State guide
California bear canister rules
31 California areas. 12 require a canister everywhere in the area; 11 do not require one. Rules are set by each land manager, not by the state.
- Ansel Adams Wilderness Canister or counterbalance per Sierra NF order; Inyo portions follow Inyo order. Yosemite NP (adjacent) requires an allowed canist… US Forest ServiceCanister required in parts
- Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Bear canisters currently not required (same Stanislaus page). US Forest ServiceCanister not required
- Desolation Wilderness Canister required for all food in Desolation Wilderness overnight. US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Emigrant Wilderness Bear canisters are currently not required (Stanislaus NF page). Canisters ARE required in adjoining Yosemite wilderness. US Forest ServiceCanister not required
- Hoover Wilderness Securable, solid, non-pliable container rated for at least 300 ft-lb required for unattended food; hanging/guarding not allowed. US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Inyo NF - Bishop Pass / Treasure Lakes Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Inyo NF - Cottonwood Lakes Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Inyo NF - Duck Pass / Purple Lake Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Inyo NF - Fish Creek Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Inyo NF - Kearsarge Pass Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Inyo NF - Little Lakes Valley Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Inyo NF - Mammoth Lakes / Rush Creek Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Inyo NF - Mt. Whitney zone Canister required for food/refuse in this order area (one of eight designated areas). US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Inyo NF - other wilderness Outside the eight canister zones: canister OR counterbalance hang (15 ft / 10 ft). US Forest ServiceCanister not required
- John Muir Wilderness Canister required in the Inyo order zones inside this wilderness; elsewhere canister OR counterbalance (Inyo and Sierra orders). S… US Forest ServiceCanister required in parts
- Lake Tahoe Basin (outside Desolation) Basin-wide order: unattended food in a bear-resistant container (a canister is required only for Desolation overnight visitors). US Forest ServiceCanister not required
- Lassen Volcanic National Park NPS-approved bear-resistant container required; hanging not permitted. National Park ServiceCanister required seasonally
- Mokelumne Wilderness Bear canisters currently not required (same Stanislaus page). US Forest ServiceCanister not required
- Mt. Shasta Wilderness No canister requirement found in the order. US Forest ServiceCanister not required
- Redwood National and State Parks Lockers at designated camps; Redwood Creek: hang or canister. Canister not required. National Park ServiceCanister not required
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - Dusy Basin Canister required in the Dusy Basin. National Park ServiceCanister required seasonally
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - North Dome Canister required in the North Dome area. National Park ServiceCanister required seasonally
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - Pear & Emerald Lakes Canister required in the Pear and Emerald Lakes areas. National Park ServiceCanister required seasonally
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - Rae Lakes Loop Canister required in the Rae Lakes Loop. National Park ServiceCanister required seasonally
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - other backcountry Canister highly recommended elsewhere; hanging/other methods allowed outside the required zones. National Park ServiceCanister not required
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - Rock Creek Canister required in the Rock Creek area. National Park ServiceCanister required seasonally
- Sequoia NF Canister strongly recommended, not required. US Forest ServiceCanister not required
- Sierra NF wildernesses Canister OR counterbalance hang. US Forest ServiceCanister not required
- Trinity Alps - other areas Elsewhere any bear-proof system designed to prevent access by bears must be used (canister not specifically required). US Forest ServiceCanister not required
- Trinity Alps - Canyon & Swift Creeks Bear-proof canister required for food/refuse in the Canyon Creek and Swift Creek drainages. US Forest ServiceCanister required
- Yosemite National Park Food must be stored in an allowed canister or food locker park-wide in the backcountry; hanging is not a legal alternative. National Park ServiceCanister required
Check a canister in California
Likely legal
BearVault BV ONE Adjustable in Ansel Adams Wilderness: probably fine, confirm.
Area text names no approved list. Listed hard canister expected to satisfy the written standard; confirm with the local office.
Area rule Canister or counterbalance per Sierra NF order; Inyo portions follow Inyo order. Yosemite NP (adjacent) requires an allowed canister.
See every canister for Ansel Adams WildernessChecked 2026-10-26. Always verify with the land manager before you go.
Other states: Wyoming · Colorado · Alaska · Montana · Washington. Or browse all areas.