Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook
User:
MikeHikes - 2/7/2016
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 8.30 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Out Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > service roads (ENE) > Cougar Overlook 3.5 miles
Return Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone(S) > Playground > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 4.8 miles
Temps about 70, sunny and light wind.
A good hike with a surprising number of people on the trails. Watched at Cougar Overlook, a Kestrel search for prey. Quite a few small birds and a couple of mice were also spotted.
While on Flintstone Trail, I thought I smelled agarita blooms so I looked around and found a bush that is beginning to flower (photo attached). In my mind, this is too early for blooms but it has been a warm and dry Winter in San Angelo and the proof is on the bush.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Shade and info kiosk available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point - on return leg near the northern end of Playground Trail.
South Shore Tasajilla Flats Hike and Trash Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 2/5/2016
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Distance: 4.20 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Final third of the Tasajilla Flats Trails > Nature Loop (S)
Sunny with temps in the mid 40's and gusty winds.
Wanted to complete the trash pick up along the Tasailla Flats Trail I started earlier this week. Hiking along the trail and spotting trash was not the most ideal hike but a necessary one. Made about three complete circuits, and then some, gathering four big bags of trash consisting of bottles, cans, car parts and a few things that I couldn't identify.
I am certain when this portion of the park was underwater, it was a favorite cove for fisherman. Fishing must be a dehydrating task as attested by the numerous beverage containers found which I know were tossed over the side of the boat. I assume modern day fishermen have more respect for the environment and don't do the same thing but ......
Still have a few trails that need to be scoured but I feel confident the vast majority of the trash has been picked up along this trail.
Park Mid-Section Burkett park to Cougar Overlook
User:
MikeHikes - 2/4/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.90 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Out Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > service roads (ENE) > Cougar Overlook 3.5 miles
Return Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett Park 5.4 miles
Temps at 44 to start and 59 at end, sunny and light wind from the West.
Slow hike along some of the roads to Cougar Overlook. I saw a LARGE grey fox near an old boat ramp in the middle of nowhere. The fox was about 30 meters in front of me and bounded across the road in two leaps, disappearing into the scrub.
Lots of white crowned sparrows as well as a few other birds. I also saw a red tailed hawk flying overhead. In 2015, there were few raptors out and now it seems that on every hike lately, I've seen one or more raptors - a good sign!
Vegetation has been cleared from the trails either by fire or by park personnel. Trash pick-up continues but visible trash is decreasing.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Shade and info kiosk at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
South Shore Tasajilla Flats Trail Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 2/1/2016
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Solitude:
Distance: 1.80 Miles
Duration: 45 minutes
Route Last third of Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop (S) > turn around and go back the same way 1.8 miles
Temps in the mid-50's, sunny and light wind.
Easy hike along the final third of the Tasajilla Flats Trail -- I saw a few birds as well as a large Roadrunner sitting in a tree during my hike.
Today, the O.C. Fisher Reservoir is only a pale shadow of what it once was; many of the park trails traverse what used to be the lake bed. The fairly recent controlled burn revealed LOTS of bottles and cans that had been tossed overboard and sank to the lake's bottom.
As I hiked, I picked up trash and easily filled three 40 pound bird seed bags with broken bottles, old cans, a huge piece of rope and various metalic objects. Unfortunately, I'll have to make another visit, or two, to completely eradicate the trash along this trail. I know of at least two other trails where the trash is pretty bad so I'll hit those trails a little later.
Tasajilla Flats trail is in good shape - the burn cleared out all the overgrown vegetation that had been choking the trail. I don't know how long it takes Bee Brush to grow but I'll be looking for it along this trail - when the Bee Brush blooms the scent is very heavy in this area.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett Park
User:
MikeHikes - 1/31/2016
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 6.30 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.2 miles
Return Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Temps in the upper 70's, sunny and slight wind.
Good day for a hike as evidenced by the LARGE number of people on the trails! LOTS of cars in the parking areas as well. Trails very nice and the smoky smell of the prescribed burns still lingers in the air. Not many birds around although we saw a couple of white tail deer on the return leg. All in all, a good hike.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets at Burkett Park.
North Shore Shady Trail Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 1/30/2016
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Distance: 1.00 Mile
Duration: 45 minutes
Route Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > service road (N) > Bell's Trailhead 1.0 miles
Temps in the mid 60's, sunny, light wind.
Short stroll along Shady trail and back on the service road running parallel to the trail. Saw lots of birds and a couple of Red Tail hawks. On the way out saw a Great Blue Heron hunting in the fields.
