National Park Service · CA

Yosemite National Park: bear canister rules

Yosemite National Park requires a bear canister.

Canister required Checked 2026-10-26

Food must be stored in an allowed canister or food locker park-wide in the backcountry; hanging is not a legal alternative.

This area accepts only containers that appear on a named list (the SIBBG-derived list as published by NPS). A canister missing from the list is not accepted, even if another agency or lab has certified it. Of the 30 canisters we cover, 18 are confirmed matches here.

Heads-up before you rely on this

Source page dated 2018-05-15. The official page we rely on shows a date of 2018-05-15. Land managers may have changed the rule since then, so treat this page as a starting point and re-check the source.
Official SIBBG list page was unreachable. The Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group site was down for maintenance on 2026-10-26. We used the NPS-hosted copies of the list (Yosemite page and the Sequoia & Kings Canyon PDF).
Container list last updated 2015. NPS says the Yosemite allowed-container list (last updated 2015) is still valid as of July 2026. New models released since then are not on it.

Rules change. Confirm with the land manager (sources below) before you go.

Is my canister legal in Yosemite National Park?

Where are you hiking? Which canister?

Legal

BearVault BV500 Journey in Yosemite National Park: accepted here.

On the Yosemite/SEKI (SIBBG-derived) list as reproduced by NPS.

Area rule Food must be stored in an allowed canister or food locker park-wide in the backcountry; hanging is not a legal alternative.

Read the full answer

Checked 2026-10-26. Always verify with the land manager before you go.

The rule, as written

Requirement: Food must be stored in an allowed canister or food locker park-wide in the backcountry; hanging is not a legal alternative.
Accepted: NPS 'Allowed Food Storage Containers' list (same content as the SIBBG list; list last updated 2015, NPS says still valid as of July 2026)
Dates: Year-round per page (needs verification of any seasonal exemptions)
Source updated: bearcanisters.htm updated 2018-05-15; containers.htm updated 2026-07-10
Checked: 2026-10-26 · verified
Our notes: Official SIBBG list page (sierrawild.gov) was down for maintenance on 2026-10-26; list taken from the NPS-hosted copies.

Detailed answers for Yosemite National Park

Every canister we cover, in Yosemite National Park

Arrows mark models with a detailed answer page for this area. Others link to the canister's page, which lists every area.

Quick answers

Do I need a bear canister in Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite National Park requires a bear canister. Food must be stored in an allowed canister or food locker park-wide in the backcountry; hanging is not a legal alternative.

Which canisters are accepted in Yosemite National Park?

NPS 'Allowed Food Storage Containers' list (same content as the SIBBG list; list last updated 2015, NPS says still valid as of July 2026) In our data: BearVault BV450 Jaunt, BearVault BV500 Journey, BearVault BV250, BearVault BV300, BearVault BV350, BearVault BV400, BearVault BV110B, BearVault BV200, Wild Ideas (Bearikade) Weekender MKII, Wild Ideas (Bearikade) Expedition MKII, Counter Assault Bear Keg, Garcia Backpackers' Cache 812, and more.

How current is this information?

We checked Yosemite National Park's official source on 2026-10-26. Source page dated 2018-05-15. Official SIBBG list page was unreachable. Container list last updated 2015. Confirm with the land manager before you go.

Nearby and related rules

All California rules

Sources and date checked

Checked 2026-10-26. We link the official pages so you can read the rule yourself.