San Angelo State Park

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > dirt road to Armadillo Ridge > service road (WSW) > Turkey Creek (N) > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook    5.1 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > service road (SW) > Trailhead to Trailhead Trail (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park   3.3 miles

Temp started at 70, ended at 90.  Sunny w/slight 0-5mph WNW breeze.

Today was animal day!  I counted thirteen fawns with five does, three javelinas, and one porcupine.  Reptiles spotted were a coachwhip that was about three feet long, numerous lizards and a single Horned Toad.  Birds were too numerous to count.

All flowers with the exception of one small stand of sunflowers, are gone.  Cactus tunas are ripening and I watched a Mockingbird either eating one or a bug that was on one, when I stopped at Cougar Overlook (photo attached).

Overall a very nice hike.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Water, shade, and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park    3.7 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area    3.3 miles

Leg 3 -  Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area   3.1 miles

Temp started at 75, ended at 86.  Overcast w/steady SE breeze at 10-15mph.

All trails were dry, easy to see and traverse although some parts of Roadrunner Loop are in need of a trim.  I saw a 4 foot long Coachwhip snake but he saw me first and slithered away so no photo.  I also saw a Painted Bunting pair as well as a Mississippi Kite.  Two pairs of does and fawns were also seen as well as cottontail rabbits, lizards and a single horned toad.  Almost all of the wildflowers are gone with the exception of some small yellow daisy looking flowers which were few and far between.  The only flowering plant I saw were Desert Willows trees and there were only a few of them.

Unfortunately, I found a snake carcass on the trail (photo attached).  The ants were feasting on him so his death was not wasted.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parking area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.

Water and shade are available at the campsites along half of Roadrunner Loop along with two toilet, water and info kiosks areas.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park      3.2 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area   2.9 miles

Temp started at 75, ended at 87.  Slightly humid, very sunny w/intermittent 0-10mph SW breeze. 

Easy, short hike along dry trails that had been recently groomed.  Quite a few birds were out including a Black Tufted Titmouse which I hadn't seen in quite awhile.  I also saw a turkey hen running away from me with six chicks flying above her trying to keep up.  A few cottontails and a cotton rat as well as deer were also spotted.  Some yellow flowers are making a reappearance and the Lemonmint is becoming more common (photo attached).

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parking area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Rollercoaster Trail > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction    4.4 miles

Leg 2 -  5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (S) > Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park    3.8 miles

Temp started at 64, ended at 88.  Sunny, humid w/very light and intermittent 0-5mph breeze.

Easy hike along damp to wet trails that were easy to traverse.  Not much animal activity except for a few cottontail rabbits and two sightings of cotton rats (I believe).  Numerous lizards and birds were out and I saw two cicadas (photo attached).  Cactus flowers are gone and a lot of the wildflowers seemed to have disappeared as well.  We had a severe hailstorm a few days ago so that may be the reason why.  Not much else to report.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.

Leg 1 -  Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosau Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Badlands > River Bend > service road (NNE) > Cougar Overlook     6.2 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail > Lower Ghost Camp > Upper Ghost Camp > Riverbend Camping Area > Lower Ghost Camp (N) > South Slick Rock > North Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead     3.4 miles

Temp started at 59, ended at 86.  Sunny w/very light 0-5mph N then SW breeze.

Easy hike along familiar trails that were slightly damp with morning dew.  Lots of bird actvity - I watched a Great Horned Owl hunt near Bell's Trailhead, later I saw a male Painted Bunting having a dirt or any bath, Cardinals and Mockingbirds were singing as well.  Lizrads were spotted and so was a Ring Collared Snake (photo attached).  This snake was about 18 inches long which made him very large for that type of snake (at least as far as the ones I've seen).  The gnats were VERY active and I did the Georgia wave numerous times to shoo them off.  Of note there are literally hundreds if not thousands of holes in the ground at various places along the Dinosaur and Trailhead to Trailhead trails - those holes contains BEES!  I walking through them and they didn't bother me but caution is advised.

NOTES -

Info kiosk and a bicycle repair staton are available at Bell's Trailhead.  Water and shade is available at the nearby campsites.

Water, shade and an info kiosk is available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station is available at Cougar Overlook.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at the River Bend camping area.