SUSANVILLE, Calif. — At the southern end of the Cascade Mountains, where the Ponderosa and Jeffery pines meet the Susan River, is Lassen County’s Bizz Johnson Trail.
The scenic path is surrounded by grandeur, but it’s remote, and if you want to experience all of its beauty and history, stay close to Stan Bales. The recreation planner with the Bureau of Land Management is one of the best people to show you around.
“I know it well! I was one of many who helped get it off the ground,” said Bales. "I try to get people to enjoy the lands. Use, share and appreciate.”
“The Bizz,” as it’s known locally, is managed by the Lassen National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management [the BLM]. The trail is accessible year-round. Sometimes, during a snowy winter, the trail is groomed for cross-country skiers.
“The trail climbs 1,300 feet going west so farther up in the trees it holds snow all the way up into May sometimes,” said Bales.
The Bizz is popular with skiers because it is relatively flat. The trail follows the former Southern Pacific Railroad grade built in 1913 and 1914.
“It was a 25-mile-long railroad grade built to haul logs from the town of Westwood all the way back to Fernley, Nevada,” said Bales.
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At one point the town of Westwood was the nation’s largest logging operation. It’s also home to giant lumberjack and fairy tale character Paul Bunyan.
“He was a big strong guy. He had Babe the Blue Ox. They talked about how Babe could tow a whole section of land,” said Bales.
Logging in the Westwood area ended in the 1950s and the rail line was abandoned shortly after. In 1980, U.S. Representative Harold T. “Bizz” Johnson secured funding to convert the abandoned line into a recreation site and in his honor the trail was named after him.
“What can you say?” said Bales. "He did get us the money through an appropriation to buy out the railroad.”
The tracks have been ripped out, but relics of the railroad still exist. The most notable are the two railroad tunnels. There is no snow inside and they're pretty dark, so you will have to carry your skis through them, but it’s a short walk.
The other railroad relics are the bridges that cross the Susan River. The tallest is the Devil's Corral Trestle and it takes you high above the water.
“It’s 270-feet-long and 70-feet high off the river,” said Bales.
It took many people to build the Bizz Johnson Trail, but Stan has a special connection to it. Back when he started working for the BLM in the 1970s, planning and constructing the trail was his first big job.
“It’s certainly one of the best things I’ve ever done,” said Bales. “A major accomplishment.”
Bales and other federal workers spent their lives building and maintaining the trail and today it’s one of Lassen County's biggest attractions. In the fall, thousands of people come to run the Bizz Johnson Marathon.
“I get great satisfaction seeing people enjoying the trail,” said Bales.
ANOTHER GREAT HIKE ON THE BACKROADS: A walk through the dead forest of Horseshoe Lake may sound dangerous but it's fine--as long as you don't lie down.