01
Best overall trail network
Susanville Ranch Park
Near Susanville, Northwest Of Janesville • Foothill Singletrack And Meadow Trails • All-Around Favorite For Most Hikers
A stacked-loop network of dirt trails offering everything from easy meanders to punchy climbs just outside Susanville.
Susanville Ranch Park is the most versatile close-to-town option, with well-signed loops that let you dial in anything from a quick leg-stretcher to a half-day outing. The lower trails roll through open meadows and sagebrush with wide views, while upper routes climb into pine-dotted hillsides for a bit more challenge. It is an easy place to bring mixed-ability groups because you can shorten or extend a hike at nearly every junction.
02
Classic rail-trail experience
Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail
Susanville Trailhead • Scenic River Canyon Rail-Trail • Best For Relaxed Mileage And Families
An easy-going, mostly gentle grade following the Susan River through tunnels, bridges, and colorful canyon walls.
Starting from Susanville, the Bizz Johnson Trail gives you big-scenery hiking without steep climbing, making it a standout for families and casual walkers. The packed dirt path follows an old railroad grade along the Susan River, crossing trestle bridges and ducking through short tunnels as the canyon narrows. Turn around wherever you like, or shuttle a point-to-point section for a longer but still mellow day on the trail.
03
Closest summit-style hike
Bald Mountain Loops
South Of Janesville Near The Bald Mountain Area • Pine Forest Loop With Rocky Viewpoints • Best Nearby Workout With Views
Linked loops climb through forest to open rocky outcrops with broad views toward the Honey Lake Valley.
For hikers who want something steeper without driving deep into the mountains, the Bald Mountain Loops are a strong pick. The trails wind through lodgepole and Jeffrey pine before breaking onto more open, rocky stretches where you can look back over the valley and surrounding ridges. Expect a bit of sustained climbing, making this a satisfying conditioning hike that still feels close to home base in Janesville.
04
Remote high-desert adventure
Modoc Line Rail Trail – Snowstorm Canyon Segment
East Of Janesville Toward The Nevada Line • Wide-Open High-Desert Rail-Trail • Best For Solitude And Big Skies
A quiet stretch of converted rail line that cuts through wide basins and low canyon walls, far from highway noise.
The Snowstorm Canyon segment of the Modoc Line Rail Trail trades forest shade for expansive high-desert scenery. Here you hike along a broad rail bed with views that run to distant ridges, scattered sage, and seasonal wildflowers, with very little company beyond pronghorn and raptors. It is a great choice when you want an unhurried walk, big sky photography, and a sense of how wide open this corner of Lassen County can feel.
05
Bucket-list day trip
Lassen Volcanic National Park Day Hikes
Southwest Of Janesville In Lassen Volcanic National Park • Alpine Lakes And Volcanic Summit Routes • Best Full-Day Mountain Escape
A high-elevation playground of lakes, lava flows, and steaming vents with marquee hikes for strong beginners through seasoned hikers.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a longer drive from Janesville but pays off with some of Northern California's most memorable day hikes. Around Manzanita Lake you can stroll easy lakeside loops with textbook views of Lassen Peak, while more ambitious hikers can tackle trails like Lassen Peak or Bumpass Hell when conditions allow. It is the place to go when you want cooler mountain air, dramatic volcanic scenery, and a full day devoted to the trail.