Bear canister and food storage rules map
Where you need a hard-sided canister, where a hang or a food pole is fine, and where the park gives you a locker, for 35 popular parks, forests and wildernesses in bear country.
Rules change; check before you go. Every rule here was read on the land manager’s official page in November 2026, and each one links to that page. Food storage orders have the force of law, can change mid-season, and often have zone or date limits that a map can’t show. Open the official page for your trip before you pack. This is not legal advice.
Quick answer
Short answer: a hard-sided canister is required for overnight trips in 12 of these 35 areas, including Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Olympic, Grand Teton and the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness. 5 more require one only in named zones. Grizzly-country forests usually accept an IGBC-certified container or a 10-foot hang, and some parks give you lockers or cables.
The map
Tap a marker, or pick an area from the list, to see its rule, the date it was checked and the official page. Use the legend to show one rule type at a time.
Bear food storage rules by area
| Area | Rule | What the official page says | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore · WI · NPS | Use the food lockers provided | Store food, garbage, cooking gear and toiletries in the bear lockers at designated campsites; where there is no locker, hang food 10–12 feet up and at least 5 feet from the trunk. | NPS Apostle Islands: Camping Safety Page dated January 6, 2017; checked Nov 2026 |
| Appalachian Trail, Jarrard Gap to Neels Gap (Chattahoochee NF) · GA · USFS | Hard-sided canister required | Anyone camping overnight on the five miles of the Appalachian Trail from Jarrard Gap to Neels Gap must use a bear-resistant canister. Order CO-16-02, in place since June 15, 2016. | USFS Chattahoochee-Oconee: Forest Supervisor’s Orders checked Nov 2026 |
| Big Bend National Park · TX · NPS | Use the food lockers provided | Bear-resistant food lockers are provided at all Chisos backpacking sites and primitive roadside sites, and food, water and scented items must be stored in them or in a hard-sided vehicle. The Homer Wilson and Juniper Canyon trailhead boxes are for water caches only. | NPS Big Bend: Backcountry Food Storage Page dated February 25, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Bridger-Teton National Forest · WY · USFS | IGBC-certified container or a proper hang | Unattended food and attractants must be in an IGBC-listed container or method, or suspended at least 10 feet up and 4 feet from the supporting tree or pole. Covers the Blackrock, Jackson, Pinedale, Greys River and Big Piney districts. The order runs June 14, 2023 to January 15, 2029. | USFS Bridger-Teton: Food Storage Order checked Nov 2026 |
| Custer Gallatin National Forest (incl. Absaroka-Beartooth) · MT · USFS | IGBC-certified container or a proper hang | Unattended food and attractants must be in an IGBC-listed container or method, or suspended at least 10 feet up and 4 feet from the supporting tree or pole. Season: Annually Mar 1 – Dec 1; written order listed through Dec 31, 2026. Applies on the Bozeman, Hebgen Lake, Gardiner, Yellowstone and Beartooth districts. Rechecked November 11, 2026: the official alert lists an end date of December 1, 2026, while the order’s implementation section says it remains in effect until December 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM. After the current order ends, check whether a new one has been issued. Last updated July 14, 2026. | USFS Custer Gallatin: Food Storage Order Page dated July 14, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Denali National Park & Preserve · AK · NPS | Canister required in named zones | Food, garbage and scented items must be in a bear-resistant food container when camping overnight in backcountry Units 1–21 and 23–43; containers are recommended in the other units. Borrow one at the Backcountry Information Center, or bring an approved model and show it before your permit is issued. | NPS Denali: Bear Resistant Food Containers Page dated May 5, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Desolation Wilderness (Lake Tahoe Basin) · CA · USFS | Hard-sided canister required | Overnight visitors must store food, garbage and scented items in a hard-sided bear-resistant canister. Canisters can be rented at the Placerville Ranger Station with a permit. | USFS Lake Tahoe Basin: Bear Canisters checked Nov 2026 |
