2. Parks and Trails
  3. Fern Trail Area

East Fern Trail - Bog Loop Clockwise

7Jan2012 GPS track of West Fern and all of the East Fern Bog Loop, middle connector and exits to Whetherbine and Park/Richview. Connector from West Fern to Tom Brown Park at Weems Road/Goose Pond Trail. Connecting East Fern to Higher Ground Bikes mountainbike shop. Mid-April '09 Update: This months rain "events" have resulted in multiple creek snags. This is causing the creek to back up and flood. Things are taking longer to dry out. Expect mud and some areas of standing water! The north "half" is in better shape overall. The newer middle connector does flood. The old Polos bridge got floated out of position during the worst of the storms. It's clear out the creek snags or pray for drought if you can't deal with the muck. 19 March '09 Update: Mostly on the northwest section, someone has done a bit of ghastly trail clearing. Several small trees were cut leaving about four inches still above ground. Examples here and here. My take is that two of these removals might be justified. I don't want to do anything to encourage more unnecessary cutting on this wonderful little nature trail. However, if you undertake to remove a tree, you must do it in such a way as to remove it "roots and all, or not at all." Happy to demonstrate. Don't leave a punji stick. As of 22 March, I think I've found (and removed) all the dangerous remnants. On the northeast section, a few "showcase" vines were cut. Example. I'm not skilled on a bike, yet I learned to duck and twist while passing under to clear these vines. Nice vines may be tied back rather than killed. Please, let's avoid the temptation to LCD (lowest common denominator) these trails. Thanks! As always, I'd love to discuss if anyone has comments. Better yet, let's meet on the trail. THIS GALLERY: Walking around clockwise (and pedaling - see videos below) on this ~1.1M rooty singletrack treat south and east of the Fern Trail's Polos Bridge. Yes, there will be an anti-clockwise version as well. As a matter of fact, here it is. As of 21 Feb '09, there's another middle connector north of the existing one which does not cross the creek. See second map below. Makes for a nice ~2Km "figure-8" loop that I've run a few times. Video of just that north middle connector. A suggestion of where to park if you need to drive here. Go behind Power Mill Court businesses, around retention pond, head southwest to woods, enter Fern Trail. See map - "Power Mill" is visible top right center, if that makes sense. If you're running or pedaling here from the west, this may be of use. NOTE: I shot the majority of the photos at a 35mm equivalent focal length of 27mm. In other words, things are nearer than they appear. Clockwise two part VIDEO tour is now viewable for the full loop, minus the middle connector. There's also a short video coming across the new Polos bridge and turning south (anticlockwise) onto the Bog Loop, and a video showing how to bypass all this, head over to Tom Brown Park, and return. Photos of the ~100m "middle connector" are at the end of this gallery. Special thanks and inspiration from the mystery red rake, creator of ~250m of trail from near the Polos Bridge southward, and the northern middle connector. My part? As I related elsewhere, total cost was exactly zero dollars. Recycled all of my green flagging tape, and my plastic rake suffered no depreciation. The northern segment of this trail (Polos Bridge to the "T" just past the log ride) has been in regular use for many years. (Since 1995?) Similarly, the section from that "T" southward to the Whetherbine Dog Walk has been in regular use since the late '90s. From the Dog Walk south toward Park went into disrepair once the four laning of Park took out the trail entrance from the Whetherbine (Breckenridge-on-Park) neighborhood. This ~500m section and the entire west section up to the Polos bridge and the middle connector were opened up in late January '09. Expect the singletrack in many sections to narrow considerably once we get into the growing season. The intent was not to make another "flowy" trail. If you prefer a bit more room around your shoulders, elbows, and head, please find a more "civilized" trail. Feathered buddies I regularly hear and see in here include red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, and pileated woodpeckers. You'll know it's a barred owl if you hear this. Look carefully for animal tracks along the sandy shoreline at the south creek crossing. During summer on the tighter sections, I don't go more than a few seconds between running my face through banana spider webs. That's best done at night with a helmet-mounted light. Web strands at eye level look like wires. Favorite flora include Ironwood, Magnolia, American beech, Spruce pine, and during the winter/spring, Trillium, I think this one. With a gallery full of shots, you may find it easier to navigate if you change the gallery "style" (top right) from "smugmug" to "all thumbs." Or "slideshow" or "filmstrip" or . . . you get the idea, it's configurable by you. I usually like "journal." THIS SITE is private property, and doesn't necessarily represent any other individual or organization. You are welcome to download/use my photos for your private enjoyment, including printing them. Any other usage/linking must come from me in writing (email ok), with credit given. Questions, pre-scoldings, comments, ID, complaints? Thanks, John Kalin Email me TallahasseeTrails on YouTube. "If I fall you're going down with me" - Trail running advice from my Dixie Chicks http://www.tallahasseetrails.com/
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  • 5 Feb '09 ~5 minute video clip is "part 1" of a two part clockwise tour around the Bog Loop. We begin at the south entrance by Park & Richview. Head north on ~130m spur, take first left, continue clockwise to Polos Bridge. This is the GPS track for the entire ride.

