01
Best overall pick
Shaffer Mountain Trail
North Of Litchfield In The Shaffer Mountain Foothills • Steep High-Desert Summit Hike • Best For Big Views And A Workout
A rough road-turned-trail climbs steadily to the broad top of Shaffer Mountain for huge views over Honey Lake Valley.
From the lower access points, hikers follow an old dirt road that switchbacks up the open slopes toward communication towers near the summit. The grade is steady and exposed, so it feels strenuous even though the footing is generally straightforward. Clear days reward you with sweeping vistas over Honey Lake, the Skedaddle Mountains, and distant ranges, making an early start and plenty of water well worth the effort.
02
Most remote adventure
Modoc Line Rail Trail – Snowstorm Canyon Segment
Northeast Of Litchfield Toward The Madeline Plains • Remote Rail-Trail Through Sagebrush Canyon • Best For Wide-Open Solitude
This converted rail corridor traces gentle grades through a stark, beautiful canyon of rimrock and sagebrush.
The Snowstorm Canyon stretch of the Modoc Line offers an easy walking surface on the old rail bed, with long straightaways and subtle curves framed by volcanic cliffs. There is almost no shade or development, so you get a true high-desert feel and big sky in every direction. It is ideal for hikers who like quiet, steady mileage, but you must bring all your own water and be ready for quickly changing weather and wind.
03
Best family-friendly option
Susanville Ranch Park
North Edge Of Susanville • Rolling Network Of Singletrack And Ranch Roads • Best For Casual Exploring And Picnics
Just outside town, this trail system offers mellow loops through meadows, creeks, and low hills with options for every energy level.
Lower trails near the parking areas are mostly smooth and gently graded, making them good for kids, newer hikers, or a quick leg-stretcher before dinner in town. As you head higher, narrow singletrack winds across open hillsides with wider views and a bit more climbing. Spring wildflowers, fall color in the willows, and easy access to picnic spots make this a reliable go-to when you want nature without a long drive.
04
Top rail-trail classic
Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail
Corridor Between Susanville And Westwood • Scenic Riverside Rail Trail • Best For Long, Mellow Mileage
Following the Susan River on a converted rail grade, this long-distance path offers tunnels, bridges, and gentle walking through forested canyon.
Most hikers sample the trail from access points near Susanville, heading upriver on a broad gravel path with a very gentle incline. The route crosses the water on multiple trestle bridges and passes through short tunnels, which keeps kids and adults equally engaged on longer outings. You can turn around whenever you like or set up a shuttle for a point-to-point day, with fall being especially pretty thanks to cottonwood and willow color along the river.
05
Best half-day hike
Bald Mountain Loop Trail
Southwest Of Litchfield Near Susanville • Pine-Forest Loop With Open Ridge Views • Best Shoulder-Season Hike
A moderate loop climbs through mixed forest to broad, open slopes with views toward Lassen country and the Honey Lake basin.
The trail alternates between shaded pine stands and more open stretches of volcanic soil and low brush, giving a nice variety of terrain in a few hours of walking. Short, steeper sections are balanced by longer, more gradual grades, so most reasonably fit hikers can manage the loop at an easy pace. On clear days, ridge-top viewpoints take in distant peaks and valleys, and the route tends to be hikeable earlier in spring and later into fall than higher Sierra trails.