2026 Food Storage Regulations

[Kelly]

2026 Food Storage Regulations

Linked from this page, and on that page it's called the 2026 update.

Page last updated March 26, 2026

[Midwest Ed]

Neither of Kelly's links work for me using Chrome on a PC.
Here is the Park's food storage page.

As of my post, the Park's food storage page was last updated 3/26/26. I suspect things are subject to change (more easily changed) right up til park opening date. The web page clearly needs a bit of maintenance work. When you land on this page from the parks main link, it doesn't open up the 3rd alert which is the one dealing with food storage. My read on the park rule regarding soft sided bags it they are NOT disqualifying the Ursack, as it is presently on the OK'd list and the description of soft sided bags as mesh or dry bags. But there is another spot where approved storage are called "hard sided".

I hesitate to create any links here that are direct to the presently authorized list, thus bypassing the park's ability to maintain control.

[Kelly]

Fixed the links.

Given that food storage lockers are at nearly every campground, I expect to continue to use my Ursack this summer.

[JerryB]

It is a really badly written, contradictory alert. Unless something more definitive is issued, i will still use my Ursak and the lockers.

[Midwest Ed]

It is a really badly written, contradictory alert. Unless something more definitive is issued, i will still use my Ursak and the lockers.

I agree the rules are poorly written.

If a softsided Ursak is ruled no better than a mesh or dry bag (or just not good enough), even though it's on the approved list of containers, then somewhere in the regulations they should explicitly state the rule for how it's treated.

Also, the way I interpret things, if you use the lockers not even a Ursak soft sided bag is required. Of course, not all campgrounds have yet to get lockers.

And for those lockerless campgrounds, the rules for hanging food become a bit contradictory.
When cross country (off trail) camping, hanging food is an approved option if you have no hard sided container (and stash container >200 feet away).
There's also a rule, "no hanging food in campgrounds".
I think the best thing would be to allow the cross country rule at lockerless campgrounds. A bit nit picky but still?

[S_R_L]

And for those lockerless campgrounds, the rules for hanging food become a bit contradictory.
When cross country (off trail) camping, hanging food is an approved option if you have no hard sided container (and stash container >200 feet away).
There's also a rule, "no hanging food in campgrounds".
I think the best thing would be to allow the cross country rule at lockerless campgrounds. A bit nit picky but still?

So they've gone from hanging being mandatory to hanging being forbidden at lockerless sites?

[Midwest Ed]

And for those lockerless campgrounds, the rules for hanging food become a bit contradictory.
When cross country (off trail) camping, hanging food is an approved option if you have no hard sided container (and stash container >200 feet away).
There's also a rule, "no hanging food in campgrounds".
I think the best thing would be to allow the cross country rule at lockerless campgrounds. A bit nit picky but still?

So they've gone from hanging being mandatory to hanging being forbidden at lockerless sites?

If there was a previously published regulation to hang at lockerless site then my comment is somewhat moot and I would follow the more logical operation to hang at lockerless sites.

[ThatGuy]

My interpretation is that they have gotten rid of the bear resistant container requirement if there are food lockers. and if there are no food lockers they have strengthened the requirement to only be hard sided. But it doesn't seem super clear, maybe the ursacks are still ok?

also random side note i saw "Do not store food, trash, or scented items in shelters or tents." which surprised me a little as I believe the rules were specifically to store your bear cannister in your shelter if you had one last year.