Out  Playground parking lot > Tasajilla Flats Trail > Nature Trail> Lanky Lackey Trail > Roller Coaster Trail > West Potts Creek Trail > Armadillo Ridge Trail (East) > East Potts Creek Trail > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park    6.2 miles

Return  Burkett Park > Winding Snake Trail > Chaparral Trail > Playground parking lot   2.6 miles

Overcast day with a light north wind and some cooler temps made for a good hike.  The trails are becoming somewhat overgrwon with vegetation due to recent rains and humid air.  Some of the trails have been cleared but the weeds continue to grow!  Caution is advised to watch for snakes and other reptiles. 

When I was nearly finished with the hike, I saw one bicyclist at the end of Chaparral Trail - solitude was nice! 

NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, and toilets are available at the Playground parking area.

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

Out     Burkett Park > park road (West) > Roller Coaster Trail > West Potts Creek > Armadillo Trail > Turkey Creek Trail > River Bend Trail > service road (East) > Cougar Overlook       4.7 miles

Return Cougar Overlook > Flintstone Trail > Playground Trail > Armadillo Trail > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park         4.5 miles

If you have a map or use Google Earth and follow the route I took, you'll see why I call this a Figure Eight.

Warm temps, sunny, and a fairly constant breeze made today's hike a very nice one indeed!  When I hiked this same trail on 6/19/2014 there was a very noticeable scent of vanilla in the air from one of the blooming bushes, unfortunately, the scent has all but disappeared.

On the positive side though, there were no gnats!! I assume the drier air and steady breeze had something to do with that one.  As always, pick up any trash you find, take your time and enjoy the trails!

NOTES

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

Water, infor kiosk and shade are available at the Multitrail Junction where Turkey Creek, River Bend and Flintstone Trails intersect.  You will come to this spot twice if you follow my route.

Water and shade are available at Bell's Point which is near the northern end of the Playground Trail and is shown on the trail maps.

Shade and info kiosk are available at Cougar Outlook (the mid-way point).

Route    Playground Parking Lot > Tasajilla Flats Trail > Nature Trail > service road (East) then old boat ramp road (paved) which goes SE > Chaparral Trail > Playground Parking Lot

Just a short hike around the South Shore of the park.  Thanks to "Lone Star" for the appropriate title!

NOTES

Water, info kiosk, and bathroom available at Playground parking lot.

The service road we took goes to the Isabel Harte Day Use Area - be advised there is an active bee hive in the Isabel Harte sign on the south side of the road.  We stayed as far away as possible and the bees did not bother us.

Out     Burkett Park > park road (West) > Roller Coaster Trail > West Potts Creek > Armadillo Trail > Turkey Creek Trail > River Bend Trail > service road (East) > Cougar Overlook       4.6 miles

Return Cougar Overlook > Flintstone Trail > Playground Trail > Armadillo Trail > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park         4.4 miles

If you have a map or use Google Earth and follow the route I took, you'll see why I call this a Figure Eight.

A very nicely scented hike today !  The bee balm bushes are beginning to flower and the vanilla scent is in the air.  The gnats were also out and were bothersome when in valleys or areas where the breeze did not hit me.  Otherwise, a very enjoyable hike.

One thing that I noticed is the trails have become "rockier" than they were in the past.  A few weeks back we had a very heavy rainfall which washed a lot of soil from the trails exposing the rocks or bedrock underneath.  Last week, severe winds hit the area and knocked down quite a few branches in the park and probably also blew away some more topsoil from the trails.

I have bumped the difficulty scale up a half point because of this.  There are a few trails that you have to be more cautious on - Armadillo Trail, Roller Coaster, parts of Flintstone and Playground.  Of course, you should always be careful when you hike but you really need to pay more attention when you are on these trails.

I saw a snake today but couldn't get a photo.  It was a rather large snake and was as green as a prickly pear palm.  I caught a glimpse of him as he slithered away as I approached. 

NOTES -

Toilets, info kiosk, shade and water are at Burkett Park. 

Water, shade and info kiosk at the Multi Trail Junction where Turkey Creek, River Bend and Flintstone Trails meet.  If you follow my route you will arrive at this junction on your way out and on your return.

Water and shade are also available at Bell's Point which is on the Playground Trail and is shown on park maps. 

