Rocky Mountain National Park · National Park Service
Is the BearVault BV500 Journey legal in Rocky Mountain National Park?
Likely legal
Probably, but nobody has confirmed it by name. Rocky Mountain National Park requires a hard-sided, lockable, commercially made canister and names no approved list, and the BV500 is a hard-sided commercial canister.
We read the park's overnight page (updated 2026-08-28) and found no reference to an IGBC or SIBBG list. The standard is written in plain words: hard-sided, lockable and commercially made, with hanging not permitted. The BV500 is a hard polycarbonate canister that is IGBC-certified and on the Sierra list, so we expect it to meet that wording. We rate it "likely legal" rather than "legal" because the park has not named it.
Heads-up before you rely on this
- 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.
Verify with the land manager before you go. This pair carries open questions, listed above, and rules change.
What to know
Season wording differs between the park's pages. The overnight page says the rule applies to all wilderness overnights, while the park guide says April 1 to October 31 below treeline and at the Longs Peak Boulder Field. We cannot tell you the winter rule from our sources, so plan on carrying a canister year-round unless a ranger tells you otherwise.
Caution. Whether a particular model counts as "lockable" is the park's call. If you want certainty, ask the Rocky Mountain wilderness office which models they accept and write down who you spoke with.
The rule in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Requirement
- Hard-sided, lockable, commercially made canister required for wilderness overnight camping; hanging not permitted.
- Accepted
- No named list: 'hard-sided, lockable, commercially made' (no IGBC/SIBBG reference found on fetched pages)
- Dates
- Overnight page says all wilderness overnights; park guide says Apr 1 - Oct 31 below treeline / Longs Peak Boulder Field (winter applicability needs verification)
- Source updated
- 2026-08-28
- Checked
- 2026-10-26 · partly verified
- Our notes
- Season wording differs between pages.
About the BearVault BV500 Journey
- Volume
- 11.5 L (700 cu in)
- Weight
- 2 lb 9 oz (1.16 kg)
- Material
- Rugged polycarbonate and other resins
- IGBC certified
- Yes (cert. 5340)
- On Yosemite / SEKI list
- Yes
- On Olympic list
- Yes
- Spec source
- manufacturer page fetched directly
Specs come from the sources named in "Spec source" and many are incomplete. See every area where the BearVault BV500 Journey is accepted or not →
What else works in Rocky Mountain National Park
| Canister | Verdict | Weight | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 BV450 Jaunt | Likely legal | 2 lb 1 oz | 7.2 L |
| BearVault BV475 Trek | Likely legal | 2 lb 4 oz | 9.3 L |
| Grub Can Wave 6.6 L | Likely legal | 1 lb 15 oz | 6.6 L |
| Grub Can Wave 10.0 L | Likely legal | n/a | 10.0 L |
The BearVault BV500 Journey under nearby rules
- Mount Rainier National Park Hang or use food-storage poles; canister highly recommended in sub-alpine areas, not required. No canister rule
- Weminuche Wilderness No canister order found; store food properly. No canister rule
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - Pear & Emerald Lakes Canister required in the Pear and Emerald Lakes areas. Legal
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - Rae Lakes Loop Canister required in the Rae Lakes Loop. Legal
Quick answers
Is the BearVault BV500 Journey legal in Rocky Mountain National Park?
Probably, but nobody has confirmed it by name. Rocky Mountain National Park requires a hard-sided, lockable, commercially made canister and names no approved list, and the BV500 is a hard-sided commercial canister. We read the park's overnight page (updated 2026-08-28) and found no reference to an IGBC or SIBBG list. The standard is written in plain words: hard-sided, lockable and commercially made, with hanging not permitted. The BV500 is a hard polycarbonate canister that is IGBC-certified and on the Sierra list, so we expect it to meet that wording. We rate it "likely legal" rather than "legal" because the park has not named it.
What does Rocky Mountain National Park require for food storage?
Hard-sided, lockable, commercially made canister required for wilderness overnight camping; hanging not permitted. Accepted standard: No named list: 'hard-sided, lockable, commercially made' (no IGBC/SIBBG reference found on fetched pages).
How current is this answer?
We checked Rocky Mountain National Park's official source on 2026-10-26. 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.