Lafayette Passage Paddling Trail
Update on Conditions
Recent rains have filled Piney Z Lake and Lower Lake Lafayette. The Piney Z Lake portion of the trail is entirely navigable and paddling is very good in all of Piney Z. The protage to Lower Lake Lafayette is accessible and a large area of Lower Lafayette west of the Paddling Trail is navigable. The entrance to the Lafayette Passage Trail from the west is blocked by several hundred feet of floating vegetation and mud. Paddling through this area is challenging and will take a lot of effort to cross. Once past the entrance, a longer section of vegetation blocks the south branch section of trail. A shorter area of vegetation is obstructing the north branch.
Floating tussocks continue to rise randomly from the lake bottom and float unpredictably around the lake. Areas currently open may be blocked or open at various times. Access from Road to the lake is good. The lake level is high and there is a large area of open water at the east end of Lower Lake Lafayette. Trail access from Road to the Lake end of Lower Lafayette is blocked by vegetation to the south and randomly blocked to the north. The trail markers are mostly submerged and the trail is very difficult to follow. Paddlers are cautioned to expect difficult conditions for the near future and should plan accordingly.
- Lafayette Paddling Trail Video (9MB WMV)
- Lafayette Passage Paddling Guide (1MB PDF)
- View the online map of this trail (1.24MB SWF)
General Information
This trail is a 7.8 mile round trip from the boat ramp at Piney Z Lake, or a 6 mile round trip from the boat ramp at the end of "Road to The Lake" in Chaires. Be sure to plan your trip accordingly. Have plenty of water, snacks, proper clothing and know your ability. Paddling the entire trail from Piney Z Lake will take about 4 hours or more. Currently, there are no dry land rest areas provided along the trail.
Entering Lower Lake Lafayette from Piney Z Lake requires a portage over the earthen dam between the lakes. The portage includes a 25' slope from the Piney Z take-out to the top of the dam, and a similar decline to the put-in area on Lower Lake Lafayette. The entire distance is roughly 50'' over a grassed earth. A beach area, covered with small gravel, is located at each end of the portage to facilitate exiting and entering boats.
The "Road to the Lake" is an actual road that follows the railroad track in Chaires. Follow the road to the end, it will enter a wooded area, to a small dirt ramp and small parking area. Boats may be trailer launched. To enter the trail from Piney Z Lake, take Heritage Park Blvd., which goes through the Piney Z Plantation neighborhood, off of Conner Blvd. Heritage Park Blvd. will end at the Lafayette Heritage Trail Park parking area. A large dirt parking area is provided at the south end of the parking lot and signs show how to reach the hand boat launch located there. Boats must be carried 120' to the launch.
For information please call the Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department Trail Supervisor, Chuck Goodheart, at 933-6631.