The bear situation in American national parks is more nuanced than 'don't bring food into your tent.' It is true that you shouldn't bring food into your tent. But that's the floor. Above that is a layered system of storage rules that varies by park, by elevation, by season, and by which bear you're worried about.
Know which bear country you're in
Most of the eastern US, the Smokies, Shenandoah, Appalachian Trail: black bears. Smaller, less aggressive, primarily food-motivated, almost never attack people unless cornered or with cubs.
Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, the North Cascades, parts of Wyoming and Montana: grizzlies. Larger, more territorial, much more dangerous when surprised. Different protocol.
Sierra Nevada (Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon), Tahoe, Olympic: black bears that have learned to associate humans with food. They will tear into a Subaru for a granola bar.
Storage hierarchy by park requirement
- Bear-resistant food canister (BV500, Bearikade, etc.) — required in Sierra Nevada national parks, Glacier backcountry, parts of Yellowstone/Tetons. The canister goes 100 feet from your tent, 100 feet from where you cook.
- Bear hang — acceptable in some eastern parks where canisters aren't required. 12 feet up, 6 feet out from the trunk. Not effective against bears that have learned the hang.
- Bear locker — provided at established campgrounds in many western parks. Use them. They're the easiest tool you'll ever have.
- Vehicle storage — in some parks (NOT Sierra), an empty cooler in a closed vehicle is fine. In Sierra, bears break into cars; food goes in the locker even if you have a vehicle.
The 100-foot triangle
The tested practice: tent, kitchen, and food storage are three separate spots, ideally forming a 100-foot triangle. Cook upwind of where you sleep so cooking smell doesn't drift to your tent.
What's food and what's smellable
Food includes: anything edible (obvious), trash with food residue (less obvious), toothpaste, sunscreen, lip balm, deodorant, cooking oil, dish soap, even gum. Anything with a scent. Pack it all into the canister.
The bear that eats your trail mix lives. The bear that gets relocated three times for being in campsites doesn't. Storing your food correctly is, statistically, animal welfare.
If you encounter a bear
- Don't run. You can't outrun a bear; running triggers chase response.
- Black bear: make yourself big, make noise, fight back if attacked.
- Grizzly bear: do NOT make yourself big. Slowly back away. If charged, play dead — face down, hands behind neck, legs spread. Resume normal movement only after the bear leaves.
- Carry bear spray in grizzly country. Have it accessible (chest strap holster, not buried in your pack). Know how to use it before the moment comes.
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