Out       Bell's Trailhead > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill Trail > Badlands Trail > River Bend Trail > Multi Trail Junction          5.5 miles

Return  Flintstone Trail > Javalina Trail > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > Upper Ghost Camp Trail > South Slick Rock Trail > service road >North Scenic Loop > service road > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead             4.4 miles

This route encompasses the outer trails along the North Shore.  The vast majority of the trail is dirt although there are a few places where it is rocky, in particular the Upper Big Hill trail which has a steep incline as well as rock and the South Slick Rock trail which has a steep decline and loose rock/dirt.  Although there are quite a few trails listed, all the trails are easy to see and connect to one another.  The laminated park map available for $3 at the South Shore station or Google Earth are the best ways to view my route.

Temps started in the lower 70's and rose to the mid-80's during the hike, a light northerly wind kept the majority of bugs off but when I went into areas of no wind, the gnats were a force to be reckoned with!  I'm sure our recent rains helped increase the gnat's activity and although I don't like gnats, I'll tolerate them if it means we get more rain.  

LOTS of lizards out and about as well as birds.  Saw a group of four Great Blue Herons near Shady Trail when I was outward bound and one Great Blue on my return leg.  The extra water in the creek area has been a boon to the wildlife!

A tip of the hat to the park staff who maintain the trails!  Even after the rains, the trails are easy to traverse and in a few cases, I could see where park personnel had already repaired rain damaged sections. 

Keep up the good work!!

NOTES

Info kiosk at Bell's Trailhead, no water.  

Water, shade and info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Trail rest area, the Multi Trail junction (where Turkey Creek, River Bend and Flintstone Trails meet - my half way point) and at the Upper Ghost Camp area which is also called River Bend Camp Area on a few signs in the park.  This last area also has dry toilets available.

Ground bees are active so be aware of them!  I saw a small group at the southern end of the Shady Trail in the service road.  They didn't bother me and I didn't bother them.

Out     Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > East Potts Creek Trail > Armadillo Trail > Playground Trail > Flintstone Trail > Multi-Trail Junction        3.0 miles

Return  Turkey Creek Trail > Armadillo Trail > West Potts Creek Trail > Roller Coaster Trail > Park Road > Burkett Park                             3.6 miles

After the recent rains, this is the first opportunity I've had to walk a lot of the trails.  In a nutshell, if the trail was somewhat rocky, it is now very rocky, if the trail was rocky, it is now extremely rocky.  The rain washed a lot of the loose dirt from the trails, thereby exposing the rocky caliche or bedrock underneath.  The mostly hard packed dirt trails, have some gourges cut through them exposing rocks, tree roots, etc.  Bottom line - the trails are still very easy to find but you have to take more time hiking them to avoid injuries.

On the plus side, the rain has triggered plant and flower growth through the park, lots of new cactus blooms, fragrant "bee balm" bushes that smell like vanilla are releasing their perfume and other blooming flowers are keeping the bees and other insects busy.

NOTES -

1.  Water, shade and info kiosk available at Burkett Park and at the Multi-Trail Junction which is my name for the area where Turkey Creek, River Bend and Flintstone trails meet.  All trails are easily seen using Google Erath or the map on this website.

2.  As of this writing, some ground bee activity has been noticed on Burkett Trail and reported to the park rangers - unknown what action, if any, they will take.  I am not a bee expert so I treat all bees as if they will swarm and sting.  There have been stories in the local news a year or so ago about two people who were killed after disturbing ground bee hives. 

Be alert, look at the scenery, stay safe and enjoy the hike!

Out     Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > old dirt/gravel/asphalt raod > River Bend Trail (ENE) > old service road (East) > Cougar Outlook       2.7 miles

Return  Cougar Outlook > Flintstone Trail (SSW) > Turkey Creek Trail > Armadillo Trail (West) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster Trail > park road (NNE) > Burkett Park   4.7 miles

Easy to hike route - most of the outward route is on an old park road that is no longer used.  Return is along established trails that connect to one another and are easy to find on a map or on the ground.

It was humid, windy and overcast. I watched a grey fox as he hunted and got a few good pictures - this is the second fox I've seen in all my years hiking at the park - a year or so ago, I saw a red fox for two or three seconds as he bounded away from me.  This time, the wind was blowing toward me so he couldn't get my scent and when he noticed me standing perfectly still, he walked closer to investigate.  Once he caught a whiff, he took off.

