Skip to main content

Open Daily - Banff & Canmore

Hike Safe
Rent Bear Spray
in Banff & Canmore

When you visit the Canadian Rockies, you are entering a landscape where wildlife is not limited to remote wilderness. Bears and other animals can be active near towns, campgrounds, highways, viewpoints, picnic areas, parking lots, and well-travelled trails.
Open Everyday

Banff
Location

8AM to 4PM
After hours dropoff available

DirectionsDirections Book Now

Open Everyday

Canmore
Location

9AM to 6PM
After hours dropoff available

DirectionsDirections Book Now
Pricing
First 5 days - $10/day | After 5 days - $5/day | Max cost = $100 | Open-ended returns

Parks Canada recommends bear spray as the single most effective deterrent you can carry in bear country.

It works by temporarily overwhelming a bear's senses at a safe distance, giving it a reason to leave without anyone getting hurt. It doesn't require perfect aim or a close encounter to be effective. Deployed correctly, it stops most charges before they become attacks. It's designed to be fast, accessible, and reliable on the trail. Worn on your hip, it's ready when you need it and easy to forget when you don't.

Check Out Our Bear Safety Guide
Check Out Our Bear FAQ
  • First 5 days:
    $10 / DAY
  • After 5th day:
    $5 / DAY
  • Max Cost
    $100
  • Returns
    Open-ended
  • Locations
    Banff - Canmore

How it works

Reserve Now

Reserve - Pickup - Hike - Drop off anytime

Reserve Online

No payment required
Make a bear spray reservation by watching our saftey video, selecting your pickup date and signing our waiver.
 
Rent Bear Spray

Pick Up Items

ID & Credit Card required
Walkin to any of our Pickup locations, show your booking ID, pay security deposit of $100 / Bear Spray Kit, ask any more questions you might have.
Pick Up Locations

Enjoy Hiking & Sightseeing

Hike Safe & be Wild Smart!
Bear Spray has been proven to be the best deterrent to wild animal attackes when used properly!

Drop Off

Drop Off Whenever
We never change more than your security deposit for the rental! So the maximum charge would be $100. If the bear spray is used or damaged the full deposit will be charged.
BEAR SPRAY:

Your last line of defence.

Bear spray is an important safety tool in bear country, but it is not a replacement for awareness, proper food storage, respectful wildlife viewing, or good trail habits.

Bear spray is a deterrent designed to help stop or redirect a close-range defensive bear encounter. It should never be sprayed on people, pets, clothing, tents, or equipment.

Carry it where you can reach it.

Bear spray only helps if you can reach it quickly. Do not bury it inside your backpack.
In a sudden encounter, you may not have time to remove your pack, unzip a compartment, and find it.

  • Use a proper holster
  • Carry it on your belt, chest strap, or pack strap
  • Keep the safety clip in place
  • Know how to remove the safety clip before you hike
  • Keep it away from children
  • Understand wind, range, and appropriate use

Bear Spray Canister

STAY WILDSMART

Explore responsibly. Carry bear spray.
Give wildlife space.

The Canadian Rockies are wild, beautiful, and unforgettable. Bear awareness helps keep them that way. Before you head out, watch our safety video, make sure your group understands the basics, and carry bear spray where it is accessible.
Rent Bear Spray
View Pickup Locations
Watch Bear Spray Video
FAQ

Bear Safety FAQ

Do I need bear spray in Banff?
Yes, carrying bear spray is strongly recommended when hiking, camping, or spending time on trails in Banff and the surrounding Rockies. Banff is active bear habitat, and encounters can happen on both quiet and popular trails. Bear spray should be carried where it is easy to reach, not buried in a backpack.
Do I need bear spray in Jasper?
Yes, bear spray is recommended in Jasper National Park and nearby wilderness areas. Jasper has extensive bear habitat, and wildlife can be active near trails, campgrounds, roadsides, and valley corridors. Visitors should also check current trail reports and wildlife advisories before heading out.
How can I tell the difference between a grizzly bear and a black bear?
Look at body shape rather than colour. Grizzly bears often have a shoulder hump, shorter rounded ears, a dished face profile, and long front claws. Black bears usually lack the shoulder hump, have taller ears, and may have a straighter face profile. Colour is not reliable because black bears can be black, brown, cinnamon, or blondish.
Meet The Bears
Are black bears dangerous?
Black bears usually avoid people, but they are still powerful wild animals and should never be approached. A black bear can become dangerous if surprised, cornered, protecting food, or conditioned to human food. Always give black bears plenty of space and store food properly.
Are grizzly bears more dangerous than black bears?
Grizzly bears and black bears behave differently, but both require caution and respect. Grizzlies may be more likely to react defensively if surprised at close range, especially near cubs or food sources. However, the safest approach is to treat every bear encounter seriously, keep your distance, and avoid putting yourself or the bear in a stressful situation.
What should I do if I see a bear on a trail?
Stop, stay calm, and assess the situation. Do not run. If the bear is at a distance, give it plenty of space and leave the area calmly if possible. If the bear notices you, speak calmly, keep your group together, slowly back away, and prepare your bear spray if the bear is close enough to be a concern.
During A Bear Encounter
What should I do if a bear approaches me?
Stay calm, do not run, and keep your group together. Speak in a calm voice and slowly back away if it is safe to do so. Have your bear spray ready. Do not drop food or gear to distract the bear.
During A Bear Encounter
Is bear spray allowed in Canada?
Bear spray is legal in Canada when it is labelled and sold/rented as a bear deterrent. It is intended for emergency wildlife defence, not for use on people, pets, clothing, tents, or equipment. Always follow the instructions on the canister and use it responsibly.
Can I fly with bear spray?
No. Bear spray is not allowed on commercial flights in carry-on or checked luggage. This is one reason many visitors choose to rent bear spray after arriving in bear country rather than buying it before travelling.
Should I spray bear spray around my campsite?
No. Bear spray should not be used like insect repellent or sprayed around a campsite, tent, clothing, or gear. It is designed for close-range emergency use during a defensive bear encounter. Spraying it around camp can create unnecessary contamination and does not make your campsite bear-proof.
Where should I carry bear spray?
Carry bear spray in a holster where you can reach it quickly, such as on your belt, chest strap, or backpack shoulder strap. Do not keep it buried inside your pack. In a sudden encounter, quick access matters.
Is bear spray better than making noise?
Bear spray and making noise serve different purposes. Making noise helps reduce the chance of surprising a bear. Bear spray is a last line of defence if a close encounter happens. The best approach is to use both strategies: avoid encounters whenever possible and carry bear spray in case you need it.
Are roadside bears safe to photograph?
Roadside bears still need space. If you see a bear near the road, do not approach it, feed it, or get out in an unsafe location. Wildlife jams can stress animals and create traffic hazards. Use a zoom lens from a safe distance, follow traffic laws, and move on when appropriate.
Are elk and other animals dangerous too?
Yes. Elk, moose, deer, bighorn sheep, and other animals can be dangerous if approached, crowded, or startled. Elk can be especially dangerous during calving season and the fall rut. Bear awareness is part of a larger wildlife safety mindset: give all animals space.
What is the most important bear safety rule?
The most important rule is to avoid creating close encounters. Make noise, stay alert, travel in groups when possible, store food properly, respect closures, keep dogs controlled, and never approach wildlife. Bear spray is important, but prevention is always the first step.
Avoiding Encounters

Pick up near the trailhead!

Banff, AB

Canmore, AB