Best Hiking Trails in Lassen County, California

Lassen County sits on a high desert plateau in California’s remote northeastern corner, between 4,000 and 8,000 ft elevation, anchored by Eagle Lake and a converted railroad grade that ranks among the more unusual Hiking Trails in Lassen County. Susanville, the county seat, makes an easy base for exploring all of it, with the Diamond Mountains and Modoc National Forest’s eastern edge adding further backcountry access nearby.

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Key takeaways

• Eagle Lake is California’s second-largest natural lake entirely within the state, after Clear Lake, and home to a rainbow trout subspecies found nowhere else on Earth.
• The Bizz Johnson Trail follows a former Southern Pacific Railroad branch line, converted to a recreation trail after the line closed, crossing 12 bridges and trestles and passing through two tunnels along its 25.4 miles.
• Susanville Ranch Park is considerably larger than many guides suggest, with 1,100 acres and roughly 28 to 29 miles of multi-use trails, including dedicated routes for mountain bikers.
• Both tunnels on the Bizz Johnson Trail require a flashlight; the longer one runs about 800 ft, dark enough in the middle that natural light alone won’t get you through.
• Hiking season at higher elevations runs roughly May through October; snow closes many trails at elevation from November through April.

Hiking in Lassen County: high desert trails and Eagle Lake

Lassen County’s high desert plateau delivers a different hiking character than the volcanic peaks and forests most people associate with this part of California, featuring sagebrush, alkaline lakes, and a converted railroad grade rather than granite domes or redwood canopy.

It’s worth noting up front that this is a different destination from Lassen Volcanic National Park, which sits mostly in neighboring Tehama County and Shasta County; despite sharing the name, Lassen County itself is the high desert plateau to the east, not the volcanic park.

Best hiking trails at Eagle Lake, Lassen County

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Eagle Lake covers roughly 26,000 to 27,000 acres (the surface area fluctuates with inflow) across 22 miles of shoreline, 16 miles north of Susanville.

Eagle Lake Shoreline Trail: Lassen County’s best lakeside walk

Shoreline access runs in sections of 1 to 5 miles rather than one continuous loop, with southern access from Christie Campground and northern access from Stones Landing.

The lake’s alkaline water is home to the Eagle Lake trout, a rainbow trout subspecies that exists nowhere else in the world and has adapted specifically to survive the lake’s unusual chemistry.

Both osprey and bald eagles are regular sights overhead, and the lake is credited with getting its name from exactly this kind of sighting.

Day hiking is free, campsites run about $25 a night if you’re staying over, and June through October is the reliable season, with the northern sagebrush-lined shore offering a noticeably different feel than the pine-forested southern end. Our gear checklist is worth reviewing before heading out to this remote lake.

Best hiking on the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail, Lassen County

Running 25.4 miles between the historic Susanville Railroad Depot and Mason Station north of Westwood, the Bizz Johnson Trail follows the former Fernley and Lassen branch line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, active from 1914 until the mid-1950s and converted to a recreation trail in the years after.

Bizz Johnson Canyon Section: Lassen County’s best railroad history hike

The lower section, from the Susanville trailhead to Devils Corral, covers about 8 miles round trip through the Susan River canyon, crossing multiple bridges and trestles and passing through two historic tunnels, bring a flashlight, since the longer one runs roughly 800 ft, dark enough in the middle that ambient light won’t carry you through.

Review our hiking safety guide before attempting the tunnel sections, especially if you’re hiking with kids. The grade rarely exceeds 3%, a legacy of its railroad origins, and ponderosa and Jeffrey pine line much of the route, with fall color along the canyon walls drawing a dedicated following each October.

It’s managed by the BLM, free, requires no permit, and the lower sections stay open year-round, even when snow closes the upper reaches near Westwood.

Best hiking trails near Susanville, Lassen County

Susanville Ranch Park, right in town, is considerably bigger than its reputation suggests: 1,100 acres with roughly 28 to 29 total miles of singletrack trails, connecting directly into the Bizz Johnson Trail network.

Mahogany Ridge Trail: Susanville’s best panoramic summit walk

This roughly 3-mile round trip with about 400 ft of gain climbs through mountain mahogany brush, worth timing for October’s fall color, to views spanning the Susan River Valley, the Diamond Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada beyond. It’s free with no reservation required, and mountain bikers share the trail regularly, so stay alert on faster sections.

Lassen County rewards visitors willing to trade familiar Sierra or coastal scenery for something different, an alkaline desert lake with its own endemic trout, and a railroad-grade trail that turns transportation history into 25 miles of gentle, scenic hiking.

Start with the Bizz Johnson Canyon section or Mahogany Ridge if it’s your first visit, and build toward a full Eagle Lake shoreline day once you’ve got a feel for the county’s high desert pace. If you’re new to the sport, our best trails for beginners in California guide offers more easy-entry options across the state.

Few places in California let a single trip combine a historic rail-trail, a unique lake ecosystem, and a foothill park this size, all within a short drive of the same small town.

Frequently asked questions about hiking trails in Lassen County