NOTES
Water, shade and toilets available at the campground near Bell's Trailhead.
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 1/28/2016
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 11.20 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajila Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > service road (NE) > Winding Snake (N) > Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo (E) > East Potts Creek 6.9 miles
Return East Potts Creek > Burkett > Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky Lackey > service road (NE) > Winding Snake (S) > Chaparral > Playground parking lot 5.3 miles
Temps started in the mid-40's ended at 72, sunny, light wind.
Leisurely hike. Watched a Great Blue Heron hunt for rodents at the Playground parking lot - I was not aware the Great Blue hunted on dry land!
Saw some white tail deer, lots of white crowned sparrows and black throated sparrows. Trails were dry, no issues except I picked up four bags of trash. Hopefully, I'm getting the last of the "old" trash that was left before people became aware of the environment.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park - if you follow my route you'll visit the park twice.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Ghost Camp Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 1/24/2016
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Solitude:
Distance: 7.20 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Route Bell's Trailhead > Dinosaur Trail > Badlands > Riverbend > service road (NE) > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > South Slick Rock > Scenic Loop > service road (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 7.2 miles
Temps in the low 70's, sunny and steady wind.
Fitness hike with friends. The trails are dry and easy to hike for the most part, vegetation has died back and there are few people on the trails.
NOTES
Water available in the campground by Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks area.
Shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend ghost camp (return leg on Lower Ghost Camp Trail).
South Shore Playground parking area to 5 Points Junction Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 1/21/2016
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Rating:
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Distance: 14.30 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 25 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 7.8 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett > Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 6.5 miles
Temps in the mid 40's to start and 59 at end, sunny and strong northerly wind.
A long hike today along the park's major south and central trails. The park has some areas burned from a controlled burn a month ago so lots of trash was uncovered which I picked up. Still more out there so if you see trash, please pick it up!
Not much wildlife except for the beginning of the hike when I flushed about a dozen white tails out including three bucks that were 6 and 8 points looks like they'll get the chance to grow a bit larger this year!
All in all an uneventful hike but nonetheless, an enjoyable one.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point - approx .30 miles South of the junction of Flintstone and Playground trails (return leg).
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Park Mid-Section Burkett Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 1/17/2016
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 6.40 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Route Burkett park > Burkett > service road (ENE) > service road (W) > Turkey Creek (S) > Armadillo (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Lankey Lackey > service road (E) > Winding Snake > Burkett park 6.4 miles
Temps in the lower 60's, partly cloudy, some wind.
A fitness hike with friends. Lots of cattle out so we stayed on the road longer than originally planned to avoid them. We had no issues with the cattle - we just didn't want to inadvertantly cause them any stress.
Trails were in good condition but the park has posted a notice that from now until the end of February 2016, they will perform trail maintenance so you have to call the park prior to hiking to ensure the trail(s) will be open.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Park Mid-Section Burkett to Cougar Overlook via Roads and Trails
User:
MikeHikes - 1/14/2016
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Distance: 9.40 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Out Burkett park > Burkett > service roads E then NE > Cougar Overlook 3.8 miles
Return Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction > Tirkey Creek > Armadillo (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 5.6 miles
Temps in the mid 50's to start and mid-60's at end, sunny and steady constant winds.
Just meandered down the old service roads to Cougar Overlook and returned on the western trails. Lots of longhorns out with their calves. I saw quite a few Black Throated Sparrows throughout the hike as well as Mourning Doves and a few other types.
I saw a couple of mountain bikers racing down the trails but otherwise the trails were mine!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Shade and info kiosk at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook
User:
MikeHikes - 1/7/2016
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 10.10 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 40 minutes
Out Burkett park > Burkett > East Potts Creek > Armadillo (W) > Playground > Flintstone > Cougar Overlook 4.8 miles
Return Cougar Overlook > service road (W) > River Bend (S) > 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 5.3 miles
Two years ago today, I made my first log entry!!
Temps in the mid 40's to start and upper 50's at end. Sunny and windy.
Trails were damp which surprised me; we've have no real rain for awhile. Very pleasant otherwise, no animals but quite a few birds. The park's longhorns were near the Armadillo Ridge area and on the trails but they left me alone. All in all, a nice day to hike !
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point (near the northern end of Playground Trail).
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction - you'll hit this area on the way out and the return if you follow my route.
Shade and info kiosk available at Cougar Overlook.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead loop
User:
MikeHikes - 1/3/2016
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 6.60 Miles
Duration: 2 hours
Start 2016 with 1,090 logged miles.