| Eastern High Peaks Wilderness (Adirondacks) · NY · NYSDEC | Hard-sided canister required | Overnight campers are required by regulation to use a commercially made, hard-sided bear-resistant canister; food hangs and soft sacks do not count. Season: Apr 1 – Nov 30. DEC says black bears here have regularly defeated clear plastic canisters and encourages another type. Canisters are recommended, not required, elsewhere in the Adirondacks. | NYSDEC: Bear-Resistant Canisters checked Nov 2026 |
| Emigrant Wilderness (Stanislaus NF) · CA · USFS | Hanging allowed (poles, cables or a tree hang) | Food must be stored out of reach of wildlife; the forest calls a canister the most effective method and a proper hang the least effective alternative. | USFS Stanislaus NF: Emigrant Wilderness, Highway 108 Access checked Nov 2026 |
| Flathead National Forest (regional food storage order) · MT · USFS | IGBC-certified container or a proper hang | All food and attractants must be stored bear-resistant when unattended: in an approved container, or suspended 10 feet up and 4 feet out from a vertical support. | USFS Flathead NF: Respect Wildlife (Regional Food Storage Order) checked Nov 2026 |
| Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve · AK · NPS | Other approved storage | Food and garbage must be stored by an approved means; most areas have no trees for hanging, so the park calls bear-resistant food containers the best and easiest way to comply. Coolers, totes, dry bags and kayaks are not approved storage. | NPS Gates of the Arctic: Food Storage and BRFCs Page dated July 19, 2023; checked Nov 2026 |
| Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve · AK · NPS | Hanging allowed (poles, cables or a tree hang) | Food must be stored at least 100 feet from camp in an approved canister or hung at least 10 feet up and 4 feet out; many areas lack trees big enough to hang. The park lends canisters free to registered backcountry users with their permit at Bartlett Cove. | NPS Glacier Bay: Bear-Resistant Food Canisters Page dated September 7, 2019; checked Nov 2026 |
| Glacier National Park · MT · NPS | IGBC-certified container or a proper hang | At backcountry campsites, food goes on the NPS food hanging device or in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container. Most campgrounds have NPS storage lockers. Food may be stored sealed in a vehicle or a hard-sided camping unit in developed areas. | NPS Glacier: Frequently Asked Questions Page dated June 26, 2024; checked Nov 2026 |
| Grand Teton National Park · WY · NPS | Hard-sided canister required | Backpackers must use an IGBC-approved bear-resistant canister except where food storage boxes are provided, and hanging food is prohibited in the park. Permit holders can borrow a canister free with their permit. Some high alpine bivouac ledges may be exempt; check with a ranger. | NPS Grand Teton: On the Trail Page dated November 28, 2023; checked Nov 2026 |
| Great Sand Dunes National Park · CO · NPS | Hanging allowed (poles, cables or a tree hang) | Use a bear-proof container or hang food and scented items at least 10 feet up and 5 feet out from the trunk. Campers must use the bear box at the Sand Creek campsite. Bear hangs are not required in the dunes backcountry. | NPS Great Sand Dunes: Backpacking Page dated June 8, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park · TN/NC · NPS | Hanging allowed (poles, cables or a tree hang) | All odorous items, including food, trash, lip balm and toothpaste, must be hung on the bear cable system at each backcountry campsite or shelter. | NPS Great Smoky Mountains: Backcountry Camping Page dated November 3, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Hoover Wilderness (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF) · CA · USFS | Hard-sided canister required | Food and refuse must be kept within 100 feet and in sight of an awake person, or stored in a bear-resistant container; hanging is not a listed option. Forest Order 04-17-23-06 runs July 17, 2023 to July 17, 2028. | USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe: Hoover Wilderness Food Storage Requirements checked Nov 2026 |
| Indian Peaks Wilderness (Arapaho-Roosevelt NF) · CO · USFS | Canister required in named zones | Bear canisters are required year-round near all trailheads and everywhere in the Diamond Lake and Jasper Lake backcountry zones, and recommended everywhere else. | USFS Arapaho-Roosevelt: Indian Peaks Wilderness checked Nov 2026 |
| Inyo National Forest wilderness (Eastern Sierra) · CA · USFS | Canister required in named zones | A bear-resistant container is required at Bishop Pass/Treasure Lakes, Cottonwood Lakes, Duck Pass/Purple Lake, Fish Creek, Kearsarge Pass, Little Lakes Valley, Mammoth Lakes/Rush Creek and Mt. Whitney. In the other mapped areas of the order, a container or a counter-balance hang at least 15 feet up and 10 feet from the trunk is allowed. The order runs June 18, 2023 to June 18, 2027. | USFS Inyo NF: Food and Refuse Storage Restrictions checked Nov 2026 |
