Bear Bags & Hanging Food

How to store food

1Gather all smellables — food, trash, toiletries, and any food-stained clothes — into the bag or canister; leave nothing scented in your tent or pack.
2Choose your method — a canister (simplest, tested) or a hung bear bag where a suitable branch exists.
3To hang: tie a small rock to one end of about 50 ft of strong cord and throw it over a sturdy branch well out from the trunk.
4Hoist and set the height — pull the food sack up to 10–15 ft off the ground, several feet from the trunk, at least 4 ft below the branch, then tie off to another tree.
5To use a canister: seal food inside and set it on the ground at least 100 ft from camp, wedged so it can't roll away; note the spot.
6Do it before dark and away from the tents, and never leave food out unattended.
7Retrieve carefully in the morning — if a bear is at your food, back away and don't confront it.

Backpacking and backcountry camping anywhere bears or aggressive critters may raid food.
Any overnight where food can't go in a hard vehicle or box — the hang or canister protects both your food and the wildlife.
Teaching food discipline — trash, toiletries, and clean cooking are what actually keep bears away, not just the hang.

This protects the bear as much as you. A bear that gets human food becomes bold and often has to be killed — "a fed bear is a dead bear." Proper storage keeps wildlife wild.
Store more than food. Toothpaste, sunblock, ointment, and food-stained clothes all smell like food to a bear — store them too.
Keep food out of tents and never leave it unattended. A food smell in the tent invites a bear to your sleeping area, especially in grizzly country.
Height and distance are the whole point. Too low, too close to the trunk, or too close to the branch and a bear reaches it — hit 10–15 ft up, several feet out, 4 ft below the branch.
Don't confront a bear over food. Back away, make room, and let it leave — food is replaceable.
Cook and eat away from where you sleep, so food smells aren't where you are at night.

"A fed bear is a dead bear." The rules are strict not because of your sandwich, but because food-conditioned bears get destroyed — good storage is wildlife protection.
Canister vs. hang. A canister is bulkier and heavier but foolproof and works where there are no good trees; a hang is lighter but only as good as the branch and your technique. Many parks now require canisters.
The rock-throw takes practice. Put a smooth rock in a small stuff sack (not tied directly, so it won't fly off) and aim for a live branch well out from the trunk.

Check the specific park's rules — many require an approved bear canister.