Watch out for bears while camping, hiking and backpacking in Colorado bear country

07/11/25

Joey Livingston
Statewide Public Information Officer
303-345-4658 / [email protected]

DENVER — Colorado is home to a large population of black bears–estimated at 17,000-20,000 animals–and the majority of them live in areas where humans camp, hike, and backpack. This summer, CPW is reminding the public to get wise about bears to avoid conflicts when enjoying our wonderful outdoors. 

Most conflicts between people and bears can be traced to easily accessible trash, human food or other attractants with strong odors. A bear’s natural drive to eat can overcome its fear of humans. When bears become too comfortable around humans, they can destroy property or even threaten human safety.

As of 7/11/2025, CPW has received 1,563 reports of bear activity across the state. 

“Properly storing your food, using bear boxes and bear-resistant canisters when available, and locking your property can keep you safe and can save a bear’s life,” said CPW Area 15 Wildlife Manager Adrian Archuleta, who covers the Durango area. “If you have even a sighting here in southwest Colorado, please report it to CPW so we can be aware and help educate campers and camp hosts on actions they can take to keep bears out of campsites. If a bear does come into camp, try to scare it away and don't let it feel welcome. Yell, bang pots and pans, or use your car horn, air horn or a whistle and make sure the bear has an escape route. Hazing a bear away can not only keep you safe but also the next camper who visits that site.

"When you are backpacking or camping in an undeveloped area, secure your food properly and avoid attracting bears. Of course, it's always smart practice to bring bear spray with you when recreating or camping in Colorado.”

CPW has prepared a variety of information to help you get bear wise and prevent bears from wandering into your campsites this summer. Some of that information is summarized below:

Keep animals away from your campsite
When camping in bear country, the easiest way to avoid bears is to not have anything in your campsite that has a smell that will attract them. 

• Stash your trash in bear-resistant containers when available or lock in your car or RV
• Store food, beverages and other items safely in airtight containers in your trunk and never leave them where an animal can smell them, including your tent.
• Keep a safe cooking area and eat, cook and prepare food at least 100 yards from your sleeping area.
• Keep a clean tent and don’t bring anything with an odor including food, beverages, scented toiletries, gum, sunscreen, candles and insect repellant.
• Lock RVs and vehicles before going to sleep or leaving your campsite.

What if a bear tries to enter a campsite?
Black bears are highly intelligent and respond uniquely to people and situations. Black bears seldom attack unless they feel threatened, cornered, or are provoked. If a bear comes near your campsite, do your best to safely chase it away. Yell, blow a whistle, clap your hands, and make other loud noises. But never approach a bear.

Learn more about how to scare a bear away. 

Backpacking and hiking
Understanding bear behaviors and your surroundings can help avoid unwanted encounters with wildlife on trails.

• Stay alert at all times. Avoid using headphones and be extra cautious at dawn and dusk.
• Keep dogs leashed at all times.
• NEVER feed or approach a bear.
• Double bag food and pack out all food waste (including apple cores or banana peels) to avoid encouraging bears to see trails as a food source.
• Respect forage areas. If your usual trail runs through berry patches, oak brush or other known food sources, be extra vigilant. Make extra noise by periodically clapping or calling out to alert bears to your presence.

What if you surprise a bear on a trail?
Stay calm, stand still and speak to it in a firm tone of voice. The bear will most likely identify you and leave. Never run from a bear. If the bear does not leave, slowly wave your arms to make yourself look bigger. Continue facing the bear, slowly back away and keep slowly moving away until the bear is out of sight. If the bear gets within 40 feet, use bear spray. 

If a bear attacks, do not play dead. Fight back with anything available, including trekking poles, small knives, or even your bare hands.

Sharing outdoor spaces with wildlife makes Colorado a wonderful place to live. Bear sightings from a safe distance can be a rare and wonderful experience for outdoor enthusiasts. Staying aware of your surroundings while on trails and camping helps keep bears wild and helps reduce human-bear conflicts. 

For more resources and information on staying wise about bears, visit cpw.state.co.us/living-bears.