Glacier Outfitters

Bear Spray Rental

Essential Protection for Your Glacier Adventure

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2 Convenient Locations
No Reservation Required
24/7 Return Drop Boxes

Apgar Village - Inside Glacier

Pick up bear spray right inside Glacier National Park at our main location.

196 Apgar Loop, West Glacier, MT 59936
Closed for Season — Opens April 17

Bear Spray Rental Pricing

DurationRental Price
24 Hours Single day rental - perfect for day hikes $9.25
2 Days Weekend trip coverage $18.50
3-7 Days Week-long adventure - best value $28
8-14 Days Extended stay pricing $32
If Sprayed/Damaged/Lost We weigh cans at checkout and return. If it comes back lighter, you'll just pay the difference between your rental price and the full retail price. $49.99 (minus rental cost)
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No reservation required - walk-ins always welcome!

Bear Spray

Glacier National Park is a premier bear stronghold, home to the highest density of grizzly bears in the lower 48 and a thriving population of over 600 black bears. Because you are sharing the trails with nearly 1,000 bears, carrying bear spray is your most essential safety tool.

How It Works

1. Reserve or Walk In - Text (406) 219-7466 or book online 24+ hours ahead. Walk-ins always welcome!

2. Don't Just Carry It—Know How to Use It! - While watching our safety video, you'll use a tester canister to practice the physical motions of deployment. This builds the vital muscle memory needed for a split-second encounter. Our team then provides a personal briefing to answer all your questions, ensuring you head into the wild with the confidence to safely share the trails with Glacier's bears.

3. Explore Safely - Carry on your hip or chest, never in your backpack.

4. Return Easily - Drop at any of our four 24/7 drop box locations.

Pricing Policy

All cans are weighed at check-out and return to ensure accuracy and that every guest receives a full can. Return your canister unused and undamaged, and you'll only pay the rental price. If it's sprayed, damaged, or lost, you'll be charged the difference up to the full retail price ($49.99). For example, if your rental cost was $28 and the can is used, you would pay an additional $21.99. You'll never pay more than $49.99 per can.

What's Included

  • UDAP 9.2 ounce bear spray canister
  • Hip holster
  • Quick training on proper use
  • Return at any location
  • 24/7 drop box returns available

Get Protected

Walk-ins welcome! Reserve to guarantee availability.

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Questions? Text us: (406) 219-7466
Locally Owned and Family Operated Since 2013

24/7 Drop Box Locations

Still have questions? More info and FAQ below

For questions about all of our gear, visit our FAQ Hub.

Glacier National Park

How to Use Bear Spray

Be prepared before you need it!

STEP 1Stay Calm

Assess the Situation

Don't run. Speak calmly. Most bears leave when they know you're human.

STEP 2Prepare

Remove Safety Clip

Aim slightly downward. Wait until bear is 30-60 feet away.

STEP 3Spray

Short Bursts

2-3 second bursts. Create a wall of spray. Keep backing away.

STEP 4Retreat

Calmly Leave the Area

Once the bear retreats, calmly but with purpose, begin to leave the area. Never run, as there is now an irritated bear in the area.

Bear Spray Carry Tips

  • Quantity: We recommend one canister for every adult (18+). For 1–2 hikers, carry at least one can. For backcountry camping, each adult should have their own, plus one extra for the group. For groups of 3 or more on day hikes, at least half the adults should carry bear spray. This helps ensure coverage at the front, middle, and back of the group—and that smaller groups are still protected if you split up.
  • Access: Wear it on your hip or chest. You must be able to draw and deploy it in 2 seconds or less.
  • Practice: Use our tester canisters to build muscle memory before you hit the trail.
  • No Backpacks: Never store spray inside your pack—it is useless if you cannot reach it instantly.
  • Watch the Heat: Do not leave canisters in a hot car, as the pressure can cause them to explode.
  • Don't Test Spray: There's only 5-8 seconds of spray in a typical can of bear spray! Never test your actual can. It wastes the spray, and studies show it may attract bears to the area as well. Plus, we can detect when a can has been sprayed, so you'll be charged for even small, quick sprays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about bear spray rentals

Bear spray rentals are $9.25 per day or $28 per week. All cans are weighed at check-out and return to ensure they're full. If a can is discharged, damaged, or lost, you'll be charged the difference between the rental cost and the full retail price of $49.99. You'll never pay more than $49.99 per can.
Yes! Glacier National Park is a premier bear sanctuary, home to both grizzly and black bears with one of the highest densities of bears in the lower 48 states. Field studies have proven that bear spray is more effective than firearms at deterring a bear and preventing human injury during an encounter. For your safety, we strongly recommend carrying bear spray on every hike and outing in the park.
We purchase new canisters every year and track the weight of each canister. If a canister has been discharged even slightly, we can tell by the weight difference and it is removed from inventory. You can be confident you're getting a full, unused canister every time.
The rental process takes about 10 minutes. This includes a quick safety training video that covers proper carry, deployment, and what to do during a bear encounter. We want to make sure you're prepared before you hit the trail!
Pickup at our two locations: Apgar Village (inside the park) and Glacier Park International Airport (during business hours, or via after-hours locker with an advance reservation). Returns accepted at all four drop box locations 24/7: Apgar Village, Glacier Park International Airport, Huckleberry Hut (West Glacier), and St. Mary Village Lodge (East Glacier).
Yes! We have a drop box at St. Mary Village Lodge (East Glacier) on the east side of the park. You can return your bear spray there 24/7 — no need to drive back to the west side.
No problem! You can return your bear spray to any of our four 24/7 drop box locations — you don't need to go back to where you picked up. Drop boxes are located at Apgar Village, Glacier Park International Airport, Huckleberry Hut (West Glacier), and St. Mary Village Lodge (East Glacier).
Always on your hip or chest where you can reach it in 2 seconds. NEVER in your backpack — you won't have time to dig it out during an encounter.
Reservations are not cancelled for fog, rain or a chilly day. We will cancel if the conditions are not suitable for paddling or biking (lightning, strong winds or extreme weather). Cancellations made at least 3 days prior to the trip will receive a full refund. Cancelling with 24 hours notice or more will be able to transfer payment to a future trip or program. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice will receive no refund. No shows will also forfeit the entire reservation fee. If we cancel due to emergency, extreme weather, or if the rental item is down for repairs you may reschedule or receive a full refund. In the event Glacier Outfitters has to cancel the reservation, we will make every attempt to contact you in a timely fashion.

Still have questions?

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Be Bear Aware, Be Bear Prepared

Pick up your bear spray today and explore Glacier with confidence!

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Text us! (406) 219-7466