A leisurely hike, not many bugs, temps were tolerable and I watched a grey fox - a very good hike indeed!!

Out      Playground Parking Lot > Tasajillo Flats Trail > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey Trail > park road to Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > (East) Potts Creek Trail > Armadillo Trail > Playground Trail > Flintstone Trail > Turkey Creek, River Bend and Flintstone Trails Converge       6.3 miles

Return   Turkey Creek Trail > Armadillo Trail > West Potts Creek Trail > Roller Coaster Trail > park road to Burkett Park > Winding Snake Trail > Chaparral Trail > Playground parking Lot     6.0 miles

A perfect day!  Temps in the mid 70's to start, sunny and a fairly consistent west wind, made this a very long but enjoyable hike.  One feature of the San Angelo State Park that I really like - the trails are easy to follow and on this route, all connect with the exception of the area near Burkett Park when you get on an asphalt park road to reach the parking area.

I called this a "figure eight" route because if you follow on the map, the outward and return trips converge at Burkett Park.  This came in handy because Burkett Park has water for humans and horses as well as a trash can where trash found on the trails can be deposited.

Most of the trails are somewhat rocky due to the caliche soil but there are stretches of softer, hard packed soil with few rocks.  Please take a look at my earlier log entries for trail details and/or use Google Earth - you can clearly see the trails and how easy they are to follow.  There aren't many trail signs but if you get a laminated park map at the South Shore gatehouse ($3) or a free paper trail map (not as good but usable), you realize you can't get lost in the park.

NOTES

(1)  An info kiosk and water is available at Burkett Park and at the junction of Turkey Creek, River Bend and Flintstone trails (turn around point).  Dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.

(2)  Please pick up any trash you encounter!!  There is a trash can at Burkett Park as well as at the Playground parking Lot.  I have walked these trails for years and continue to find cans, glass bottles, pieces of broken glass, plastic bottles and GU packets.  I do not understand why some people have no problem whatsoever in leaving their empty food and water containers, and other trash, along the trails. 

BE A RESPONSIBLE PERSON - If you carry it into the park, take it out of the park when you leave.

Out        Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Service Road > Scenic Loop > South Slick Rock Trail > Service Road > Cougar Outlook      3.2 miles
Return  Cougar Outlook > Service Road > River Bend Trail > Badlands Trail > Big Hill Road > Rocky Creek Trail > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead    4.2 miles  

This hike wanders through the North Shore portion of the park. The service roads used as a trail, or as a connector to a trail, are hard packed dirt and easy to traverse.  There are only a few areas of difficulty and those are at the Big Hill Road on the return portion and a small piece of the South Slick Rock trail on the outbound portion.  Otherwise, an easy hike!

At the time of the hike, some prickly pear cactus have blooms but the vast majority of cactus do not yet have their flowers.  Birds are active, many lizards were spotted and other flowers are blooming.

NOTE -

An info kiosk, shaded tables, dry toilet and water are available at the Upper Ghost Camp (River Bend campground).  The turn around point (Cougar Outlook) has an info kiosk and a shaded pavillion but no water - plan accordingly.

Out     Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparrel > Winding Snake > Burkett Park     3.1 miles

Return  Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Horny Toad > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area    3.0 miles

This hike takes you from the South Shore Playground parking area along the eastern edge of the park before returning through the middle of the park's southern section. 

Enter the park through the South Shore Gatehouse and drive to the Playground Parking Area where you will see the signpost for the Chaparral Trail.  Take the trail and when you cross a paved road, you'll see a signpost for Red Dam Loop which you will take.  This loop will take you up along the Red Dam which, I have been told, was a good place to fish when there was abundant water in the now dried lake.

Red Dam will end at Chaparral on the other side of the now dry inlet.  Turn right and follow Chaparral through the Isabel Harte area until the trail ends at a paved road.  Across the road, is a gravel road which you take and it will connect you to the Winding Snake Trail. 

Winding Snake is an easy to hike trail with only a few small inclines to traverse.  A pond is some distance down the trail and you may see some bird and wildlife using the water.  Continue on Winding Snake until it ends at Burkett Park which has dry toilets, an info kiosk and water for humans and horses.

