the night more memorable by swapping ghost stories, playing minor planks with each other, and eating snacks that remind you of Halloween.
21. Play Dress Up
If you and your bridal crew are fans of fairytales, consider wearing costumes for your hiking bachelorette party. Look at your favorite childhood movies and get your inspiration there. Once on the trail, you can recreate iconic scenes from the shows that inspired you.
22. Write a Letter for Your Future Self
Hiking—and immersing oneself in nature in general—can be a meditative experience; being surrounded by trees can be a conducive environment for reflection.
Find a clearing in the woods, settle down, and put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard). Write your unfiltered thoughts, discuss your emotions, and let yourself jot down everything you cannot say out loud. You can decide how far in the future you want to read this letter again.
You can also write a letter for your future spouse, a relative, a friend, or any person you want to address.
23. Have a Wine Tasting With a Nearby Vineyard
In case there is a vineyard near the trail, make the most out of it—book a wine tasting for you and your bridal crew. You might find a new favorite. If you end up loving the winery, you can even book their services for your wedding.
24. Participate in a Survival Workshop
For the adventurous bridal crew who wants to go off-grid in the future, a survival workshop sounds like a dream come true. You will learn essential outdoor skills, such as making a fire without matches, purifying water, creating a sustainable food source, and so on.
Even if you do not have plans on transitioning to this lifestyle, these skills are still important to know.
Book a class with an experienced survivalist or company. You can find different packages at different price points.
25. Learn About Herbalism
Connected to the hiking bachelorette party idea above, you can work with a local herbalist who will teach you about local wild plants and their medicinal properties. For nature enthusiasts, this can be an exciting learning opportunity.
26. Have a Poetry Night
Before starting your hike, tell everyone to think of a poem along the way. It does not need to have a certain meter, rhyming scheme, and whatnot; it just has to be about the hike, the upcoming wedding, and the bachelorette party itself.
At the end of the adventure, arrange a small poetry night where everyone can share what they wrote.
27. Sew a Group Quilt
Another relaxing activity for a hiking bachelorette party is creating a group quilt to commemorate the event. Have each person contribute some fabric—you can decide if they are completely random or have to follow a certain theme—and sew them into a quilt.
28. Have Your Astrology Chart Read
If someone in your group is an expert in astrology, ask them to read your birth chart. If you do not already have it, there are plenty of websites that can give you the chart—you just need to provide your time and place of birth.
Once you have your chart ready, ask the expert about what your signs and houses mean. While not everything will be true or accurate, the information can still give you some insight into your personality.
If you have the time, consider having everyone’s chart read and interpreted.
29. Explore the Waters in a Canoe
For trails with a lake or any suitable body of water, canoeing can be a relaxing yet adventurous activity for your bachelorette party. Explore the peaceful waters and leisurely paddle on the surface, taking gorgeous pictures along the way.
30. Hire a Professional Photographer
If you have the budget, why not have a photographer come along to the adventure and capture breathtaking shots of you and your bridal crew? The resulting images can be gorgeous additions to your Instagram feed.
Moreover, you can also use this photography session as practice or a dry run for your wedding photoshoot. Find your angles, explore shot ideas, and feel yourself—a needed confidence boost for your big day.
31. Have a Candlelit Dinner After the Hike
If you think you will have your fill of adventure by the end of your hike, spend the time afterward just relaxing and enjoying the view. Check with the management if they can serve a candlelit dinner at a nearby location—even better if it has a stunning view, such as a lake.
32. Award Your Bridal Crew Custom-Made Medals
As stressed above, hiking can be an exhausting and challenging experience. Acknowledge your bridal crew’s efforts—and willingness to go to a hiking bachelorette party in general—through a prize like a customized medal.
Create a custom design for the front and have the back engraved with the details of your bachelorette party. You can include your name, the location, the schedule, your bachelorette party hashtag, a meaningful quote, and so on.
33. Explore the Area on Horseback
In some cases, you might have the option to go horseback riding along the trail. Not only will this significantly lessen the physical exhaustion you will feel, but this will also make the experience more memorable in general.
34. Put Together a Custom Trail Mix Station
When you think of hiking food, trail mix is probably one of the first things that pop into your head. Use this association to your advantage and prepare a custom trail mix station for your hiking bachelorette party.
If this unique idea for a hiking bachelorette party sounds appealing to you, here are the things you will need for this DIY station:
- Individual containers and labels for each ingredient
- Options for nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, etc.)
