Food handling in National Parks

[Trails_And_Tail]

New to RVing and planning a trip to some National Parks. I find all kinds of warnings about food storage and how you can be fined if not stored properly. What I can't find are the requirements so I can comply. We'll be in a Class C and I don't know if I can just store food inside or if I have to put it in the lockers or what. Not going until next spring/summer but I like to know what I'm getting into ahead of time. Any tips/suggestions? TIA

[campingliz]

Food handling in places with bear activity -- it's not just National Parks, there are also California State Parks with bears.

In a hard sided RV, we store food and toiletry items inside the rig. I don't cook anything aromatic inside while in a bear activity area. No food or scented items in sight or next to an open window. Some dirty, messy things, like the propane stove after use or dirty dishes we don't want to wash right this second, get stored in the bear box. Garbage goes straight to the dumpster.

Something I didn't see mentioned: the bears in California also recognize certain things and associate them with food. So, don't have grocery bags (even filled with sweaters) in sight. Don't have plastic boxes that resemble coolers in sight, even if that's your tool box. That's why water containers are a no-no; they look like food.

Seeing a bear in the wild doing natural bear stuff is glorious. Having one of those beautiful and majestic creatures destroyed because people are sloppy with their food storage is tragic. Enjoy your trip. Those are fantastic National Parks.

Happy Camping!

[D_E_Bishop]

T&T, It just depends on whether or not the clouds have holes in them and leak the snow and or rain out. We have a home on the other side of the mountains and drive over to Yosemite often. We have had snow as late as mid June and as early as August. Most often if it snows in May, it is cleaned off the roads before you get up. There can be up to four or five feet in places and HWY from Yosemite to Hwy 392 is usually closed until May 31th.

With the promise of a El Nino year, the weather may be very wet and warmer than average. You should be good but plan for rain and snow just to be safe.

[2gypsies1]

Because you stated that you read that national parks are 'crappy' according to another post and now you read that you will be fined for improper storage of food....I think you should just stop reading and 'GO'. Millions of RVers are out there enjoying their trip.

You'll be just fine wherever you go. 🙂

[PghBob]

While not exactly on point, I would add that all things that might be considered food by animals, should be properly stored. Basically, anything with an odor. This includes things like toothpaste, mouthwash, after shave, perfume, and crumbs. Campers with young children should very carefully clean their vehicles to get up the old cheerios, pretzels, and cookie fragments that may have accumulated over time. Best wishes on your trip.

[Opie431]

We watched a racoon opening an ice chest in a park that did not have any restrictions. The few times we have needed an ice chest outside since than we have always put a heavy piece on wood on ours.
And yes, we did chase it away altho it was not our lot.

[tatest]

Rules will be different for each campground, in each park. Something not useful to worry about ahead of time.

If you are in a Class C motorhome, it is unlikely that food storage rules will require you to move foods to a locker. I know of no places where bears have learned to recognize motorhomes as food storage containers, except maybe the ice road to the North Slope, where polar bears rip open even semi-trailers in search of food.

There are definitely places where bears have learned to recognize cars, vans, SUVs as food sources, particularly where coolers are inside in plain sight. When they do learn about RVs, things will get interesting, because a laminated RV wall would be not much more effort than a cardboard box to a bear.

[TexasShadow]

you can keep your food in the class C no problem.
you cannot leave your portable grill or an ice chest outside unattended. put it up when the grill is cooled down.

[OutdoorPhotogra]

Trails And Tails wrote:
The "Plan Your Visit" page on NP websites has a link for this information. Thanks, DownTheAvenue, for the initial link. Also, I believe OutdoorPhotographer was just a little confused as Sequoia NP has food locker at all times rule. Yosemite and Sequoia are 2 of the parks we're planning for. BTW: We should be there in mid to late May. Good timing? Bad timing?

I camped Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia so yes, I must have mixed them up. Yosemite does say no food stored in vehicles and posts photos of minivans with bears hanging out of them. I'll deal with bear precautions to get the beauty of these parks.

[NYCgrrl]

OutdoorPhotographer wrote:
It depends on the park. Yellowstone allows inside storage in a hard side RV. Yosemite requires all food in bear boxes. I don't remember warnings in the Smokies. Not sure on other areas.

Agreed.
Follow the recommendations of the individual national parks you plan to visit. And yes you can find the needed info on the websites of the specific parks.

[MrWizard]

i have seen my share (after the fact)
but the worse i ever witnessed myself, was at Sunset CG at Kings Canyon
it was a family of Deer, tearing up a Tent campers site
they had knocked down the tent, and opened the cooler with their hoves and was munching on all the bread and snack foods
we were returning from a ranger campfire talk about the local wildlife
and detoured around the deer helping themselves to eats

[2gypsies1]

There's absolutely nothing to worry about if you keep food stored properly inside your RV. Seal it and put it away after use. Don't leave a pile of cooked bacon on a plate at the open window! 🙂

Good idea to take your garbage to the dumpster and clean up your dishes. Don't leave ANYTHING outside - no coolers, no food boxes, put the grill away after it is cooled and yes, not even water. It's really not a big deal to keep a clean campsite and we have seen what happened to others when you don't.

Above all - don't clean fish at the campsite. This will really get you in trouble with not only the bears but with the rangers.

We've been in bear country constantly, included in Alaska and never saw a bear around our campsite.

By the way - it's not just in national parks that problems can occur. It's anywhere in bear country. They know no boundaries.

[Jayco-noslide]

Generally I think you will be OK as long as you don't leave food or related items outside of the RV. I've never been busted but have seen neighbors coolers, etc. confiscated. These regulations have done a remarkable job of keeping bears out of campgrounds and picnic areas.

[Chris_Bryant]

Keep in mind, some of those critters consider YOU to be food 🙂

[down_home]

I would keep food inside camper and in fridge. If there's room a small but not too inexpensive fridge/freezer in one of the bays.
Bears and every other critter can smell food inside an rv. Bears might tear the skin off to get inside. Have only heard of a few cases though. Inside a refrigerator or freezer will keep most food smells inside it.
Don't leave dirty dishes or garbage,from kitchen etc in the Camper. Get rid of it every day.