    5 Feb '09 ~5 minute video clip is "part 1" of a two part clockwise tour around the Bog Loop. We begin at the south entrance by Park & Richview. Head north on ~130m spur, take first left, continue clockwise to Polos Bridge. This is the GPS track for the entire ride.

  • 5 Feb '09 ~6 minute video clip is "part 2" of a two part tour around the Bog Loop. This clip begins just before the Polos Bridge. Continue clockwise around the loop back to 130m exit spur and out to Park at Richview. Logs at ~4:15-4:30 into video are being worked on. Log pyramid coming. This is the GPS track for the entire ride.

    5 Feb '09 ~6 minute video clip is "part 2" of a two part tour around the Bog Loop. This clip begins just before the Polos Bridge. Continue clockwise around the loop back to 130m exit spur and out to Park at Richview. Logs at ~4:15-4:30 into video are being worked on. Log pyramid coming. This is the GPS track for the entire ride.

  • This gallery's trail photos: Start at Park and Richview entrance (bottom), head north to first left, ride through shallow creek crossing, continue clockwise till back at Park. Photos then begin at west end of ~100m middle connecter, end at east end of connector. Clear as mud, right? Loop distance, excluding entrances, exits, and the middle connector, is 1710m/1.06M. The south entrance off Park is 170m.

    This gallery's trail photos: Start at Park and Richview entrance (bottom), head north to first left, ride through shallow creek crossing, continue clockwise till back at Park. Photos then begin at west end of ~100m middle connecter, end at east end of connector. Clear as mud, right? Loop distance, excluding entrances, exits, and the middle connector, is 1710m/1.06M. The south entrance off Park is 170m.

  • From this 16 March '09 GPS track. Tweaked with GPSVisualizer (yellow track). Start at closest available parking (Power Mill Court off Industrial Plaza Dr), head over and run/ride as a figure-8, using the newer north middle connector. The figure-8 by itself is 2Km. Keep in mind that 2Km requires using the connector twice. Video of just that north middle connector.

    From this 16 March '09 GPS track. Tweaked with GPSVisualizer (yellow track). Start at closest available parking (Power Mill Court off Industrial Plaza Dr), head over and run/ride as a figure-8, using the newer north middle connector. The figure-8 by itself is 2Km. Keep in mind that 2Km requires using the connector twice. Video of just that north middle connector.

  • West Fern Trail + Bog Loop + Fern-Tom Brown Park Connector out and back GPS tracks. Bog Loop middle connectors not shown.

    West Fern Trail + Bog Loop + Fern-Tom Brown Park Connector out and back GPS tracks. Bog Loop middle connectors not shown.

  • Want to head across the new Polos Bridge and into the Bog Loop's west side? Here we go.

    Want to head across the new Polos Bridge and into the Bog Loop's west side? Here we go.

  • How to get from this area to Tom Brown Park and back through the woods? ~9 minute out-and-back video tour on the Fern Trail Connector. Start at the Polos on Park apartments trail crossing/bridge, go eastward under Capital Circle NE/US319, cross Weems Road to Tom Brown Park/Goose Pond Trail/NE corner of Magnolia Trail, return to East Fern Trail at the Bog Loop's NE corner. Got it?

    How to get from this area to Tom Brown Park and back through the woods? ~9 minute out-and-back video tour on the Fern Trail Connector. Start at the Polos on Park apartments trail crossing/bridge, go eastward under Capital Circle NE/US319, cross Weems Road to Tom Brown Park/Goose Pond Trail/NE corner of Magnolia Trail, return to East Fern Trail at the Bog Loop's NE corner. Got it?

  • 16 March '09 This is a short video showing the newer "north" middle connector. We begin on the west end on the creek bridge, head eastward to just north of the Whetherbine Dog Walk, then return. About 130m each way.

    16 March '09 This is a short video showing the newer "north" middle connector. We begin on the west end on the creek bridge, head eastward to just north of the Whetherbine Dog Walk, then return. About 130m each way.

  • 1 First photo as we work our way into and around the Bog Loop. Traffic signal at East Park and Richview conveniently located at the south entrance to the Bog Loop (right, behind the brown light pole). We're looking west.

    1 First photo as we work our way into and around the Bog Loop. Traffic signal at East Park and Richview conveniently located at the south entrance to the Bog Loop (right, behind the brown light pole). We're looking west.

  • 2 Head north. Turn left. (After ~130m.)

    2 Head north. Turn left. (After ~130m.)

  • 3 Remember, it's middle of winter in Tallahassee. Things aren't going to get wider and less claustrophobic in here. And then there are the banana spiders, biding their time - yes!

    3 Remember, it's middle of winter in Tallahassee. Things aren't going to get wider and less claustrophobic in here. And then there are the banana spiders, biding their time - yes!

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