Trail Updates

04/09/2026

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 (Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee) certified bear- resistant canister. 

The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) skirts the Pemi Wilderness for over 20 miles from where it intersects with the Franconia Ridge Trail to just north of Ethan Pond (NOBO miles 1,827.5 to approx. 1,849.7).

Hikers who stay strictly on the A.T. and do not take any side trails into the Pemi are not required to carry a canister. Hikers whose itineraries include trails within the wilderness area are required to use a canister, including hikers doing the popular “Pemi Loop Hike,” which utilizes the A.T. for about 13 miles. See the map below for details.

Even for those hikers who plan to stay strictly on the A.T., using a hard-sided bear canister is highly recommended by the ATC. Bear canisters have shown to be the most flexible and reliable method of food storage on the A.T., and bears do not recognize federal wilderness area boundaries. For example, Liberty Springs Tent site, which is along the A.T. adjacent to the Pemi, had a serious human-bear conflict in 2025. A bear conditioned to human food reportedly clawed a tent with a hiker inside and was not fazed by other hikers throwing rocks and yelling.

Approved bear canisters are available to rent free of charge from White Mountain National Forest Visitor Centers in Lincoln, Campton, Conway, and Gorham.

For more information about the food storage order, visit the White Mountain National Forest website. For more information about bear safety and proper food storage on the A.T. visit our Bear page.

Click the map for a larger version.