Rails-to-trails enthusiasts celebrating the recent acquisition of an 86-mile railroad corridor will be focusing on opportunities for recreation at a festival this weekend.
The historic Susanville Depot, restored by festival sponsor Lassen Land and Trails Trust, will be the center of activities that include bluegrass music, a chili cook-off and salsa contest.
Handcar rides will be available Saturday for anyone interested in trying out this piece of railroad history, said Matt Sayles, Lassen Land and Trails Trust director.
On Sunday, hikers and bikers can use a one-way shuttle service to Westwood offering all-downhill access back to Susanville on the Bizz Johnson Trail, also a railroad corridor converted for recreational use.
The shuttle leaves the Susanville Depot at 8:30 and 11 a.m. for return trips that range in length from seven to 30 miles. Bus fares vary depending on the stop.
Throughout the weekend, Lassen Land and Trails Trust members will discuss plans for the Modoc Line, the rail-to-trail corridor that runs from Wendell, 20 miles east of Susanville, to just south of Alturas.
The trust acquired the corridor last month after several years of negotiations and funding from various conservation groups.
For information about the Rails to Trails festival, call Sayles at (530) 257-3252 or visit the Lassen Land and Trails Trust Web site at www.lassenlandandtrails.com.
– Jane Braxton Little
