Great Smoky Mountains National Park · National Park Service
Is the BearVault BV500 Journey legal in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
No canister rule
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has no canister listing rule that we found, so the BearVault BV500 Journey is not required there.
Food must be hung on provided cable systems; canisters not required. A canister is still a permitted way to store food where hanging or canisters are both options. No canister listing requirement found for this area; a canister is a permitted way to store food where canister/hang options exist.
Heads-up before you rely on this
Rules change. Confirm with the land manager (links below) before you go.
What this means
We found no canister listing requirement for this area. Hanging, lockers or poles may be the expected methods, and a canister is generally a permitted option.
Reading note. Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not require a canister. The verdict describes whether this model would count as an accepted container if you choose to use one as your food storage.
About this model. Discrepancy: BearVault's BV500 page cites IGBC #5339, while the IGBC list (Jul 31, 2026) shows BV450=5339 and BV500=5340. Using the IGBC list.
The rule in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Requirement
- Food must be hung on provided cable systems; canisters not required.
- Accepted
- No canister requirement
- Dates
- Year-round
- Source updated
- 2026-04-30
- Checked
- 2026-10-26 · verified
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 →
The BearVault BV500 Journey under nearby rules
- Rocky Mountain National Park Hard-sided, lockable, commercially made canister required for wilderness overnight camping; hanging not permit… Likely legal
- 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
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - other backcountry Canister highly recommended elsewhere; hanging/other methods allowed outside the required zones. Allowed, not required
- Mount Rainier National Park Hang or use food-storage poles; canister highly recommended in sub-alpine areas, not required. No canister rule
- Big Bend National Park Bear boxes/lockers; a bear-resistant container (300 ft-lb standard) is required only for caching. No canister rule
Quick answers
Is the BearVault BV500 Journey legal in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has no canister listing rule that we found, so the BearVault BV500 Journey is not required there. Food must be hung on provided cable systems; canisters not required. A canister is still a permitted way to store food where hanging or canisters are both options. No canister listing requirement found for this area; a canister is a permitted way to store food where canister/hang options exist.
What does Great Smoky Mountains National Park require for food storage?
Food must be hung on provided cable systems; canisters not required. Accepted standard: No canister requirement.
How current is this answer?
We checked Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official source on 2026-10-26. 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.