food storage

Federal law requires proper storage of food throughout Yosemite National Park. This includes all food related items and toiletries. Anything with an odor will be attractive to bears.

Guidelines:

Always store garbage, cosmetics, toothpaste, soap, or anything with any odor with food.

Remember to pack out all trash when you move on to your next campsite. Never burn or bury trash of any kind.

Store items properly at all times except when preparing what is needed for your meal.

Leave empty pack on the ground with all pockets and flaps open.

Store water bottles out of sight with cooking
gear.

The National Park Service strongly advises all backpackers to carry and use bear-resistant food storage canisters.

These portable containers are the most effective way for backpackers to store food in wilderness. Each plastic canister weighs less than 3 pounds, fits in a full-sized backpack, and is capable of holding up to 3 to 5 days worth of food for one person. Canisters are available for rent for $3.00 a trip at most permit stations and many stores within Yosemite. Canisters can be returned at any rental location.

Rental/Purchase Locations (year-round):

Curry Village Mountain Shop, Yosemite Village Sports Shop, Crane Flat Grocery, and the Wawona Store.

Rental/Purchase Locations (seasonal): Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center, Tuolumne Meadows Sport Shop, and the Tuolumne Meadows Store.

Rentals only (seasonal): Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Permit Station, Big Oak Flat Wilderness Permit/Information Station, Wawona Wilderness Permit/Information Station, and the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station.

Bear boxes are only available at a limited number of designated wilderness campsites next to the High Sierra Camps and in Little Yosemite Valley. Wilderness users are encouraged to carry canisters even when hiking in areas where stationary bear boxes are available. Bear boxes may be unavailable or full in these high use destinations. Canisters increase your freedom in selecting campsites away from developed or highly used areas. Note - In an effort to limit human intrusions into wilderness as designated in the 1964 congressional Wilderness Act, bear boxes may be phased out of these locations in the future.

Although the counter-balance method of food storage is not illegal, it is not recommended due to its lack of effectiveness and the damage that is caused to trees by persistant bears. If you choose to store your food using this technique, consider it only a delaying tactic. Be prepared to actively defend your food and repeatedly scare bears out of your camp through the night. Without this negative reinforcement, bears will figure out a way to get your counter-balanced food - some bears will go so far as to literally chew the branch off the tree to get at food bags. Help Keep Yosemite’s Bears Wild - Use a Bear-Resistant Canister!

http://www.nps.gov
File created 9/99 Hayes Roberts
Updated
Yosemite National Park Division of Interpretation


In the Wilderness	At the Trailhead	In Campgrounds/Lodging