Ponderosa Way and the Ishi Wilderness

Ponderosa Way and the Steel Bridge (lower Deer Creek bridge) were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934. This 800-mile-long fire break and truck road ran from Shasta to Kern County and was the CCC’s largest project in California. The Ponderosa Way project employed 16,000 men building bridges, laying culverts, and grading the road to create a barrier to keep wildfires in the scrubby lower elevations from reaching timber at mid-elevations.

More recently, in 1984, the 41,000-acre Ishi Wilderness was established within Lassen National Forest. This wilderness area, which encompasses portions of Deer and Mill creeks, was created to protect outstanding cultural resources as well as a unique foothill ecosystem.

The Lower Deer Creek Bridge and much of the Ishi Wilderness burned in the 2024 Park Fire.