Route Bell's Trailhead> Shady Lane > service road > Scenic Loop > Lower Slick Rock> River Bend Ghost Camp > service road > Badlands (N) > Dinosaur > Bell's Trailhead 6.6 miles
Temps in the mid 50's, sunny and slight wind.
First hike of 2016 with friends. Park personnel did some controlled burning but not on the trails. Talked to a mountain biker who told us he saw a mountain lion on Christmas day near the River Bend Ghost Camp. Would like to see and photograph one myself!
NOTES
Water available in the campground at Bell's Trailhead.
Shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Ghost Camp.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks Exhibit Area --- UPDATE --- a week ago the water was not available; it is NOW!!!
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 12/23/2015
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 40 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Chaparral > Winding Snake> Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo (East) 5.4 miles
Return East Potts Creek > Burkett > Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 5.0 miles
Temps low 60's to start and low 70's at end. Sunny and constant, STRONG westerly wind.
Park conducted controlled burns a few weeks ago and this is the first time I've been out there since. The area North from Playground parking area to an area South of Burkett park was burned. Smell of woodsmoke is still in the air. Saw a few deer and some rats as well as birds in the burned out areas.
With the vegetation burned, some trash is visible such as old cans and bottles so I pick those up when I can reach them.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park - at the midpoint of the figure 8 if you follow my route.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett Park and back
User:
MikeHikes - 12/6/2015
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.10 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park 3.4 miles
Return Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.7 miles
Mid 60's, light wind, sunny.
Been awhile since I hiked and this was just a good fitness hike with friends. Saw 4 or 5 rats near the end of the hike. Not much else going on, just a good hike and conversation with friends.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Dinosaur Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 11/22/2015
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 7.20 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Route Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > service road (S) > Scenic Loop > South Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > service road (W) > Badlands > Upper big Hill > Dinosaur > service road (N) > Bell's Trailhead 7.2 miles
Temp in mid-50's, sunny and light wind.
Fitness hike with friends - saw lots of turkeys, deer and birds. Also had a grey fox run into a tree when he saw the dog with us (photo attached).
Good hike with good friends!
NOTES
Water available near Bell's Trailhead in camping area. THIS IS THE ONLY WATER AVAILABLE UNTIL YOU GO TO 5 POINTS JUNCTION.
Info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Ghost Camp.
Info kiosk and shade available at Dinosaur tracks area - NO WATER AVAILABLE at this point in time.
South Shore Playground parking area to 5 Points Junction Figure 8 Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 11/21/2015
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 14.70 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 15 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo (East) > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 7.3 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (South) > Playground > Armadillo (West) > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats 7.4 miles
Temps in the low 40's, sunny, strong wind with gusts from the North made the temp feel like 30's.
Due to allergy issues, park closures for hunting and the weather, I hadn't hiked in almost two weeks - this was long overdue!
Very cold with the wind but there were quite a few folks out on the trails - hikers and mountain bikers. Not much animal activity and the birds were visible but sparse.
The most surprising thing to me was the fact that bee brush was blooming (photo attached) and not just in one section of the park but over a large area. The smell of vanilla was not as strong as it was in the summer but when the wind died down, it was a very pleasant scent!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park - you'll visit twice if you follow my route.
Water, shade and info kiosk at 5 Points Junction.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point - about 1/2 mile South from the northern end of Playground Trail.
Park Mid-Section Burkett park to 5 Points Junction Fitness Hike
User:
MikeHikes - 11/8/2015
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Route Burkett park > Burkett > service road (ENE) > service road (West) > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone Trail (S) > Playground > Armadillo (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 7.0 miles
Temps in the low 60's, partly cloudy some wind.
A very nice fitness hike with friends. Saw a couple of longhorns and an interesting rock (photo attached). 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 and shade available at Bell's Point - at the northern end of Playground, go 1/2 miles South.
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 11/4/2015
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 10.60 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park > Burkett Trail > East Potts Creek > Armadillo 4.8 miles
Return Armadillo (West) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 5.8 miles
Temps in the upper 60's, cloudy and overcast, steady breeze.
Fairly cool day for a hike. I didn't start until 10:00 and was surprised to see a feral cat on the nortern end of Tasajilla Flats and about 1/2 mile further on the Nature Loop, I saw a bobcat walking away from me. Birds were all over the place and I'm seeing more hawks out and about. I also saw four moutain bikers which also surprised me.