- Options for seeds (chia, sunflower, flax, pumpkin, etc.)
- Dried fruits (raisins, apricots, cranberries, figs, mangoes, etc.)
- Grains, oats, or cereals
- Options for sweets (M&Ms, yogurt-covered raisins, chocolate chips, etc.)
- Seasonings (sea salt, spice blends, etc.)
- Serving scoops
- Containers for mixing
35. Create a Custom Photo Memory Book
After your adventure, ask everyone to send the photos they took. For better quality, have them email the pictures to you or create a shared folder where they can drop all the images.
Once done, compile the best pictures into a photo book. Feel free to add captions to the images and other supplemental information, such as a copy of the itinerary.
Give everyone a copy of this photo book, which will serve as a thoughtful and unique keepsake.
36. See Who Can Pick Up the Most Trash
Unfortunately, not everyone takes the time to find the proper way to dispose of their waste. The trail you chose, especially if they are popular, might have a lot of litter on its premises.
A remarkable and responsible hiking bachelorette party idea is to challenge everyone to a trash cleanup challenge. Bring trash bags and trash grabbers, and see who can pick up the most trash throughout your hike.
Ask the trail management if they have equipment you can borrow—usually, they are more than happy to have volunteers help clean the trail.
37. Plant a Tree
Check with the trail management if they allow visitors to plant a tree; they might have the right species and necessary equipment to do so.
This hiking bachelorette party activity is not only environmentally friendly; it is also symbolic and sentimental. Planting a tree represents a fresh start, a new chapter in your life. You and your partner can visit the site on anniversaries and milestones throughout your relationship, witnessing the plant grow and flourish in real-time.
38. Take a Dip in a Hot Spring
Some trails might have a hot spring along its path or somewhere nearby. If this sounds appealing to you and your bridal crew, take a rejuvenating dip in the water before continuing with your hike.
39. Do Zumba Together
Hiking might not be your first choice of activity, especially if it is a particularly early start. Get your bridal crew warm and excited to begin the day with a Zumba dance session.
There are videos you can download if you need something to follow, or you can put on a playlist and freestyle the dance. You can also simply hire an instructor.
40. Have a Movie Night Under the Stars
A slumber party in the woods is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you already have your mind set on glamping, why not add a movie night to the itinerary?
Bring a projector, a screen to project onto, and a computer with films or shows downloaded already. You may also want to bring a sound system—like a portable Bluetooth speaker—so you can hear what you are watching.
41. Explore a Nearby Cave
Some trails might have a cave nearby that you and your bridal crew can explore. Caving can be an unforgettable experience; after all, the underground world can be a foreign yet majestic sight.
However, this idea for a hiking bachelorette party might not be the best choice if no one in your bridal crew has prior experience in caving. Caving can be a dangerous activity without proper guidance and training.
Ask the trail management if they allow explorers inside the cave systems. If so, inquire if they have professionals on call to provide a guided tour for beginners.
42. Go Rockhounding
Rockhounding is the official name for the act of looking for rocks, minerals, gemstones, and crystals as a hobby (though some people do it professionally or as part of their job).
As you hike, pay attention to your surroundings. You might just find interesting rocks and minerals you can take home as a keepsake or incorporate into your jewelry.
There are local clubs and groups that are more than willing to help you find rocks in your area. You can also pay someone more experienced to guide you in the process.
However, be mindful of local and state regulations; it might not be legal to do this in certain areas, especially on private properties.
43. Ride a Zip-Line
If the location offers a zip-line back toward the starting point—or anywhere along the trail—it can be a thrilling way to end your adventure. The ride will let you see the views from a different perspective.
44. Bury a Time Capsule
Gather some sentimental items, such as handwritten letters, Polaroids, and other mementos, and put them inside a durable container. You can reminisce on the memories attached to these things, and you can perform a mini ceremony before burying it somewhere near the trail.
However, check the trail’s rules and regulations first—you might not be allowed to do this in some areas. In that case, ask someone from your bridal crew to keep the time capsule until it is time to open it.
45. Participate in a Native Art Workshop
Connecting with the local community can be a fulfilling and empowering experience. Look for an artist or a collective who is willing to teach you not only the techniques of that art form but also the symbolism and cultural significance attached to it.
The art form can be anything like beadwork, painting, weaving, pottery, and so on. Afterward, you can keep the finished product as a memento.
