RidgeSyncBackcountry Food Storage: Canisters, Hangs, and Ursacks Done Right
Proper backcountry food storage means every scented item, food, trash, toiletries, sunscreen, goes into a bear canister, a properly hung bag, or an Ursack every single night, stored at least 100 feet from your tent and cooking area. This protects you from wildlife encounters and protects the animals from becoming food-conditioned, which usually ends badly for them.
Requirements vary by land you're traveling through, so check the rules for your specific route before you go. Here's how each method works and how to set up camp so storage is easy to do right.
Know your requirement before you leave
Many popular areas legally require hard-sided bear canisters, including much of the High Sierra, the Eastern High Peaks of the Adirondacks, and sections of numerous national parks. Other areas allow Ursacks or hangs, and some provide bear boxes or cables at designated campsites. Rules are set by land managers and change by zone within the same trip.
Check current regulations for every section of your route before departure rather than assuming last year's rules still apply, storage requirements are updated as bear activity and food-conditioning incidents change.
Bear canisters, Ursacks, and the PCT hang
- Hard-sided canisters: legally required in many high-use areas, roughly 2 to 3 lb, no skill needed, and effectively bear- and rodent-proof once closed correctly
- Ursack-style bags: lighter than a canister, resistant to bears and rodents when tied correctly to a solid tree or anchor with the specified knot, accepted in some areas and not others
- PCT hang method: food bag hung 12 feet up and 6 feet out from the trunk and any climbable branch, using a counterbalance or single line over a sturdy branch; effective when done correctly, but requires the right tree and real technique
- Provided infrastructure: bear boxes, poles, or cable systems at some designated sites; if your itinerary passes through these, plan your camp near them
A poorly executed hang is worse than no hang at all if it gives you false confidence; if you can't find a suitable tree or aren't confident in your knot, a canister or Ursack removes the guesswork entirely.
Set up the storage triangle
Keep your tent, your cooking area, and your food storage spot separated by roughly 100 feet each, forming a triangle. Cooking and eating happen away from where you sleep, and food storage happens away from both, so any animal drawn in by smell isn't drawn toward your tent.
Cook and clean up well before dark when possible, strain dishwater and scatter it away from camp, and never store food, trash, or scented items inside your tent, not even 'just for one night' or in a stuff sack in the vestibule. This single habit prevents the majority of camp wildlife problems.
Don't forget rodents
Mice, chipmunks, and squirrels cause far more backcountry food loss than bears do, and they chew through unattended packs and tent fabric to get at food. Proper storage protects against both at once: a sealed canister or a correctly tied Ursack keeps rodents out just as well as bears.
Odor discipline matters even between camps: keep food in odor-resistant bags inside your pack during the day, don't leave a pack unattended with food accessible, and pack out every food scrap and wrapper. When you're building your food pantry and daily mileage plan in RidgeSync, note which nights fall in canister-required zones so you're not caught without one.
Frequently asked questions
Are bear canisters required for backcountry camping?
Yes, in many high-use areas, including much of the High Sierra and the Eastern High Peaks of the Adirondacks, hard-sided canisters are legally required. Requirements vary by land manager, so check the rules for your specific route before your trip.
How do you properly hang a bear bag?
The PCT method hangs the food bag 12 feet up and 6 feet out from the trunk and any climbable branch, using a sturdy branch and a counterbalance or single-line technique. It requires the right tree and good technique to be effective.
Is an Ursack as effective as a bear canister?
Ursack-style bags are lighter and resist bears and rodents when tied correctly to a solid anchor, but they're not accepted everywhere canisters are required. Check local regulations before relying on one.
How far should food storage be from your tent?
Keep food storage, your cooking area, and your tent roughly 100 feet apart from each other in a triangle. This keeps anything drawn in by food smell away from where you sleep.
Do rodents get into backcountry food too?
Yes, mice and squirrels cause more food loss than bears in many areas, chewing through unattended packs and tents. A sealed canister or properly tied Ursack protects against both rodents and bears.