Try These 40 Trail Mix Ingredients That Go Way Beyond GORP

Trail mix can be a good energy source on a hiking or backpacking trip. Originally called GORP, for “Good Old Raisins and Peanuts,” trail mix puts many ingredients together so you can get a taste of something sweet, savory and salty with every handful.

Almost any ingredients can go into a trail mix, but many people try to find a good balance between sweet and salty items.

If you’re making trail mix for a group, keep in mind everyone’s dietary needs and allergies. You should also think about the weather. You probably don’t want to include a lot of chocolate that can melt if it gets hot.

Focus more on natural ingredients that will fuel you with protein, unsaturated fats and fiber. These will help your digestive system and keep you feeling full on the trail.

And while it’s easy to buy a premade trail mix, it might be more cost-effective to make your own, especially when preparing food for a group. Plus, you can make your mix exactly how you like it.

Here are 40 tasty trail mix ingredients that you might want to try. Mix and match them to create your own perfect trail snack.

NUTS, SEEDS AND LEGUMES

Loaded with protein and fiber, nuts and seeds also pack plenty of vitamins, minerals and other nutritional benefits. Some experts say that 50 percent of your trail mix should be made up of these ingredients, but be aware of allergies.

• Peanuts
• Cashews
• Pecans
• Almonds
• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Walnuts
• Pistachios
• Sesame seeds
• Flax

DRIED FRUITS

Dried fruits don’t spoil as fast as fresh fruit and won’t moisten the other trail mix ingredients. In moderation, these sugary treats can be a great source of fiber, calcium and vitamins.

• Raisins
• Banana chips
• Dried cranberries
• Dried apricots
• Dried apples
• Candied orange peel
• Dried blueberries
• Coconut
• Dried cherries

CHOCOLATE AND SWEET STUFF

Add in your favorite sweet treat to round out the trail mix. Just be sure to use sparingly. Be careful in warmer climates, because chocolate can melt and make a big mess.

• Chocolate chips
• White chocolate chips
• M&Ms
• Reese’s Pieces
• Sweetened coconut
• Peanut butter chips
• Marshmallows

CEREALS AND GRAINS

These crunchy carbohydrates boost energy levels and leave you feeling full. Everyone loves the satisfying texture of these trail mix ingredients.

• Granola
• Chex cereals
• Popcorn
• Pretzels
• Unsweetened cereal, like Cheerios
• Sweetened cereal, like Fruit Loops
• Cheetos
• Wasabi peas

SPICES

Lightly sprinkle your trail mix with one or more of these spices for extra flavor. But be careful, a little goes a long way.

• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Curry powder
• Chili powder

What do you put in your trail mix? Tell us your secret ingredients in the comments!