If you’re going to meander around a forest for any length of time (aka go hiking) you should pack snacks! Having the right snacks available can really make a positive impact on your hike. Typically, I like to pack snacks if the hike is around 5 or more miles. But this is different for every individual’s wants or needs. Having good snacks available to you while surrounded by wilderness will only better your hiking experience. It will keep you energized and feeling good when you’re tackling another incline or jumping over streams. It is also very important to note that you should always bring an abundance of water. My rule of thumb is it’s always better to have more than less. In addition to having the right amount of water (more is always better). Not sure how much water to pack? Check out this article here.
I have been hiking since 2015. I didn’t grow up in a hiking family or spend too much time in the woods, so hiking was completely new to me. The first time we went, my partner and I just went to a park, picked a trail, and went up a mountain completely unprepared. When we arrived back at our car, we were sweaty, thirsty, and sore but were completely in love with the trails. Our first hike was certainly an experience, but you can get a leg up on us if you have a few beginner hiking tips in mind.
Through the years, my snack preferences have changed but these are the tried and true classics that I hold near and dear to my heart. I highly recommend them as fun treats along your winding trails! Depending on the hike, I’ll pick out a few from below and be more than happy along my way. These are all my personal favorites (and I have some interesting preferences) so make sure to modify them to your linking and add them to your go to list!
Also make sure to pack out what you bring into the park! Littering is not an option. That includes fruit waste. Although they decompose they’re not native to the surrounding environment and should not be discarded.
Peanuts
The tried and true protein snack. Nuts are loaded with long-lasting protein and fat. You can add other nuts to the mix, chocolate, or dried fruit if you want an extra kick of energy. My go to is just a snack bag of plain peanuts, unsalted if I can find them. Although I like trail mix, all the other goodies, mix in different textures which is great if I’m just snacking but often times on the trail I just want a quick handful or two of straight protein before moving on my way.
Beef Jerky
Meat candy. Shall I say more? (Probably cause that’s a bit weird…). A bag of beef jerky goes a long way. It is high in protein, often times sweet so the sugars help give you energy (if you’re buying it straight off the shelves), and satisfies the savory cravings while on a trail.
Pb & J’s
This is the perfect cliff side snack/meal. I make a couple of sandwiches for our group before heading out in the morning, wrap them in foil, and your set for your lunch with a beautiful view. If I’m feeling extra fancy, I’ll cut up strawberries and use them in place of jelly.
Red Peppers
Red peppers sound like a weird trail snack and you’re right. But man are they tasty. I often swap out an apple for a red pepper. Before I hit the trail, I cut up a pepper in strips and place it in a baggie so whenever I want a pop of freshness I can quickly grab and go. Between the sweetness of the other snacks, I prefer something to balance it out and the peppers don’t get your hand sticky like it would eating an apple. You also aren’t left with the core and scrambling to find something to wrap it up in (because again, don’t litter). Why red peppers? Well did you know that green, yellow and red peppers are all the same pepper? They are just at different stages of ripeness. With red, you get more bang for your buck as they are the most nutrient dense since they been on the vine longer than the other peppers.
Granola Bar
Another sweet treat to give you the energy to carry on your way. I try to avoid the ones with a lot of added sugar and aim for more in the range of under 10 grams. This easy snack is a no-brainer and you just toss a few into your bag and go.
Chili Mango’s – Dried
Dried fruit is always a tasty treat and is also shelf stable for any long term hike or camping prep situation. Now if you take dried mango’s and dust them with chili pepper. I am in heaven. The sweet and spicy combo makes you forget that you’re not super sweaty in the middle of the forest looking at another incline but rather you taste buds transport you to a tropical beach.
Do you have a favorite hiking snack? If so, share yours below!
