Ishi Wilderness
Ishi Wilderness is a 42,079-acre wilderness area in Tehama County, California. It rises from about 881 to 4,347 ft. The nearest town is Butte Meadows, 8.1 miles away in a straight line.
Ishi Wilderness map
Ishi Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
Common questions
- Camping in Ishi Wilderness is limited to 14 days.
- The maximum group size at Ishi Wilderness is 25.
- Butte Meadows, CA is the nearest town, 8.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Ishi Wilderness is about 4,347 ft, and its lowest about 881 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Iron Mountain, about 3,258 ft.
Who manages Ishi Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 199 | Not on record | 25 | 14 days | Redding Field Office, 530-224-2100 |
| Forest Service | 41,880 | Not on record | 25 | 14 days | Almanor Ranger District, 530-258-2141 |
Getting to Ishi Wilderness
- Butte Meadows, CA is the nearest town, 8.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Ishi Wilderness
- Lassen Trail Trailhead (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 4,067 ft), at 40.1363, -121.7116
- Mill Creek Trailhead (black Rock) (0.07 mi outside the boundary, 2,145 ft), at 40.1833, -121.7199
- Rancheria Trailhead (0.07 mi outside the boundary, 3,251 ft), at 40.2082, -121.7798
- Devils Den Trailhead (0.09 mi outside the boundary, 3,717 ft), at 40.0412, -121.7179
- Deer Creek Trailhead North (0.19 mi outside the boundary, 1,807 ft), at 40.0714, -121.7023
- Moak Trailhead (0.19 mi outside the boundary, 3,765 ft), at 40.1184, -121.7097
- Deer Creek Trailhead South (0.2 mi outside the boundary, 1,775 ft), at 40.0692, -121.7063
- Kingsley Cove Trailhead (0.27 mi outside the boundary, 3,078 ft), at 40.1913, -121.8243
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Ishi Wilderness
- Iron Mountain summit
- Table Mountain summit
- Obe Fields Spring spring
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Ishi Wilderness
- National forestIshi Wilderness lies inside Lassen National Forest.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in California
- https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=266 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n41w122/USGS_1_n41w122.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/GeographicNames/DomesticNames/DomesticNames_CA_Text.zip (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_06.txt (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0 (accessed 2026-09-29)