John Muir Wilderness · US Forest Service
Is the Ursack Major legal in John Muir Wilderness?
Not legal
No. The Ursack Major is a soft-sided bag, and John Muir Wilderness requires a hard-sided or rigid container.
Canister required in the Inyo order zones inside this wilderness; elsewhere canister OR counterbalance (Inyo and Sierra orders). Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP rules apply on entering the parks. Area text names no approved list. Soft-sided bag is not a rigid canister (order/regulation requires a canister or non-pliable container).
Heads-up before you rely on this
- Source page shows no date. The official page does not show a "last updated" date we could capture. We record the day we read it instead.
- Partly verified. Some part of this rule (a date, a boundary, a list or a wording detail) is not fully confirmed from official text. See the notes below for what is missing.
Rules change. Confirm with the land manager (links below) before you go.
What this means
The written rule asks for a bear-resistant container (or similar wording) but names no approved list. Hard canisters on a recognised list are the safest reading; the agency has the final say.
About this model. Soft-sided; IGBC-certified but not allowed where a hard-sided canister is required (e.g.
The rule in John Muir Wilderness
- Requirement
- Canister required in the Inyo order zones inside this wilderness; elsewhere canister OR counterbalance (Inyo and Sierra orders). Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP rules apply on entering the parks.
- Accepted
- No list named in either order
- Dates
- Order 05-04-50-23-03 (text: effective 2025-06-18 to 2027-06-18; page header alert start 2023-06-18); Sierra NF Order 05-15-00-26-03 (2026-05-22 to 2028-05-22)
- Source updated
- alert pages (dates not captured)
- Checked
- 2026-10-26 · partly verified
- Our notes
- Derived from the Inyo and Sierra NF orders; Sequoia NF portion not separately checked.
About the Ursack Major
- Volume
- 10.65 L
- Weight
- 7.6 oz
- Material
- UHMWPE/Spectra fabric
- IGBC certified
- Yes (cert. 3738)
- On Yosemite / SEKI list
- No
- On Olympic list
- No
- Spec source
- search summary of ursack.com pages
Specs come from the sources named in "Spec source" and many are incomplete. See every area where the Ursack Major is accepted or not →
What else works in John Muir Wilderness
| Canister | Verdict | Weight | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| BearVault BV450 Jaunt | Legal | 2 lb 1 oz | 7.2 L |
| BearVault BV500 Journey | Legal | 2 lb 9 oz (1.16 kg) | 11.5 L |
| UDAP No-Fed-Bear | Legal | 2.4 lb | 8.2 (derived from cu in) L |
| BearVault BV ONE Adjustable | Likely legal | 1 lb 15 oz (895 g) | 8.3 expanded / 4.65 collapsed L |
| BearVault BV425 Sprint | Likely legal | 1 lb 12 oz | 5 L |
| BearVault BV475 Trek | Likely legal | 2 lb 4 oz | 9.3 L |
The Ursack Major under nearby rules
- Emigrant Wilderness Bear canisters are currently not required (Stanislaus NF page). Canisters ARE required in adjoining Yosemite w… No canister rule
- Bridger-Teton NF Food storage order: IGBC list or courtesy inspection container, hang, or vehicle. Allowed, not required
- Redwood National and State Parks Lockers at designated camps; Redwood Creek: hang or canister. Canister not required. No canister rule
- Caribou-Targhee NF IGBC list or hang. Allowed, not required
- Inyo NF - Kearsarge Pass Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). Not legal
- Inyo NF - Duck Pass / Purple Lake Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). Not legal
Quick answers
Is the Ursack Major legal in John Muir Wilderness?
No. The Ursack Major is a soft-sided bag, and John Muir Wilderness requires a hard-sided or rigid container. Canister required in the Inyo order zones inside this wilderness; elsewhere canister OR counterbalance (Inyo and Sierra orders). Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP rules apply on entering the parks. Area text names no approved list. Soft-sided bag is not a rigid canister (order/regulation requires a canister or non-pliable container).
What does John Muir Wilderness require for food storage?
Canister required in the Inyo order zones inside this wilderness; elsewhere canister OR counterbalance (Inyo and Sierra orders). Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP rules apply on entering the parks. Accepted standard: No list named in either order.
How current is this answer?
We checked John Muir Wilderness's official source on 2026-10-26. Source page shows no date. Partly verified. Rules change, so confirm with the land manager before you go.
Sources and date checked
Checked . We link the official pages so you can read the rule yourself.