The Lewis Creek Trail climbs through open, park-like stands of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). This type of forest was common in pre-settlement times, and is a result of frequent fires. Different parts of this area burned between 1979 and 1984. Although many people think that fire is a destructive force, the Park Service uses prescribed fire as a tool to reduce fire hazards and return the Sierran scenery to its natural conditions.