46. Buy Personalized Hiking Gear
In the spirit of having matching apparel at a bachelorette party, why not get personalized hiking gear for yourself and your bridal crew? Not only is it a unique and thoughtful party favor, but it is also practical.
Look into getting customized backpacks, hats, first aid kits, windbreakers, jackets, water bottles, gloves, walking sticks, neck warmers, and so on.
47. Learn About Local Wildlife
Some trails have an expert who can teach you about the wildlife in the area. They can tell you everything you need to know—how they socialize, how they hunt, how they mate, and how they live in general.
48. Play Traditional Bachelorette Party Games
Just because you are not in your own backyard does not mean you cannot enjoy classic party games. Ask each other “Most Likely To” questions, play Never Have I Ever, or bring a deck of cards so you can play rummy.
There are tens and hundreds of games to choose from—dirty and risqué or those that are relatively innocent. Take your pick, and adjust the gameplay to fit your venue.
49. Have a Custom Awards Ceremony Afterward
Once your hike concludes, consider giving your bridal crew awards that they ‘earned’ throughout the day. This is a silly yet thoughtful way of showing your appreciation to them. You can create certificates, present trophies, or purchase medals for the occasion. Here are some examples of awards:
- Best navigator
- Happiest camper
- Most prepared
- Most competitive
- Best at climbing trees
- Funniest dad jokes
Observe your crew and take note of anything you can award—it does not have to be grand. You can come up with something funny or teasing.
50. Go Stargazing
If your location is far enough from the pollution of major cities, stargazing might be a wonderful thing to do at your hiking bachelorette party. Bring small telescopes and binoculars, lay down on blankets, and identify as many stars and constellations as you can.
51. Practice Your Archery
You can bring improvised—or toy—bows and arrows, and paint targets on large sheets of paper. Find a suitable spot near the trail and set up the safe archery target practice. If you and your bridal crew are competitive, feel free to make a game out of it.
52. Hire a Sound Healer
Sound healing is the process of creating balance and harmony among your body, mind, and soul through sonic vibrations. These vibrations are created by various instruments, resulting in different and soothing tones and melodies.
A sound healer can visit your campsite, or come along to your hiking destination, and lead all of you through a meditative experience using sounds. They might bring instruments like a gong, chimes, singing bowls, and so on.
Tips for Holding a Hiking Bachelorette Party
Inform Everyone of the Plan As Soon As Possible
Even before proceeding with planning your bachelorette party, seek everyone’s thoughts about potentially hiking at this pre-wedding event.
Not everyone will be comfortable with or willing to go on a hike. Moreover, many trails are inaccessible to wheelchair users and people with disabilities. Some people may have allergies or medical conditions that make hiking a bad idea.
Talking to everyone as early as possible will give you the chance to find a compromise or pivot toward a different bachelorette party idea.
Provide Personalized Survival Kits
Hiking is a physically strenuous and time-consuming activity. When planned right, a hiking bachelorette party can be a fantastic experience. Part of this is having a kit of everything you will need as you traverse through the trail. Here are some things you can put in each survival kit:
- First aid supplies (bandages, gauze, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, etc.)
- Means of navigation (map, GPS, compass, etc.)
- Snacks (protein bar, candy, etc.)
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Bottle of water
- Water purification method
- Source of light
- Emergency supplies to create shelter
- Multi-tool
- Signaling devices (whistle, light stick, etc.)
The contents of this kit can also vary depending on the location and the season. Do your research about the trail and determine what you need to bring.
The kit itself can be custom-made or personalized. This way, your guests can have the kit as a keepsake after the event.
Ask Everyone to Limit Their Screentime
To make the most of your hiking bachelorette party, ask your bridal crew to put their phones on airplane mode in the meantime—that is if you had phone reception in the first place.
You can use your gadgets for taking photos, writing reflections, and capturing memories. However, try not to go on social media or be distracted by the Internet. Immerse yourself in nature as much as possible.
Respect the Trail’s Rules
Read the rules and regulations thoroughly before thinking about what to do at a hiking bachelorette party. Make sure to respect and follow them; everyone benefits if you stick by the policies in place.
For one, you might be prohibited from drinking alcohol or bringing certain food because of the wildlife.
Clean As You Go
Leave the venue the way you found it—if possible, even cleaner. Pick up your trash and dispose of your waste properly. Do your part in maintaining nature’s beauty and health; not dumping litter in places they do not belong is the least you can do.
