Food Storage
Requirement Areas

Knowing where you need a BearVault is an essential part of planning a successful trip!

As conservation needs increase, more park and trail agencies are requiring or recommending bear-resistant containers (BRCs). It can be difficult to figure out which zones mandate canister use, but this guide should make the process a bit simpler. As always, make sure to double check food storage requirements before starting a trip!

Trails

Bear canisters are required in the following areas along the PCT:

  • Inyo National Forest: Bear Resistant Containers (BRCs) are required in the Bishop Pass Area, Cottonwood Lakes Basin/Cottonwood Pass Area, Duck Pass/Purple Lake Area, Fish Creek Area, Kearsarge Pass Area, Little Lakes Valley Area, Mammoth Lakes/Rush Creek Area, and Mount Whitney Area.
  • Sequioa and Kings Canyon National Parks: BRCs are required in the Dusy Basin, Rae Lakes Loop, North Dome, Rock Creek, and Pear/Emerald Lakes areas.
  • Sierra National Forest: Either the counter balance method or BRCs must be used throughout the forest, but the forest highly recommends and rents BRCs.
  • Yosemite National Park: Bear resistant containers are required for overnight hiking in the park.
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park: BRCs are required throughout the park.
  • Crater Lake National Park: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • North Cascades National Park: Certain backcountry areas require bear canisters – check the park website for details on which campsites/areas are under the food storage order.

Bear canisters are required in the following areas along the AT:

  • Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest: Bear resistant canisters are required on the Appalachian Trail between Jarrard Gap and Neels Gap.
  • Nahantala National Forest: Bear resistant containers (BRCs) are required in the Shining Rock Wilderness, Graveyard Fields Vicinity, Black Balsam Vicinity, and Sam’s Knob/Flat Laurel Creek Vicinity.
  • George Washington and Jefferson National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Green Mountain National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.

Bear canisters are required in the following areas along the CDT:

  • San Juan National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Gunnison National Forest: If you are staying in a developed campsite food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • White River National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Rocky Mountain National Park: Bear resistant containers are required throughout the park.
  • Bridger-Teton National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Flathead National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Glacier National Park: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.

Bear canisters are required in the following areas along the PCT:

  • Inyo National Forest: Bear Resistant Containers (BRCs) are required in the Bishop Pass Area, Cottonwood Lakes Basin/Cottonwood Pass Area, Duck Pass/Purple Lake Area, Fish Creek Area, Kearsarge Pass Area, Little Lakes Valley Area, Mammoth Lakes/Rush Creek Area, and Mount Whitney Area.
  • Sequioa and Kings Canyon National Parks: BRCs are required in the Dusy Basin, Rae Lakes Loop, North Dome, Rock Creek, and Pear/Emerald Lakes areas.
  • Sierra National Forest: Either the counter balance method or BRCs must be used throughout the forest, but the forest highly recommends and rents BRCs.
  • Yosemite National Park: Bear resistant containers are required for overnight hiking in the park.
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park: BRCs are required throughout the park.
  • Crater Lake National Park: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • North Cascades National Park: Certain backcountry areas require bear canisters – check the park website for details on which campsites/areas are under the food storage order.

Bear canisters are required in the following areas along the AT:

  • Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest: Bear resistant canisters are required on the Appalachian Trail between Jarrard Gap and Neels Gap.
  • Nahantala National Forest: Bear resistant containers (BRCs) are required in the Shining Rock Wilderness, Graveyard Fields Vicinity, Black Balsam Vicinity, and Sam’s Knob/Flat Laurel Creek Vicinity.
  • George Washington and Jefferson National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Green Mountain National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.

Bear canisters are required in the following areas along the CDT:

  • San Juan National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Gunnison National Forest: If you are staying in a developed campsite food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • White River National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Rocky Mountain National Park: Bear resistant containers are required throughout the park.
  • Bridger-Teton National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Flathead National Forest: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.
  • Glacier National Park: All food must be stored in a bear resistant manner.

Parks

Approved bear canisters are required for all backcountry overnight trips in the park.

Campers at Salt Creek designated campsites and the Salt/Horse Zone in The Needles must store all food, beverages, and associated containers, garbage, and all scented items in a hard-sided, park-approved animal-resistant food container.

Crater Lake mandates safe food storage techniques. A bear resistant container is one of the required storage methods.

Bear resistant containers are required in units 1-21 and units 23-43.

Bear resistant containers are required in Nyack / Coal Creek Camping Zone for at large camping.

Bear resistant containers are required in all wilderness areas.

Bear resistant containers are required throughout the park.

Bear resistant containers are highly recommended throughout the park and required in the Dusy Basin, Rae Lakes Loop, North Dome, Rock Creek, and Pear/Emerald Lakes areas from May 1 through October 31.

Bear proof containers are required within ½ mile of the coast line of Cook Inlet including Chinitna Bay and Silver Salmon Creek, and within ½ mile of the shore line of Telaquana Lake, Crescent Lake, Turquoise Lake, Upper Twin Lake, Lower Twin Lake, Tazimina Lake, and Kontrashibuna Lake.

Food, toiletries, and scented items must be stored in a bear-resistant storage container except between December 1 and April 15.

Bear resistant canisters are required in certain wilderness areas and cross-country zones.

Bear resistant canisters are required on the coast, in the Royal Basin area, Sol Duc/7 Lakes Basin area, 5 Mile Island, Enchanted Valley, and when food cannot be hung 12 feet high and 10 feet out from the nearest tree trunk.

Bear resistant containers are required between April 1 and October 31.

Bear resistant containers are recommended throughout the park, and required in the Dusy Basin, Rae Lakes Loop, North Dome, Rock Creek, and Pear/Emerald Lakes areas from May 1 through October 31.

Bear resistant containers are required throughout the park.

All scented items must be placed in a bear resistant container.