The Bizz Johnson Trail follows 25 miles of former Southern Pacific railroad grade along the Susan River canyon, from Susanville west to Westwood. The railroad was abandoned in the 1950s, and the Bureau of Land Management converted it into a multi-use trail that is now one of the premier rail trails in the western United States.
The trail cuts through a gorge of volcanic basalt, passing two tunnels blasted through the lava and crossing the Susan River on a series of wooden trestle bridges. The canyon walls display the layered geology of the Cascade volcanic province in cross-section. On foot or by mountain bike the route is accessible to anyone reasonably fit; the grade rarely exceeds two percent. In winter, snowshoers and cross-country skiers take over when the canyon fills with snow. The eastern trailhead is at the old Susanville Depot, a short walk from downtown.