| Katmai National Park & Preserve · AK · NPS | Hard-sided canister required | Bear-resistant food containers are mandatory in all backcountry areas, and soft-sided hanging bags may not be used instead. Coolers and dry boxes count only if bolted shut or padlocked. A limited supply of loaners is at the King Salmon and Brooks Camp visitor centers. | NPS Katmai: Backcountry Regulations Page dated October 14, 2022; checked Nov 2026 |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park · CA · NPS | Hard-sided canister required | Backcountry campers must use an NPS-approved bear-resistant container, and hanging food is not permitted. Season: Apr 16 – Nov 30 (not required Dec 1 – Apr 15). | NPS Lassen Volcanic: Backcountry Camping Page dated August 29, 2025; checked Nov 2026 |
| Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness (White River NF) · CO · USFS | Hard-sided canister required | Bear canisters are required for all backpackers, and the container must be IGBC-certified. Visitors without an approved container can be ticketed and required to leave. | USFS White River NF: Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness checked Nov 2026 |
| Mount Rainier National Park · WA · NPS | Hanging allowed (poles, cables or a tree hang) | Every trailside camp has food storage poles (bear poles) for hanging food and garbage. The park highly recommends a bear-proof canister in subalpine areas without tall trees. | NPS Mount Rainier: Wilderness Guidelines and Regulations Page dated December 13, 2024; checked Nov 2026 |
| North Cascades National Park Complex · WA · NPS | Canister required in named zones | An IGBC-approved canister is required at nine camps (including Desolation, Sourdough and Thornton Lakes) and six cross-country zones; elsewhere hanging is allowed where a proper hang is possible. Season: June 1 – Nov 15 in the required camps and zones. Cross-country zones: Boston Basin, Eldorado, Hidden Lake, Sulphide Glacier, Tapto Lakes, Trapper Lake and Terror Basin. | NPS North Cascades: Food Storage Requirements Page dated April 2, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Olympic National Park · WA · NPS | Hard-sided canister required | Park-approved animal-resistant food containers are required in all wilderness areas of the park. Only containers on the park’s approved list count. Loaner canisters may be available at Wilderness Information Centers, but they cannot be reserved. | NPS Olympic: Wilderness Food Storage Page dated July 7, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore · MI · NPS | Use the food lockers provided | Store food in the bear-proof lockers provided at backcountry sites, and clean out the locker before you leave. | NPS Pictured Rocks: Backcountry Camping Page dated September 9, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Rocky Mountain National Park · CO · NPS | Hard-sided canister required | All food, scented items and garbage must be in a hard-sided, commercially made bear-resistant canister; other storage methods are not permitted. Season: Apr 1 – Oct 31, below treeline and in the Longs Peak Boulder Field. Store the canister 70 adult steps (200 feet) from camp. At trailheads, use the food storage lockers where provided. | NPS Rocky Mountain: Wilderness Camping Guide Page dated July 21, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · CA · NPS | Canister required in named zones | Canisters are required in the Dusy Basin, Rae Lakes Loop, North Dome, Rock Creek and Pear and Emerald Lakes areas; elsewhere you may use a food storage box where one is available. Season: May 1 – Oct 31 in the required areas. Containers are highly recommended parkwide. Counter-balance hangs are allowed only where canisters are not required and no box is available. Trailhead food storage boxes must be used where provided. | NPS Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Wilderness Food Storage Page dated June 14, 2025; checked Nov 2026 |
| Shenandoah National Park · VA · NPS | Hanging allowed (poles, cables or a tree hang) | Use a locker, car trunk, bear-resistant canister or a bear bag; a canister is the preferred choice where no storage is provided, and bags must hang at least 12 feet up and 6 feet from the trunk. Store a canister on level ground 70–100 yards from camp. | NPS Shenandoah: Food Storage Page dated October 25, 2023; checked Nov 2026 |
| Shining Rock Wilderness & Graveyard Fields area (Pisgah NF) · NC · USFS | Hard-sided canister required | Everyone camping overnight must store food, refuse and toiletries in a commercially made, hard-sided bear-resistant canister. Covers Shining Rock Wilderness and the Graveyard Fields, Black Balsam and Sam’s Knob/Flat Laurel Creek vicinities. The order began March 19, 2015. | USFS National Forests in North Carolina: Pisgah Ranger District Bear Canister Requirement checked Nov 2026 |