All in all a nice day to go for a hike.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park - if you follow my route you will visit Burkett park twice.
and a bobcat on Tasajilla Flats, near the northern end
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to 5 Points Junction Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 11/1/2015
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 11.50 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Out Bell's Trailhead > service road (S) > Dinosaur > Lower Big Hill > service road (S) > Scenic Loop > service road (S then W) > Badlands > River Bend > 5 Points Junction 6.8 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (NE) > Javalina Trail > Lower Ghost Camp > South Slick Rock > service road (N then NE) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 4.7 miles
Temps in the 60's to start and then upper 70's at th end, sunny and a very light breeze.
We had some serious rain on Friday and the run-off flowed into the North Concho River which in turn, fills the O.C. Fisher Reservoir. The river did nor flood as it had in May of this year but the water was flowing!
I also saw some floating spider webs but I didn't see any spiders. Turkeys, a couple of deer and lots of birds were seen. Surprisingly, I saw two pairs of hikers as well as a pair of mountain bikers - very unusual but it was Sunday so perhaps it is normal.
A good hike overall.
NOTES
Info kiosk available at Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks area (approx 1.5 miles from Bell's Trailhead on Dinosaur Trail). This is the ONLY water on the North Shore trails - hydrate.
Water, shade and info kiosk at 5 Points Junction. LAST WATER if you follow my route.
Shade and info kiosk at Cougar Overlook - junction of FLintstone and Javalina trails.
Info kiosk, shade and dry toilets available at the River Bend ghost camp - located at the junction of Lower Ghost camp and South Slick Rock Trails.
South Shore Playground parking area to 5 Points Junction Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 10/28/2015
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 14.00 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 15 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tsajillo Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park > Burkett Trail > East Potts Creek > Armadillo (East) > Playground > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 7.1 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (West) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Suzanne's Trail > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 6.9 miles
Temps in the low 60's climbing to mid 70's, northerly breeze, sunny.
Great day to hike! Saw hawks, a black feral cat, a Red Fox (no photo), couple of field mice and rats, LOTS of birds (photo attached) and a Checkered Garter Snake which surprised me.
Enjoyed the hike, solitude and nice weather.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park - this is the connector for the figure 8 so you will visit twice.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point (1/2 mile Soutyh of junction of Playground and Flintstone trails)
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to 5 Point Junction
User:
MikeHikes - 10/25/2015
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 4.40 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Route Burkett park > Burkett trail > service road (ENE) > service road (W) . Flintstone Trail (NE) > 5 Points Junction > service road (dirt, East) > service road (asphalt WSW), Burkett Trail, Burkett Park 4.4 milrd
Temps in the 60's, windy and clear.
Today was a fitness hike, we travelled most of the route on service roads. Saw a red eyed box turtle for the first time (photo attached). Not much else, just a pleasant hike with friends.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk at 5 Points Junction.+
Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook
User:
MikeHikes - 10/18/2015
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.10 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 50 minutes
Out Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > River Bend > service road (ENE) > Cougar Overlook 5.3 miles
Return Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > Playground> Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 4.8 miles
Temps in the low 70's to start, low 80's at end, steady breeze, mostly cloudy turning to mostly sunny.
A very good day to hike! I saw a Great Horned Owl right at the start of the hike, otherwise just the usual birds on the trails. A few lizards scurried and two rats were also observed.
This log entry brings me to 1,000 logged miles!!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction - where Turkey Creek, River Bend and Flintstone trails intersect. If you follow my route, you will pass this area on the way out and on the return. Suggest you hydrate both times.
Shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point - on the return leg, about .5 mile South on Playground Trail.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Ghost Camp Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 10/14/2015
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.10 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Out Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > service road (S) > Scenic Loop > service road (S) > South Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > service road (W) > River Bend (N) 3.0 miles
Return River Bend (N) > Badlands > service road (WNW) > Dinosaur Trail > service road (N) > Bell's Trailhead 4.1 miles
Temps started in the low 70's and ended in the low 90's, sunny and fairly constant 10 mph breeze.
Been awhile since I hiked the North Shore and I wanted to see the Monarch Butterflies - they were still there but not in the thousands as they had been. Nonetheless, there were still quite a few around which was very nice to see.
Also saw some turkeys, lots of birds, especially woodpeckers, a small deer and I watched a snake swimming in the river.
Not a bad hike at all!
NOTES
Info kiosk at Bell's Trailhead - NO WATER.
Info kiosk, shade and dry toilets available at the River Bend ghost camp - water for animals at the trough.
Info kiosk, shade and water available at the Dinosaur Tracks area - this is the ONLY water for humans on the route.