Katmai National Park & Preserve · National Park Service
Is the BearVault BV500 Journey legal in Katmai National Park & Preserve?
Legal
Yes. The BearVault BV500 Journey is IGBC-certified (IGBC cert. 5340), which is the standard Katmai National Park & Preserve uses.
Bear-resistant food container mandatory; IGBC or ADFG-approved; soft-sided cannot substitute. IGBC-certified.
Heads-up before you rely on this
- Source page dated 2022-10-14. The official page we rely on shows a date of 2022-10-14. Land managers may have changed the rule since then, so treat this page as a starting point and re-check the source.
- 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 this means
This area accepts IGBC-certified hard-sided containers. Soft-sided bags do not qualify here, even when they carry IGBC certification.
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 Katmai National Park & Preserve
- Requirement
- Bear-resistant food container mandatory; IGBC or ADFG-approved; soft-sided cannot substitute.
- Accepted
- IGBC or Alaska Dept of Fish & Game list
- Dates
- Per page
- Source updated
- 2022-10-14
- Checked
- 2026-10-26 · partly verified
- Our notes
- ADFG list was not fetched, so non-IGBC canisters are marked verify.
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 Katmai National Park & Preserve
| Canister | Verdict | Weight | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| BearVault BV ONE Adjustable | Legal | 1 lb 15 oz (895 g) | 8.3 expanded / 4.65 collapsed L |
| BearVault BV425 Sprint | Legal | 1 lb 12 oz | 5 L |
| BearVault BV450 Jaunt | Legal | 2 lb 1 oz | 7.2 L |
| BearVault BV475 Trek | Legal | 2 lb 4 oz | 9.3 L |
| Grub Can Wave 6.6 L | Legal | 1 lb 15 oz | 6.6 L |
| Grub Can Wave 10.0 L | Legal | n/a | 10.0 L |
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
- Mount Rainier National Park Hang or use food-storage poles; canister highly recommended in sub-alpine areas, not required. No canister rule
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs - other backcountry Canister highly recommended elsewhere; hanging/other methods allowed outside the required zones. Allowed, not required
- Big Bend National Park Bear boxes/lockers; a bear-resistant container (300 ft-lb standard) is required only for caching. 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 Katmai National Park & Preserve?
Yes. The BearVault BV500 Journey is IGBC-certified (IGBC cert. 5340), which is the standard Katmai National Park & Preserve uses. Bear-resistant food container mandatory; IGBC or ADFG-approved; soft-sided cannot substitute. IGBC-certified.
What does Katmai National Park & Preserve require for food storage?
Bear-resistant food container mandatory; IGBC or ADFG-approved; soft-sided cannot substitute. Accepted standard: IGBC or Alaska Dept of Fish & Game list.
How current is this answer?
We checked Katmai National Park & Preserve's official source on 2026-10-26. Source page dated 2022-10-14. 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.