1. Parks and Trails
  2. Tom Brown, Cadillac, & Piney Z Area

Bill's Trail Lake Piney Z Loop and LHT Bridge

Video walkaround of the Art Lab shelter. Aside from the maps, photos should be in chronological order - OLD to NEW. Let's start with a map of the loop. It depicts the ~4.4km/2.7M loop around LHT's Piney Z Lake. Includes construction and grand opening shots of the 30+ foot high bridge with canopy walkway and connection to Alford Greenway Park. January 2014 130+ foot steel span installation video (not my video). From the "Piney Z" parking lot (lower left on map), it's roughly 2km/1.25M in either direction to the bridge. Halfway 'round the loop from the East Cadillac trailhead is ~50m up the boardwalk from its south end. From the Alford Greenway parking lot to the north end of the boardwalk is roughly 500m/0.3M. Bridge and walkway were built by Nature Bridges. RR warning: When using Bill's Trail or the West Levee to complete a Piney Z Lake loop, you must cross the RR tracks. Listen very carefully for train or hi-rail truck and do not cross or be near the tracks unless all is completely clear. As of Dec 2015, you may cross directly from the west end of Bill's to the lakeside "cypress" trail, aka Uncle Clem Trail. Look for orange marks from either end of crossing. Clockwise photo tour begins here and ends here. Bill's Trail amenities: Ann's bench added March 2015. Little Free Library added August 2017. Art lab (painted rocks etc.) and picnic table added December 2017. 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
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  • Screenshot of cheapo chromebook, ChromeOS removed and replaced with Bunsenlabs, now tracking Debian sid.

    Screenshot of cheapo chromebook, ChromeOS removed and replaced with Bunsenlabs, now tracking Debian sid.

    2016-11-17-124829_1366x768_scrot

  • 2017-04-20-141914_1366x768_scrot

    2017-04-20-141914_1366x768_scrot

  • Raw map showing revised RR crossing (no more 100y along the tracks), trail toward Tom Brown Park, trail from east end of Bill's Trail to Pedrick, and original trail SE of boardwalk.

    Raw map showing revised RR crossing (no more 100y along the tracks), trail toward Tom Brown Park, trail from east end of Bill's Trail to Pedrick, and original trail SE of boardwalk.

    Bill's Loop 25March2016 base rev_lines-adj

  • From one of the Alford Greenway galleries:
http://www.tallahasseetrails.com/Parks-and-Trails/J-R-Alford-Greenway/Alford-Greenway-Park-CCW-Tour/
Shows most if not all east side trails about 1 year before Bill's Trail construction began. Note how we need to get connected to ARP, bottom right.

    From one of the Alford Greenway galleries: http://www.tallahasseetrails.com/Parks-and-Trails/J-R-Alford-Greenway/Alford-Greenway-Park-CCW-Tour/ Shows most if not all east side trails about 1 year before Bill's Trail construction began. Note how we need to get connected to ARP, bottom right.

  • Assemble GPS tracks:
1) Lake Piney Z Loop
2) LHT bridge S-N
3) Alford parking lot to LHT bridge
4) Bill's Trail
5) Bill's Trail SCMS fence option
Edit kml or gpx files with GPSVisualizer.
Load resulting kml files into Google Earth.
Save result as jpg, add some captions, upload for sharing.

    Assemble GPS tracks: 1) Lake Piney Z Loop 2) LHT bridge S-N 3) Alford parking lot to LHT bridge 4) Bill's Trail 5) Bill's Trail SCMS fence option Edit kml or gpx files with GPSVisualizer. Load resulting kml files into Google Earth. Save result as jpg, add some captions, upload for sharing.

  • 23 June 2013: Signs are posted at many access points announcing trail closures during bridge construction.

    23 June 2013: Signs are posted at many access points announcing trail closures during bridge construction.

  • These next 5 shots are on the north side of the bridge site. It's the "elevated" side.

    These next 5 shots are on the north side of the bridge site. It's the "elevated" side.

  • DSC_8029

    DSC_8029

  • Looking due south.

    Looking due south.

  • Same as previous, but near the edge. Lake Piney Z is below and beyond the live oak, center.

    Same as previous, but near the edge. Lake Piney Z is below and beyond the live oak, center.

  • DSC_8032

    DSC_8032

  • ~150m east of previous shots, at the north side of the old grade crossing.

    ~150m east of previous shots, at the north side of the old grade crossing.

  • South side of the old grade crossing, looking westward toward the new bridge location.

    South side of the old grade crossing, looking westward toward the new bridge location.

  • Approaching from the East Levee. Looking northward toward the south side construction zone.

    Approaching from the East Levee. Looking northward toward the south side construction zone.

  • Looking westward from near the existing at grade crossing. The boardwalk will snake through these trees.

    Looking westward from near the existing at grade crossing. The boardwalk will snake through these trees.

  • DSC_8037

    DSC_8037

  • DSC_8038

    DSC_8038

  • From the south side of the tracks, were at about the point where the actual RR crossing will be. We're looking back eastward. At this point, the bridge will be 30+ feet above grade. Piney Z Lake is to my right.

    From the south side of the tracks, were at about the point where the actual RR crossing will be. We're looking back eastward. At this point, the bridge will be 30+ feet above grade. Piney Z Lake is to my right.

  • Same as previous shot, but rotated left looking north (uphill) across the RR tracks.

    Same as previous shot, but rotated left looking north (uphill) across the RR tracks.

  • DSC_8041

    DSC_8041

  • Looking back eastward again. We're at about the crossing point for the bridge. In the distance, the canopy walkway will curve through the trees, descending to grade.

    Looking back eastward again. We're at about the crossing point for the bridge. In the distance, the canopy walkway will curve through the trees, descending to grade.

  • DSC_8043

    DSC_8043

  • DSC_8044

    DSC_8044

  • DSC_8045

    DSC_8045

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    DSC_8041.JPG
    Looking back eastward again. We're at about the crossing point for the bridge. In the distance, the canopy walkway will curve through the trees, descending to grade.
    DSC_8043.JPG