Seniors Discover Susanville

This senior was looking over a map of California and discovered a city up in the northeast corner of the state called Susanville.

Susanville was named after Susan Roop, daughter of Isaac Roop, an early settler. It was at one time the center of farming, mining and the lumber industry.

Susanville, formerly known as Rooptown, is the seat of Lassen County and is highly scenic. Located on the Susan River in the southern part of the county, it sits at an elevation of 4,186 feet.

The population runs around 17,000, the majority of which are held at two state prisons: the California Correctional Center, a minimum-medium security facility, which opened in 1963 and the High Desert State Prison which opened in 1995. The Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong is nearby, having opened in 2007.

Seniors Hike The Bizz Johnson Rail Trail

TripAdvisor wants senior visitors to know about the Biz Johnson Trail, the Susanville Ranch Park and the Lassen Historical Museum. Geocaching, the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a website, is a populars activity in the area.

Roop’s Fort, also known as Roop’s Trading Post, Fort Defiance, and Roop House, is a historic building in Susanville. The site, that was built in 1854 by Isaac Roop, was the first building constructed by white settlers in Lassen County. The fort was originally a trading post for westbound migrants and was the first post west of Fort Hall in Idaho.

The historic Susanville Railroad Depot was built by Southern Pacific Railroad in 1927 and is a historical landmark that emphasizes the cultural heritage of the region. The Depot also serves as the main trailhead for the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail which is a converted railroad track that follows the old Fernley and Lassen Branch Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Seniors Follow Trail Through The Canyon

 Today, the 30-mile trail is used by senior hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and cross-country skiers. For the first 16 miles, the trail follows the Susan River. As it winds through the rugged Susan River Canyon, the trail crosses the river 12 times on bridges and trestles and passes through two tunnels.

Senior visitors can also enjoy fishing, wildflower viewing, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, historic sites, and interpretive programs. This rail trail was rated the most scenic rail trail in California by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

Visitors enjoy the Lassen National Forest that lies at the heart of one of the most fascinating areas of California. The Forest was named after pioneer Peter Lassen, who mined, ranched and promoted the area to emigrant parties in the 1850s.

Facebook suggests not only great stops for a cup of coffee, but information on where to stay and local landmarks. Consider a movie at the Historic Sierra Theater in Susanville’s Old Town Area.

Seniors, Susanville is awaiting your arrival. It will be a fun time. -jeb