White Mountain National Forest Announces Food Storage Requirement in the Pemigewasset Wilderness
The White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) is implementing a year -round food storage requirement for overnight visitors in the Pemigewasset (Pemi) Wilderness, beginning May 1, 2026. All overnight visitors in the Pemi Wilderness will be required to store their food, trash, and scented items (such as soap, lip balm, toothpaste) and refuse in a cylindrical, hard sided, nonpliable IGBC (International Grizzly Bear Committee) certified bear resistant canister.
Bear incidents in the Pemi Wilderness area have risen sharply in recent years, with most cases involving bears accessing improperly stored food. This new requirement is necessary to reduce an increase in human–bear interactions and to improve visitor and wildlife safety.
Effective May 1st 2026, alternative methods for storing food and bear attractants in the Pemigewasset Wilderness will no longer be permitted as they have proven to be less effective than canisters. The only exceptions are the bear resistant food boxes located at the Thirteen Falls Tent Site.
The WMNF offers a free food canister loan program at several locations: Lincoln Woods Trailhead Cabin in Lincoln, NH, Pemigewasset Ranger Station in Campton, NH, Saco Ranger Station in Conway, NH, and Androscoggin Ranger Station in Gorham, NH. Failure to comply with the food storage requirement could result in fines.
The Pemi Wilderness is one of the most popular backcountry destinations on the WMNF. As visitation has increased, bears have learned to associate humans with food, leading to more frequent and potentially dangerous encounters. In 2025, nearly all reported bear incidents on the WMNF occurred on the Pemigewasset Ranger District, with over half within the Pemi Wilderness.
The Forest Service remains committed to providing safe, high quality and reliable recreation opportunities while protecting wildlife. Visitor cooperation plays a crucial role in keeping wildlife wild and ensuring we can provide safe and reliable access to outdoor experiences.
For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/whitemountain/alerts/pemigewasset-wilderness-food-storage-requirement or contact the Pemigewasset Ranger District at: (603) 536-6100.