Archaeology and Cultural Resources

The Forest Heritage Resource Program serves to preserve our cultural and natural history. Archeological surveys conducted in advance of timber sales, revegetation projects, road building and ground-disturbing projects on the Fishlake have recorded over 2,200 sites.

Along with inventorying archeological sites, the Fishlake has interpreted a number of these heritage resources for the benefit of the public. The Ohio Mining District in Bullion Canyon has a 9-stop driving tour and a park displaying mining equipment. Associated with the interpretive effort are public restrooms, a picnic area, a trail to a 60-foot waterfall and a trailhead for 28 miles of historic foot and horse trails. All provide a wealth of information about the area and gold mining from 1866 to 1928. The facilities in Bullion Canyon were built by volunteers working under the Passport in Time program.

During the summer of 2009, Fishlake employees and volunteers completed marking the Fish Lake Cut-off of the Old Spanish Trail (1829-1848). This heavily used trail brought woolen goods from Sante Fe to the City of Angels (Los Angeles) where they were traded for Spanish horses. In May of 1848, Kit Carson, army scout and Indian fighter, and his companion, Lt. George D. Brewerton, left California for New Mexico. During their journey, they decided to take the Fish Lake Cut-off and camped two days at the lake. The second day was spent at Twin Creeks where hundreds of spawning fish were thrown out of the creek by hand.