The Ishi, a 41,000-acre low-elevation wilderness lies in the southern Cascade foothills 20 miles east of
Red Bluff. Ishi Wilderness is in the southwest portion of the Lassen National Forest, and includes the rugged canyon lands of the Southern Cascade foothills. It is the only wilderness that preserves a major area of the Sierra-Cascade foothill ecosystem.
Visitors can hike this challenging landscape of flat ridges, sheer canyon walls, deep ravines, caves, volcanic pillars, and rushing rapids. Many of the trails in Ishi originated as Native American travel routes and range from easy to difficult. Trailheads are accessed from roads connecting with Highway 32 at Chico or Highway 36 at Paynes Creek.
Spring and fall are the best times to visit.
