A partnership of the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service.

Which Canisters Are Allowed?

Sierra land managers are unified in their desire to protect black bears from the ill effects of obtaining human food, but specific regulations vary between different parks and forests. Currently, each management area decides which food storage techniques and products are allowed in their area.

To determine where canisters are REQUIRED check the Sierra Food Storage Map.

To determine which specific techniques and products are ALLOWED in a certain area, check directly with the land managers:

National Park Service

Yosemite National Park
Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks
Devil’s Post Pile National Park

US Forest Service

Inyo National Forest
Sierra National Forest
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Stanislaus National Forest
Eldorado National Forest (Desolation Wilderness)

Not sure which agency manages the area you want to visit?

Use this site’s Wilderness Area Pages and Sierra Food Storage Map.

Benefits of using a canister:

Convenience:Set up camp without the need to search for that perfect and often elusive tree from which to hang your food.

Freedom: Camp away from the bear lockers and crowds, or even above tree-line!

Fun insurance: No aborted trips because critters ate your food.

Multi-tool:It can make a useful camp stool, table, or bucket (depending on the model).Try to think of more uses!

Better sleep: It doesn’t make a good pillow, but you can rest and relax without worrying if your food is really safe up in that tree.

Safety: Avoid getting stranded in the backcountry with no food.

Karma: This is the single most effective thing you can do as a wilderness visitor to protect bears.

Which Canisters Are Allowed?

National Park Service

US Forest Service

Not sure which agency manages the area you want to visit?

Benefits of using a canister:

Wilderness Areas

Resources

Trip Planning

Wilderness Regulations

Philosophy

Bears

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