| Sierra National Forest: John Muir & Ansel Adams Wildernesses · CA · USFS | Hanging allowed (poles, cables or a tree hang) | Overnight visitors must use an approved hard-sided bear canister or counter-balance food at least 15 feet up and 10 feet out from the trunk. | USFS Sierra NF: Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage checked Nov 2026 |
| Voyageurs National Park · MN · NPS | Use the food lockers provided | Frontcountry campsites have bear-proof food lockers (two at small sites, four at large ones); store all scented items in them. Otherwise food may go in a certified bear-proof cooler or canister, on a backcountry bear pole, or be hung 14 feet up and 4 feet out from a tree. Each locker is 52 × 36 × 21 inches. | NPS Voyageurs: Bears and Food Storage Page dated August 25, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve · AK · NPS | Hanging allowed (poles, cables or a tree hang) | Food and garbage must be in a bear-resistant container, a hard-sided building or vehicle, or cached 100 feet from camp and hung 10 feet up and 4 feet out. | NPS Wrangell–St. Elias: Food Storage Requirements Page dated August 21, 2020; checked Nov 2026 |
| Yellowstone National Park · WY · NPS | IGBC-certified container or a proper hang | Every backcountry campsite has a food pole or a box; hang food from the pole (bring 35+ feet of rope) or use an IGBC-approved hard-sided container. Soft-sided bear-resistant bags are not allowed. Containers go on the ground under the food pole. | NPS Yellowstone: Backcountry Camping Page dated November 9, 2026; checked Nov 2026 |
| Yosemite National Park · CA · NPS | Hard-sided canister required | Bear canisters are required for overnight hikers throughout the wilderness, and counterbalance food hangs are no longer legal. In campgrounds and at lodging, all food goes in the food lockers. The park says its food storage rules carry fines of up to $5,000. | NPS Yosemite: Bears and Food Storage Page dated March 14, 2024; checked Nov 2026 |
What each rule type means
- Hard-sided canister required (12). Overnight campers must carry a rigid, commercially made bear-resistant container. Hanging food does not satisfy the rule, and several of these areas reject soft bags too. Some parks, such as Grand Teton, lend canisters with the permit.
- Canister required in named zones (5). The canister rule covers specific basins, camps or units, often only in summer. Outside those zones a food box or a proper hang can be legal. Read the zone list on the official page; the boundaries matter more than the marker.
- IGBC-certified container or a proper hang (5). Common in grizzly country in Montana and Wyoming. Unattended food goes in a container on the IGBC certified list, on a provided pole or hanging device, or hung at least 10 feet up and 4 feet from the tree or post.
- Hanging allowed (8). The area accepts a hang, provided poles or cables, or a canister. Height and distance rules differ: the Sierra forests ask for 15 feet up and 10 feet out, Shenandoah 12 and 6, Great Sand Dunes 10 and 5.
- Use the food lockers provided (4). Metal lockers or boxes sit at the campsites, and you are expected to use them. Bring a way to store food where a site has no locker.
- Other approved storage (1). The rule is “store food by an approved means,” and the park explains what qualifies.
Picking a canister that meets the rule
Before you buy, check two lists: the land manager’s approved-container list (Olympic, Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon and Denali each publish one) and the IGBC certified products list for grizzly country. The IGBC says certification does not mean a product is approved on every public land. In the Eastern High Peaks, DEC reports black bears regularly defeating clear plastic canisters and encourages another type.
- BearVault BV500 vs Ursack Major: hard canister vs soft bear bag
- BearVault BV450 vs BV500: which canister size for a long weekend vs a week
- BearVault BV475 Trek vs BV450 vs BV500: three canister sizes side by side
- Ursack Major vs Ursack AllMitey: for places that accept a soft bag
See every food storage comparison on the food storage hub. For camp skills, see Camping know-how, including What to do if you see a bear while camping or hiking.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a bear canister in Yosemite?
Yes, for overnight trips. Bear canisters are required for overnight hikers throughout the wilderness, and counterbalance food hangs are no longer legal. In campgrounds, food goes in the food lockers.
Do I need a bear canister in Yellowstone?
