South Shore - Roadrunner Loop + Chaparral Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 9/11/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 4.80 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Leg 2 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop (partial) > Chaparral > Playground parking area 1.8 miles
Temp started at 68, ended at 73. Cloud overcast, 10mph NNE breeze, cool.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. After the rains last week, there were a few bee bushes blooming. Some birds were out but not many and only a few deer were seen before the hike. Near the end of the hike, we saw a very small Ring Collared Snake that was maybe 4-6 inches long and very active in his efforts to get away from us (photo attached).
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground parking area.
Water and shade available at campsites along Roddrunner Loop. Two other toilets with info kiosks available by Roadrunner Loop as well.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook loop
User:
MikeHikes - 8/28/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.80 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur (S) > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend > Javelina > Cougar Overlook 5.7 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead > Bell's Trailhead 3.1 miles
Temp started at 77, ended at 85. Overcast then sunny with 5-10mph SW breeze. Slightly humid.
All trails were dry, easy to see and traverse. I spent some time on Shady Trail before the hike and saw two raccoons, two Great Horned Owls (photo attached) and a single beaver at the North Concho River pool. Water is running low so this watering hole is a good place to see what wildlife there is.
The rest of the hike was pretty uneventful - no other animals were spotted except for two deer I saw when I entered the park. Not many birds were out either. Besides the watering hole sightings there was nothing else going on.
NOTES
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Bell's Trailhead.
Water and shade available in the campground by Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade and an info kiosk available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Shade and an inof kiosk available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Camping Area.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Isabel Harte + Roadrunner Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 8/18/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.20 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > park road to Isabel Harte 2.0 miles
Leg 2 - park road to Isabel Harte > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.1 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Temp started at 77, ended at 83. Sunny with a few clouds, slightly humid and no breeze.
Quiet hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. Had to make this a short hike due to appointments. Unfortunately, by hiking familiar trails in a different order, I found a lot of trash along the trails. Most of it was old stuff so I know that it is gone never to return. Not many animals spotted - a cottontail, a javelina and six deer at various places along the hike. Bird activity was nonexistent for reasons unknown.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at the Playground parking area.
Water and shade available at Isabel Harte.
Water and shade at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop. Three (3) locations along the trail have toilets and info kiosks as well.
South Shore - Burkett Park to Playground parking area Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 8/15/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.70 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.6 miles
Leg 2 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.4 miles
Leg 3 - Nature Trail .7 miles
Temp started at 74, ended at 83. High hazy overcast day with little to no intermittent breeze. Slightly humid air.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. I spotted a juvenile Nighthawk near Burkett Park at the beginning of the hike (photo attached). I saw these birds at the park in the past but this was the first one I've seen in a few years. Not many birds were out and I saw very few deer. There wasn't much happening so this was just a lazy hike while I looked at the scenery and cleaned the trails.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair satation available at the Playground parking area.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 8/9/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.70 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Playground Bypass > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 3.7 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Point Junction > dirt road (NE) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.0 miles
Temp started at 80, ended at 95. Very sunny with none to a very slight and infrequent breeze.
Quiet hike along easy to see and traverse trails. I saw six javelinas and a few deer on my way in. At the beginning of the hike, I saw a lone Jack Rabbit (photo attached) and a few Black Buzzards flying around.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and an info kiosk available at Bell's Point.
Water, shade and an info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Ghost Camp Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 8/5/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.00 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road 4.4 miles
Leg 2 - service road (ENE) > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > South Slick Rock > North Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 2.6 miles
Temp started at 80, ended at 93. Sunny with haze then the haze burned off. No wind to light Southerly breeze by end of hike.
East hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. Numerous deer, including an Axis buck and at least four different fawns, were spotted. The big surprise was seeing a mother raccoon with two juveniles at one place and then seeing three almost baby raccoons at another. This is the first time I saw this many young racoons on a hike.
Numerous birds were spotted and seeing the Yellow Billed Cuckoo (photo attached) at the North Scenic Loop was a real treat. I saw a Horned Lizard on the Dinosaur Trail so I will re-start my Horned Lizard count. All in all a good hike.
NOTES
Water, shade and dry toilets available at the campsites by Bell's Trailhead.
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade, and info kiosk available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Campground.
South Shore - Roadrunner Loop + Playground to Burkett Park Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 8/2/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 45 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Leg 2 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Temp started at 80, ended at 95. Sunny with a constant 10-15mph Southerly breeze.
A hot but enjoyable hike along easy to see and traverse trails. Roadrunner Loop has been groomed fairly recently and is pretty smooth. I saw some mesquite sap oozing from cuts in the trees and it was crystallizing (photo attached). Looks nice and in another 2-10 million years it will be chunks of amber and worth a few bucks but right now, it is just a sticky mess best left alone.
I spotted numerous deer including an 8 point buck, lots of Scissortail Flycatchers including juveniles, a solitary Cottontail and a few other birds. I had the trails to myself and enjoyed a very peaceful stroll feeling the sun and wind on my skin.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at the Playground Parking Area.
Water and shade are available at numerous campsites along Roadrunner Loop and there are three areas where toilets and info kiosks are available as well.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 7/26/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.80 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.2 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (S) > Potts Creek (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.6 miles
Temps started at 78, ended at 95. Sunny with steady 10-15mph SW breeze.
