| Ishi Wilderness | |
|---|---|
Black Rock with Mill Creek in foreground | |
| Location | Tehama County, California, Sierra/Cascade region |
| Nearest city | Red Bluff |
| Coordinates | 40°08′05″N121°45′19″W / 40.13472°N 121.75528°W /40.13472; -121.75528 |
| Area | 41,339 acres (167.29 km2) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service andBureau of Land Management |
TheIshi Wilderness is a 41,339 acre (167 km2)[1]wilderness area located on theLassen National Forest in theShasta Cascade foothills ofnorthern California, United States. The Ishi Wilderness is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) east ofRed Bluff. The wilderness was created when theUS Congress passed theCalifornia Wilderness Act of 1984. The land is etched by wind and water, and dotted withbasalt outcroppings,caves, and unusualpillarlavaformations. The land is a series of east-west runningridges framing rugged rivercanyons, with the highest ridges attaining elevations of 4,000 feet (1,200 m). Deer Creek and Mill Creek are the principal drainages and flow into theSacramento River.
The Ishi Wilderness is the only protected area in California that preserves a significant portion of the Sierra/Cascade foothill region of the southernmostCascade Ranges.[2]
Almost the entire wilderness area was burned down by thePark Fire in mid-2024.
Ishi is the name given by anthropologistAlfred L. Kroeber to the last survivingNative American from theYahi Yana tribe. The Yahi Yana tribe had lived in the area for over three thousand years. Sometime after 1850, whitesettlers moving into the area killed all but a few of the Yahi. A few escaped and hid for years in the harsh wild country.

The sun-baked south slopes are covered withchaparral brush.Pines andoaks thrive on the moister slopes facing north and lush damp forests line the river banks. This area is home to pine clusters, dense areas ofponderosa pine growing on terraces in river cutcanyons.
The largest migratory deer herd in California, theTehama deer herd, winters in this wilderness area. Wildhogs,mountain lions,black bears,coyotes,bobcats andrabbits also live here. A State Game Refuge, where hunting is not permitted, occupies most of the Ishi Wilderness.
A variety ofraptors includinghawks,eagles,falcons, andowls nest in the rock cliffs. Wildturkey,quail,mourning doves, canyonwrens, band-tailedpigeons, and manysongbirds are frequently seen.
TheUS Forest Service reminds visitors to the Wilderness to respect the record of the Yahi Yana Indians. Allarchaeological and historical sites andartifacts are protected by federal law and should not be disturbed.
TheLeave No Trace principles of wilderness travel are highly encouraged also by both the Forest Service and theBureau of Land Management (the BLM manages a small portion of the wilderness-240 acres (97 ha).)
Special fishing regulations are in effect for fishing in Deer and Mill Creeks, home to many fish species. A valid California fishing license is required.