Where: Black Bears are seldom sighted in areas with high human presence, such as roads and Visitor Centers. Most sightings, while rare, occur along backcountry trails. Safety: Never approach a bear. Maintain a distance of at least 150 ft. Backcountry campers are required to carry and store all food and scented items in a bear canister. These can be acquired at our Wilderness Information Centers. For further details, visit our wilderness safety and wilderness trip planner pages.