Explore This Park

Bear Canisters

A hiker packs his bear canister in the Olympic high country.

How to Pack a Bear Canister

Please do your part to protect yourself, park wildlife, and other visitors by properly securing your food.

In many areas, a bear canister is the only way to properly secure food.

Bear canisters are required in some areas of the park's wilderness backcountry.

Many people, after using a bear canister for the first time, never go back to hanging food because of the convenience and other benefits afforded by using bear canisters.

 

Allowed Food Storage Containers
Because Olympic does not have staff for testing, we adhere to Yosemite National Park's list of allowed food storage containers. Olympic National Park may change this list at any time to ensure the protection of wildlife and visitors.

Allowed Canisters

• Backpacker Model 812 (Garcia)
• www.backpackerscache.com
• BearVault 110b, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500
  www.bearvault.com
• Bearikade Weekender MKII (1766 and higher) and Expedition MKII (1766 and higher)
  www.wild-ideas.net
• The Bear Keg (Counter Assault)
  www.counterassault.com
• The Bare Boxer Contender(101) and Champ (202)
  www.bareboxer.com
• The Lighter1 Big Daddy and Lil' Sami
  lighter1.com
• UDAP N-Fed-Bear www.udap.com
• Purple Mountain Engineering Tahoe
  (This canister is no longer in production or available for purchase)

Allowed Panniers

• DeCarteret Aluminum Stock Panniers
• Berner Bear Box
  303/343-1998
• Bear Country Camping Models SFO and HFO
• Outfitters Supply TrailMax Bear Proof Pack Panniers
  www.outfitterssupply.com

Steel salvage drums with a security lid may be used until panniers are purchased.

• Lab Safety Supply Company (Model 9M-9117, 8 gallon open head)
  www.labsafety.com

Not Permitted: Ursacks
Ursacks have not been allowed for use in Olympic National Park as a bear canister replacement even though some models were approved July 31st, 2014 for Grizzly Bears by the IGBC. They make a great addition to standard food hanging practices.