Update 2022-12-01: Individual Langdale Park Trails 2022-12-01.

VLPRA is fortunate to have a couple of explorers trailblazing Langdale Park and reporting back. Bobby McKenzie and family have been out there for a year or more, sending back videos. Phillip Williams has been bushwhacking probably as long, and has made a map of Langdale Park trails. Maybe you’d also like to explore.

Pictures and Maps, Langdale Park Trails

This is all related to water trails, which want to record nearby hiking trails, and to the trash situation, since the explorers report trash in several locations, including tires in a borrow pit.

I look forward to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) publishing its own map of the trails in this 178-acre park by the Withlacoochee River, with Three Mile Branch running through it, and some other streams previously unmapped. And it sure would be nice to have trail signs that identify trails by name or number, not to mention some bridges and boardwalks need fixing up.

Meanwhile, here are the trails Phillip Williams has mapped so far.

Trail map, Langdale Park –Phillip Williams 2022-11-29 in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)

Phillip’s trail tracks are the red lines. The blue lines are his waterway tracks. And the solid round icons are his specific points.

Bobby McKenzie has been reporting on facebook for some time about the sad state of the trails.

Recently, he reported VLPRA had sent out crews and cleaned up many of the trails. I have confirmed that with VLPRA Executive Director George Page.

I think this is the same boardwalk before and after.

Log on boardwalk –Bobby McKenzie 2022-11-21

Bobby remarked, “From my last video of the Langdale Park trail being abandoned an in such disrepair for years. VLPRA sent crews out to clear the trails. Curiosity got the best of me and I had to check it out. I didn’t do all the trail. We’ll be back out tomorrow and see if they cleared all the way to Trail A end.” They decided to turn things around! Progress has been made! The boardwalks are still sketchy for now but you can pass if you use caution. Just in time for Thanksgiving! You got family in, or want to walk off some turkey you don’t have to drive an hour to do it!

Boardwalk clear –Bobby McKenzie 2022-11-22

I imported the trails in the WWALS map from the google map Phillip Williams made. I omitted some redundant material that was already in the WWALS map (property lines, river track, etc.). I included all his creek tracks, since many of them do not appear on any other map I have found, and his track for Three Mile Branch is probably more accurate than the ancient USGS track used in the WWALS map.

For flooding levels, see the Flood Inundation Mapper.

Sometimes Phillip includes pictures.

Map: Trail H Sign, Langdale Park –Phillip Williams 2022-11-29 in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)

Trail H Picture –Phillip Williams

Map: Broken Bridge –Phillip Williams in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

Broken Bridge Picture –Phillip Williams

There are a few other maps out there, such as this one in singletracks: Mountain Biking Langdale Park Trail System.

Langdale Park Trail System –Singletracks First added by Mrwinkle on Jun 10, 2011. Last updated Apr 28, 2020.

You can see it matches Phillips’ map pretty closely, but Phillip’s is neater.

There’s also this one by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC):

Langdale Park Trails –SGRC Unknown date
PDF

It’s a PDF file, so you can blow it up, but it does not even include the river, so it’s a bit hard to use.

Happy exploring! Feel free to use Phillip’s trail tracks in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

And everyone is all ears for reports, pictures, GPS coordinates, etc.:
https://forms.gle/DipPgU2TP5atc2Rf9

Presumably including VLPRA. I look forward to VLRPA implementing the various things they projected back in 2016.

Jason Stewart, VDT, February 16, 2016, VLPRA temporarily closes Langdale Park.

…The VLPRA is foregoing a definite reopening date because of the extent of work planned, said Jessica Catlett, director of marketing and public relations for the organization.

“That’s going to take some time,” Catlett said.

The VLPRA describes Langdale Park as “178 acres of rustic beauty on the lazy Withlacoochee River.”

The renovation will include both tree and wildlife identification for the park’s oak, poplar, river birch and pine trees.

The grand reopening will feature more than cleared brush and an upgraded road access, Page said. The authority plans to beautify Langdale Park and make it more accessible for families.

The updated Langdale Park will include a host of new activities, such as guided hikes and scavenger hunts, the press release said.

“There are a lot of trails back there,” Catlett said.

The VLPRA will consider adding geocaching sites during the renovation, according to the press release.

Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which participants employ either GPS or other mapping devices to hide and search for containers called “geocaches.”

“We want to create things that are appealing for parents to take their kids and do things.” Catlett said. “It is a quintessential slice of South Georgia life outdoors.”

Looking forward to seeing all that soon.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Short Link: