Falling Creek Falls and the Hillman Bridge – 11/17/2018
Believe it or not we have a waterfall in the North Florida area, and JCC will be visiting it during our November outing. Following our trip to the falls we will visit the historic Hillman Bridge.
Falling Creek Falls
Falling Creek Falls is just outside Lake City. There we will have the opportunity to photograph the waterfall and creek which is a tributary of the Suwannee River. Tripods and Neutral Density filters are recommended for those wishing to get soft water effects. We will meet there at 9:00 A.M. and photograph for about 90 minutes.
PLEASE NOTE: Google Maps does not handle queries for Falling Creek well. The information and directions below can be found at: https://floridahikes.com/fallingcreek
Location: Falling Creek
Length: 0.6 mile loop Lat-Long: 30.257817, -82.668633 Type: round-trip with loop Fees / Permits: none Difficulty: easy Bug factor: low Restroom: Yes
Directions
Take I-10 W to exit 301. Drive north on US 41 and immediately turn right on Falling Creek Rd (CR 131). Drive 0.8 mile to the trailhead parking area on the right.
Hillman Bridge
After photographing the falls, we will get back on I-10 West and travel about another 35 miles to photograph the Hillman Bridge, near Live Oak, FL. (aka Old US-90 Bridge, Old Ellaville Bridge). Like the falls, Google Maps does not handle queries for the Hillman Bridge or its aliases well. It is roughly 40 minutes from Falling Creek via I-10W. There is a gas station and convenience store (Jay Veer Mart) on the right shortly before the turn off for the bridge.
To get on I-10 W from NW Falling Creek Rd, head south on NW Falling Creek Rd/CR-131. It is about 2 miles to US-41s.
Turn left onto US-41 S and then turn right to merge onto I-10 W.
Take I-10 W to exit 275 (Live Oak/Lee) (26.5 Miles)
Take exit 275 for US-90 toward Live Oak/Lee.
Turn left onto US-90 W to NE Drew Way (5.7 mi)
Turn right onto NE Drew Way
The bridge is at the end of the road (about 100 yards)
Please park to the sides of the road so as to allow others to enter/exit.
Following our trip to the Hillman Bridge, we will return to lake city for lunch at the Marion Street Bistro and Brew House in Lake City for a 1 PM lunch. This one you can Google. Here is the link for directions from the Hillman Bridge: https://goo.gl/maps/oQEwdMamxi72 or program it into your phone/GPS. The Google directions are extracted below. One caution: There appears to a problem with the name Hamilton Street in the directions. Where your phone/GPS tells you to turn is correct even though the name does not match (this is based on experience).
Marion Street Bistro and Brew House
281 N Marion Ave
Lake City 32055
Left onto US-90 E for 5.7 mi
Follow I-10 E 26.7 mi to Exit 301 (US-41 S, Lake City/White Springs)
Turn right onto US-41 S (signs for Lake City)
Go 4.2 mi and turn left onto NW Hamilton St
Turn right at the 3rd cross street onto N Marion Ave (about .1)
Destination will be on the left
There are public parking spaces and lots near the restaurant.
After lunch, return to Jax or return to the waterfalls to shoot in afternoon light.