Whether you’re heading out for a half day hike, something a little longer or an overnighter you’ll want to make sure you’ve packed some yummy hiking snacks to keep you energized. Climbing mountains and covering long distances burns a lot of calories, so fueling your body properly helps prevent fatigue and keeps you moving strong.
It can be hard to know what to pack that’s not too heavy, that tastes good and that doesn’t leave you feeling hungry or tired.
I’ve put together a list of some easy hiking snacks to take on your next adventure. Plus, if you love making your own snacks, check out my Hiking Snack eBook in the Resource Library for homemade recipes! The password is on your email when you subscribe to the blog!
Trail mixes
I’m sure you’ve seen and heard many times that trail mixes are a great snack to take hiking. This is because the mixes are packed with protein and healthy sugars to keep you fueled. They’re full of fibre and healthy fats which make them a great calorie-dense snack to keep you going and feeling full. Trail mix is nice and light in your pack as well making it probably one of the most popular hiking snacks.
Make your own custom trail mix!
Tip: Store-bought trail mixes can be expensive and sometimes loaded with added sugars. Try making your own trail mix by mixing nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and a bit of dark chocolate for an extra energy boost!
Dried fruit
Dried fruit is an excellent source of natural sugar, which your body converts into quick energy. It’s also super lightweight compared to fresh fruit.
Great dried fruit options for hiking:
- Apricots (high in potassium for muscle recovery)
- Mango (sweet, chewy, and delicious)
- Banana or apple chips (great for a quick energy hit)
- Cranberries & raisins (packed with antioxidants)
- Dates (source of long-lasting energy)
Tip: Pair dried fruit with nuts or cheese for a more balanced snack with protein and healthy fats.
Fresh fruit can also satisfy that craving as well. They are a great source of natural carbohydrates and are hydrating with their water content. However, fresh fruit is heavy, it can bruise easy and it leaves you with waste to carry out with you. If you’re going for a day hike, it’s not so bad of a choice but dried fruit would be a better option for multi day and longer hikes.
Cracker combos
Crackers combos like crackers with peanut butter, tuna or hummus again are great sources of carbohydrates and are high protein keeping your fueled. I find it a little bit more of an exciting snack to take hiking. It can feel a bit more substantial.
You can now find individual packets of crackers and hummus or tuna in the supermarket making it quite convenient to pack. You can also use lightweight containers, just make sure your crackers are separate so they don’t get soggy!
Homemade bliss balls
Bliss balls are a really convenient hiking snack and are loaded with energy to keep you going. The nuts, seeds and dried fruit make it a fiber-filled snack keeping you fueled for longer as it breaks down slowly so you don’t have that ‘crash’. There are so many different ideas out there for homemade bliss balls. They’re super easy and quick to make.
Check out the hiking snack ebook for some yummy ideas. Just sign up to the blog to get the password to the resource library!
Energy bars
There are so many kinds of ‘energy’ bars out there to choose from. Perhaps the highlight of them is that they are really convenient as all you have to do is buy them off the shelf. Store-bought energy bars do tend to have a high sugar content so make sure you check the label.
Energy bars are all made different and focus on different things. Bars like Cliff bars or OSM bars are great for your day hikes as the ingredients focus on giving the body energy. Protein snacks like my favourite, Justine’s cookies, are great for keeping you fuller, longer. The cookies have no sugar added and high protein content. They are also low-carb for anyone focusing on getting energy from fats instead of carbs.
Homemade bars
If you’re a regular hiker, store-bought bars can get expensive—plus, many contain added sugars. Making your own homemade energy bars is a great alternative! They’re packed with the same protein, fiber, and energy-boosting ingredients but are often healthier and more budget-friendly.