Not necessarily. Every backcountry campsite has a food pole or a box; hang food from the pole (bring 35+ feet of rope) or use an IGBC-approved hard-sided container. Soft-sided bear bags are not allowed there.
Do I need a bear canister in Glacier National Park?
No. At backcountry campsites, food goes on the NPS food hanging device or in an IGBC-approved bear-resistant container.
Do I need a bear canister in the Great Smoky Mountains?
No. All odorous items, including food, trash, lip balm and toothpaste, must be hung on the bear cable system at each backcountry campsite or shelter.
Do I need a bear canister in Rocky Mountain National Park?
Yes, April 1 through October 31 below treeline and in the Longs Peak Boulder Field. All food, scented items and garbage must be in a hard-sided, commercially made bear-resistant canister; other storage methods are not permitted.
Do I need a bear canister in the Adirondack High Peaks?
Yes, in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness from April 1 through November 30. Overnight campers are required by regulation to use a commercially made, hard-sided bear-resistant canister; food hangs and soft sacks do not count.
Can I use an Ursack where a bear canister is required?
Usually not. Yellowstone does not allow soft-sided containers, Katmai says soft hanging bags cannot replace hard-sided containers, and New York DEC says non-rigid sacks do not count in the Eastern High Peaks. Check the official page for the area you are visiting.
What does IGBC-approved mean?
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee keeps a list of products that passed a live grizzly test or a technical evaluation. The committee says certification does not make a product bear-proof and does not mean it is approved on every public land, so check the land manager’s list too.
Sources
Official land-manager pages, checked Nov 2026. Dates shown are each page’s own last-updated or order date where it prints one.
- NPS Apostle Islands: Camping Safety (page dated January 6, 2017)
- USFS Chattahoochee-Oconee: Forest Supervisor’s Orders
- NPS Big Bend: Backcountry Food Storage (page dated February 25, 2026)
- USFS Bridger-Teton: Food Storage Order
- USFS Custer Gallatin: Food Storage Order (page dated July 14, 2026)
- NPS Denali: Bear Resistant Food Containers (page dated May 5, 2026)
- USFS Lake Tahoe Basin: Bear Canisters
- NYSDEC: Bear-Resistant Canisters
- USFS Stanislaus NF: Emigrant Wilderness, Highway 108 Access
- USFS Flathead NF: Respect Wildlife (Regional Food Storage Order)
- NPS Gates of the Arctic: Food Storage and BRFCs (page dated July 19, 2023)
- NPS Glacier Bay: Bear-Resistant Food Canisters (page dated September 7, 2019)
- NPS Glacier: Frequently Asked Questions (page dated June 26, 2024)
- NPS Grand Teton: On the Trail (page dated November 28, 2023)
- NPS Great Sand Dunes: Backpacking (page dated June 8, 2026)
- NPS Great Smoky Mountains: Backcountry Camping (page dated November 3, 2026)
- USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe: Hoover Wilderness Food Storage Requirements
- USFS Arapaho-Roosevelt: Indian Peaks Wilderness
- USFS Inyo NF: Food and Refuse Storage Restrictions
- NPS Katmai: Backcountry Regulations (page dated October 14, 2022)
- NPS Lassen Volcanic: Backcountry Camping (page dated August 29, 2025)
- USFS White River NF: Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
- NPS Mount Rainier: Wilderness Guidelines and Regulations (page dated December 13, 2024)
- NPS North Cascades: Food Storage Requirements (page dated April 2, 2026)
- NPS Olympic: Wilderness Food Storage (page dated July 7, 2026)
- NPS Pictured Rocks: Backcountry Camping (page dated September 9, 2026)
- NPS Rocky Mountain: Wilderness Camping Guide (page dated July 21, 2026)
- NPS Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Wilderness Food Storage (page dated June 14, 2025)
- NPS Shenandoah: Food Storage (page dated October 25, 2023)
- USFS National Forests in North Carolina: Pisgah Ranger District Bear Canister Requirement
- USFS Sierra NF: Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage
- NPS Voyageurs: Bears and Food Storage (page dated August 25, 2026)
- NPS Wrangell–St. Elias: Food Storage Requirements (page dated August 21, 2020)
- NPS Yellowstone: Backcountry Camping (page dated November 9, 2026)
- NPS Yosemite: Bears and Food Storage (page dated March 14, 2024)
- Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee: Bear Resistant Products