Departing Burkett Park, you take the paved road West (up hill) and look for the Lanky Lackey signpost on the left side of the road.  Lanky Lackey is pretty rocky but definitely hike-able.  You will stay on the trail to the end which is at a paved road near the entrance to Isabel Harte.

Across the road, you will see the signpost for Nature Loop Trail which you take.  Follow Nature Loop all the way to the end - when you are on the long, straight portion of Nature Loop, you are heading South and will see a signpost for Tasajilla Flats Trail on your right - DO NOT TAKE IT.  Continue straight and the Nature Loop Trail will end at a gravel road.  Across this road is the signpost for Horny Toad Trail. 

Horny Toad will have you climb, via switchback, a small hill.  When you get to the top, you will walk along the plateau for a bit heading West.  The trail will curve to the South and you'll see a signpost for Talley Valley Trail - DO NOT TAKE IT - continue on Horny Toad.  Horny Toad will end at a junction of Tasajilla Flats and you will turn left (East).  Follow the trail all the way back to the Playground parking area.

Out       Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Dirt\Gravel\Asphalt old service road > Flintstone Trail > Cougar Outlook     2.9 miles
Return  Dirt\Asphalt\Gravel Road > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park     2.7 miles

This route begins and ends, at Burkett Park, accessible from the South Shore Gatehouse.  You take Burkett Trail North and wander along a mesquite grove and lots of red earth.  Stay on the trail and at one point it will go either to the right or straight - the right branch has you cross a bridge over a dried creek, the straight thru option, has you go down into the dried creek and back up the other embankment. 

Both branches connect  to the same trail a short distance later.  If you take the right branch, when you cross the bridge, you'll see a trail on the right - don't take it, stay on the trail ahead of you. The trail will end at a dirt road and the signpost for Potts Creek is across the road.  You will turn right onto the dirt road and this is what you will be on for the majority of this hike.

The road is dirt and easy to travel.  When you come to a junction, turn right and the road becomes gravel.  Eventually the road surface becomes asphalt - Mother Nature is hard at work reclaiming it. The road will go ENE and you will eventually come to a gate.  When you cross the gate, you are now in an area where the longhorns like to hang out and graze (at the time of this writing).  Make sure the gate has closed behind you!!

Take the old asphalt road directly ahead of you, not the left hand dirt road going through the ghost camp.  Follow the road until you come to where it branches right or hard left (there is a shot up Yield sign on the right).  Go left and follow the road until you are outside the ghost camp area.

Just ahead, you'll see a trail entrance on the left - that is Flintstone Trail heading West - you want to head East, so take the eastern portion of the FlintstoneTrail on your right.  It is a narrow, dirt trail that is easy to see and hike. Shade, prickly pear cactus and solitude as you follow the trail which changes into a rocky trail with some slight inclines.  

The trail ends on a cleared area with a covered pavillion and info kiosk.  You are at Cougar Outlook  which gives you a good view of the North Concho River which has varying amounts of water.

When you depart, look West and you will see a bike rack - there is a dirt road going to the left or right - take the left branch and follow it until the road "T's" into another asphalt road.  Turn left and continue.  A short distance away, you will come to the point where you accessed Flintstone Trail.  From here, you stay on the asphat road and retrace your steps back to Burkett Trail and Burkett Park.

NOTES -

Water is NOT available except at Burkett Park - the starting and ending point of the hike.  There is an area where the cattle graze that has water tanks BUT I do not know if the water is potable to humans - I wouldn't chance it myself.
  . 

Out   Burkett Park > Roller Coaster Trail > West Potts Creek Trail > Armadillo Ridge Trail > Turkey Creek Trail > River Bend Trail > asphalt road to Cougar Outlook      4.7 miles

Return  Flintstone Trail > Playground Trail > Armadillo Ridge Trail > East Potts Creek Trail > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park       4.3 miles

This route takes you NNW along the western edge of the middle section of the park, then cuts East for a short distance before drifiting SW back to the starting point of the hike.

Enter through the South Shore gate and drive a few miles to Burkett Park where there is a parking area, water, dry toilets and an info kiosk.  You will walk back up the road to the Burkett park entrance and look to the right, you'll see the signpost for Rollercoaster Trail - take it.

