![]() Please do your part to protect park wildlife and yourself by properly securing your food. Bears and other wildlife can be active 24 hours a day, year round, and at any location from the coast to the peaks of Mt. Olympus. Have all food and scented items secured at all times. Following these and other Leave No Trace guidelines help to protect people and animals.
Bear canisters are required in the following areas of the park:
Bear canisters are typically available for loan from the Port Angeles and Quinault WIC, but we do not guarantee the availability of bear canisters and occasionally run out over busy weekends. We do not reserve canisters in advance even for parties with backpacking reservations. Consider renting or purchasing your own bear canisters to ensure that you have them when needed. List of approved "Bear Canisters" With a little planning, it is amazing how much food you can fit into a bear can. If you choose the right foods and repackage them, you can maximize space. It takes a little effort and time but the results are rewarding. Remember, all food, garbage, and scented items must be stored in your bear cans including canned food, dehydrated food, toothpaste, sunscreen, wrappers, etc. Choose the right foods Repackage your food Plan your menu
Are you tired of spending hours hanging your food or walking to and from bear wires? Try a bear canister! These containers are lightweight, cylindrical canisters specifically designed to be animal proof. Bear canisters are the best method for securing food, garbage, and other scented items from bears and other wildlife. They are user-friendly, fit in most backpacks, and help keep fragile foods like crackers and bread from getting squished or broken. Always carry a bear resistant food container when camping in the subalpine zone above 4,500 feet in elevation or in other areas where trees are not large enough to hang your food. Here are the bear cans we use: BearVault, Garcia Machine. Bear canisters may be available at the following locations:
In some areas, “bear wires” have been installed for hanging food between trees. These wires are usually located in centralized areas for several sites to share. Most wires are equipped with one or more cables for attaching and raising food bags off the ground, but in some cases an additional rope is needed.
Instructions for use of Bear Wire system: Secure food in a bag with a looped handle. Unfasten lower clip at base of tree. Lower the wire (like a flagpole) until upper clip is within clipping distance of food bag. Fasten clip onto food bag handle. Raise food bag by pulling wire. Refasten lower clip to ring attached at base of tree. Multiple bags can be placed on each clip. If bear wires are not available, food should be stored in a bear resistant food container. Hurricane Ridge Area: Grand Lake, Moose Lake, Gladys Lake
Elwha Area: Boulder Creek, Appleton Pass, Boulder Lake, Humes Ranch, Lillian River Camp, Mary's Falls, Canyon Camp, Elkhorn, Elkhorn Horse Camp, Hayes River Camp, Camp Wilder, Chicago Camp Sol Duc/Seven Lakes Basin Area: Bear cans are required Hoh River Area: Mt. Tom Creek, Happy Four, Olympus Guard Station, Lewis Meadow, Martin Creek, Elk Lake, Glacier Meadows, C.B. Flats, Hoh Lake Quinault Area: O'Neil Creek, Pyrites Creek, Wolf Bar, Elip Creek, Low Divide, Three Lakes Bear cans are required at Enchanted Valley Staircase Area: Spike Camp, Big Log Camp, Camp Pleasant, Nine Stream, Two Bear Camp, Home Sweet Home, Flapjack Lakes, Four Stream Dosewallips Area: Dose Forks, Burdick Creek, Camp Marion, Bear Camp, Dose Meadows, Big Timber, Diamond Meadows, Honeymoon Meadows (need rope), Jct. with LaCrosse Pass Trail, Lake Constance Duckabush: Ten-mile, Upper Duckabush Camp Hamma Hamma Area: Upper Lena Lake Coastal Areas: Bear cans are required
![]() Stock If your food is not being stored in bear resistant panniers, it must be hung from park bear wires or hung at least 12 feet high and 10 feet out from the nearest tree trunk. The Wilderness Information Center (WIC) in Port Angeles now has 2 bear resistant panniers available for loan.
![]() Wilderness and Bears How do you feel about bears? Many people fear bears and other wildlife because they may know very little about the animal. Learn more about bears and maybe you will learn to appreciate their wildness and their needs. Their acute sense of smell can lead bears to unclean camps. If bears become accustomed to human food, they may become dangerous and aggressive. To protect visitors and property, park management may close an area to visitors or a park biologist may have to destroy an aggressive or dangerous bear. Two park black bears have died due to poor food storage by visitors. Black bears and other wildlife have lived in Olympic's wilderness for thousands of years and are an essential part of the wilderness community. Many times we are intruding on their territory or feeding areas and should be sensitive to their need for wild, undisturbed space. Human visitors should Leave No Trace and should not impact or harm wildlife during their visit to the wilderness community. The survival of bears may be put in jeopardy if humans are disturbing or occupying feeding areas during critical feeding times. Try to avoid lowland grassy areas during the spring and early summer. These areas often provide the first good food source for bears when they wake from hibernation. Bears, raccoons, and other wildlife may become a nuisance by stealing food, damaging equipment, or acting aggressively if food is not stored properly. Nearly 40,000 people backpack in Olympic National Park every year. It only takes one careless camper to damage a small part of the wilderness community. YOU are responsible for the protection of the Olympic wilderness and its community. |
![]() |
![]() |
Last updated: September 7, 2020