Backcountry Food Canister Policy

Map showing bear can requirements
This map shows the areas in the park where there are animal resistant food storage requirements.

As of June 1, 2013, North Cascades National Park Service Complex began requires storage canisters at ten (10) backcountry camps and in five (5) cross-country zones.

Food storage requirements for the remainder of the Park Complex will stay the same: all food and scented items must be hung (minimum 12 feet off the ground, 5 feet from any tree limb or trunk) or secured in an IGBC approaved bear resistant canister, pannier or other device.


The following backcountry camps require canisters from June 1—November 15 every year:

Desolation
Fisher
Hooter
Monogram Lake
Pierce Mountain
Sahale Glacier
Sourdough
Thornton Lakes
Thunder Basin
Trapper Inlet

The following cross-country zones require canisters for all or portions of the zones, from June 1—November 15 every year:

Boston Basin (portions*)
Hidden Lake (all)
Tapto Lakes (all)
Eldorado (portions*)
Sulphide Glacier (portions*)

*For the three high use climbing zones (Boston Basin, Eldorado, Sulphide Glacier), canisters will be required for anyone planning to camp at or below the vegetation line (whether under snow or not), including: Boston Basin upper and lower camps, Eldorado Basin and the ridge between Eldorado and Roush Creeks, and anywhere at or below “the notch” south of Sulphide Glacier. Food canisters will not be required for any camping on glaciers or high routes, such as the Boston-Sahale Col, Torment-Forbidden traverse, base of the East Ridge on Eldorado, and either of the Sulphide Glacier bivy sites. Maps of these areas are available at ranger stations and online. Hidden Lake and Tapto Lakes zones will require canisters for all overnight stays, as all practicable camping areas are well within the vegetation zone.

The above areas were selected as mandatory canister areas for one or more of the following factors: hanging food is either very difficult or impossible due to the nature of the vegetation or lack of trees suitable for hanging; wildlife have obtained food from campers in the past due to improper food storage, which can lead to habituated wildlife and thus risks to either the wildlife, campers, or gear; the presence of bears and/or other wildlife is high; and/or visitor use is high. For all areas of the park, proper food storage has been and will remain a requirement. Human food is an attractive source of calories for many animals, including rodents, marmots, goats, bears, ravens, deer, etc. Proper backcountry food storage is essential

 
Rental Options Food for Storage
The park has many different animal resistant food storage options to rent.

Canister Loan Program

The park has Bear Vault and Backpackers Cache canister models available for free loan at the Marblemount Ranger Station, and the Glacier Public Service Center.

As of 2019, the Wilderness Information Center also has IGBC approved Ursacks for rental. If bringing a canister from home, campers can use any of these models. For a complete list of additional allowed canisters, please refer to the Certified Product List (backpacking and small storage containers) as produced by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

For questions, contact the Wilderness Information Center at noca_wilderness@nps.gov.

Last updated: March 30, 2023

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810 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

Phone:

360 854-7200

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