This trail is aptly names and is easy to follow; the only area where it is not, it at the crest about 1/2 way on the trail.  The single track trail joins a dirt road which goes West.  You'll follow this road and come to a three way junction - the left is a fire road, the center is the trail, the right branch takes you to an asphalt road that goes downhill.  Take the center branch and Rollercoaster continues as a series of easily traversed switchbacks, the trail ends at the asphalt road you could have taken earlier.  Across the road is the signpost for West Potts Creek Trail.  

Follow West Potts Creek which begins as a sandy trail and ends at Armadillo Ridge Trail in rock.  Armadillo Ridge trail is an easily seen trail that travels upward over rocky terrain.  You will go a relatively short distance before encountering the signpost for Turkey Creek Trail which heads North.

Turkey Creek is hard packed dirt for the most part and will go through open areas, mesquite groves and the ever present prickly pear cactus.  You will cross a couple of old roads but the trail signposts are clearly visible on the opposite side.  I recommend if you hike, you take the routes marked "hiker and biker" since they are smoother in comparison to the "Horse and Hiker" trails.  In either event, the trail ends at the same place where you will take the River Bend Trail as it continues North.  At this junction, there is an info kiosk, covered table and water for humans and horses.  Prior to going on this trail, I suggest you top off any water containers; it will be a few miles before you have the opportunity to again.

River Bend has many open areas while you hike.  Continue on this trail until you come to the second old road where you will turn right (East).  To ascertain if you are on the correct road, look to your right - Cougar Outlook is clearly visible with a covered table pavillion.  This area also has an info kiosk but NO WATER.  Go to the outlook and take a look! 

For the return leg, you will begin at the clearly marked Flintstone Trail (sometimes called "Flintstone Village" trail).  Follow this trail as it heads South then Southwest.  You will cross an old asphalt road at one point.  This trail also takes you to the junction of Turkey Creek and River Bend Trails where you were earlier.  This time, look for the Flintstone Trail signpost and continue your hike.  The end of Flintstone is across from the signpost for Playground Trail.  

Playground trail wanders through mesquite groves and climbs to Bell's Point.  Bell's Point has a covered table and water but no info kiosk.  If you look South you can see Pulliam Point and, depending on the weather, a little further to Burkett Park which is the beginning point of this hike. 

Be advised the sign for Bell's Point has a wooden sign underneath indicating this is Flintstone Trail which is INCORRECT - you are on Playground Trail.  Perhaps in the future, the rangers will remove the Flintstone trail sign, perhaps not.

In any event, follow Playground Trail SW as it goes along some fingers of land and switchbacks.  The path is rocky, narrow and easily seen - be aware of bicyclists as hikers have to give way to bicyclists and as I said, the trail is narrow.

Playground Trail will end and Armadillo Ridge Trail begins near the abandoned picnic area of Armadillo Ridge.  Armadillo Ridge will wander a bit and ends at the (East) Potts Creek signpost.  If you feel you are on the wrong path, climb to the plateau and walk to the old picnic table at the SE point, you'll see the signpost for (East) Potts Creek Trail. 

East Potts Creek is an easy to walk trail and usually will provide shade through the mesquite grove. This trail ends where Burkett Trail begins.  Follow Burkett Trail as it takes you around the plateau of Pulliam Point and goes back to Burkett Park.

NOTES -

This is the first time in a long while, I hiked on a Saturday and the park was much busier than I usually experience; hence, the Solitude rating of "3" vs my normal rating of "5" when I have the park to myself.  There were four other hikers I saw but the overwhelming majority of the other trail users were mountain bikers. 

The vast majority were courteous - if I had already moved off the trail, a "thank you, have a good day" salutation was given as they pedaled past.  If I was unaware of them, they announced their presence while still a ways back, giving me plenty of time to move off the trail and again, pleasantries were exchanged.

Unfortunately, a few seemed to be more concerned with how quickly they could race along the trail rather than safely share the trail. During this hike, on two separate occassions, two different bicyclists almost caused a collision as they came upon me from behind and only at the last moment, did I hear their approach.  In both cases, I had to jump out of the way while the bicyclist sped by, head down and legs pumping, with not a word exchanged as they passed.  I feel sorry for these folks - so focused on their tires, they don't see the park.  Not my idea of a good time but I pass no judgement - to each his own.  

Regardless of how you traverse the trails - by horse, bike or on foot, please watch out for your fellow nature lovers and share the trails safely.