A calm and peaceful hike along well groomed, easy to traverse trails. Young turkeys were spotted at the Javelina Pond near Burkett Park (photo attached) and a few deer were seen on the hike itself but otherwise, no other anmals were seen. Turket Vultures were at their roosting area near Armadillo Ridge but otherwise, most of the birds were hidden. A few lizards were on the trail but I did not see any Horned Lizards so my "I saw a Horned Lizard while hiking today" streak ends at 7 hikes in a row. Not much else to say except it was another hot, dry Summer day with no rain or temperature relief in sight.
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.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Ghost Camp Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 7/20/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.00 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > South Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > Ghost Camp > River Bend Trail (WNW) 4 miles
Leg 2 - River Bend (N) > Badlands > Upper Big Hill > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 4 miles
Temp started at 80, ended at 98. High, overcast clouds then sunny. Light and intermittent winds from the W then NW.
A quiet, very nice hike along groomed, easy to see and traverse, trails. Today was an exceptional day as I saw two beavers at the river along Shady Trail (photo attached). This is the first time I saw two beavers at the same time. I also spotted deer, numerous birds, a ring collared snake (the longest I've seen at about 14-18 inches) and for the seventh time in a row, a horned lizard at the Ghost Camp.
NOTES
Water, shade and dry toilets available in the campgrounds near Bell's Trailhead.
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station at Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Campground.
Water, shade, and an info kiosk available at the DInosaur Tracks Viewing Area. IMPORTANT - potable water is now available - the faucet has been repaired and works fine.
South Shore - Playground Parking Area to Burkett Park Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 7/14/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.00 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking Area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparal > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.8 miles
Temp started at 78, ended at 95. Sunny with high clouds and a slight SW breeze.
An easy hike along well groomed, easy to traverse trails. The drought is still here and has affected everything. No flowers were visible, few insects were out and the birds were not abundant. I spotted a pair of cottontails, a lone Jack Rabbit, a pair of Mexican Ground Squirrels (photo attached) and some deer.
I discovered that a Horned Lizard's "horns" are pretty sharp! When I drove out of the park, I spotted a Horned Lizard on the road so I stopped to get him safely off the road. He ran under my car and I couldn't find him until I looked at the passenger side rear tire - he had wedged himself partly under it! I tried pulling him but he wouldn't move so when I went to grab his head, I discoverd his horns were sharp like a mesquite tree thorn. I eventually got him off the tire and carried him some distance away where he scampered safely into the brush.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at the Playground Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overloop Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 7/7/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.40 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosar Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Lower Big Hill Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road (to Ghost Camp ENE) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook 6.2 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail > River Bend Spur (N) > service road to Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp Trail (N) > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) >service road (NW) > Rocky Creek > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 4.2 miles
Temp started at 79, ended at 95. Sunny with an inconsistent and slight SW breeze.
Easy but hot, hike along familiar trails in a different pattern. Not much wildlife was spotted except for seeing two young bucks drinking at the river on Shady Trail. I also saw a Horned Lizard making this five hikes in a row when one was spotted - a new record! I also saw my "first for the year large snake" when I startled a greenish coachwhip on the Lower Ghost Camp Trail at the River Bend campground.
I also saw one Queen butterfly (photo attached) during the five hour hike. The drought is bad (O.C. Fisher is at 4.4% capacity) and all the plants, insects, reptiles and animals in the park, need rain and lots of it.
NOTES
Water and shade available in the campground near Bell's Trailhead.
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade, and an info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracking Viewing Area.
******* IMPORTANT ****** - as of June 23, 2022, there is a problem with water availability for humans, the horse trough has water and seems fine.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Camping Area.
Park Mid-Section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 7/1/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.90 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road (NW) > Cougar Overlook 5.8 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > serice road (SSW) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.1 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 95. Sunny with light SW breeze.
Easy hike along groomed and easy to traverse trails. Saw a large group of Turkey Vultures sitting in the trees, a few Mockingbirds and a few Ash Throated Flycatchers. I saw Horned Lizards at two different locations which is very good! On my last three or four hikes, I've spotted Horned Lizards which is definitely a good thing. 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.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 6/23/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.40 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Traihead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend > service road (NW) > Cougar Overlook 6.0 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail > River Bend (N) > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 3.4 miles
Temps started at 76 and ended at 90. Sunny with light steady SW breeze.
Easy hike along groomed and easy to traverse trails. Gnats were thick when the breeze died down or I went to a low spot with no breeze. Not many birds were out and only a few deer were seen. There is some water in the river and I saw a lone Blue Heron (photo attached) looking for a meal - good luck!
Not much else to report
NOTES
Water and shade available at the campground by Bell's Trailhead. Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station at Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade, info kiosk available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
South Shore - Isabel Harte to Burkett Park Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 6/19/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 5.20 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Isabel Harte Day Use Area > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 2.5 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > park road (WSW) > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > service road (NE) > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Isabel Harte 2.7 miles
Temp started at 77, ended at 89. Sunny with a steady SW breeze.
Easy hike along familiar and easy to traverse trails. Spotted not one but two Horned Toads and one of them was in the process of molting which I had never seen before! He looked strange with all his skin sloughing off but moved quickly and was in no obvious discomfort (photo attached).
I saw two tarantulas at different locations and of course a Tarantula Hawk but at a different place. There are still some bee bushes in bloom and at one location, there were lots of small white butterflies all over the bushes. Otherwise, not many animals or birds were spotted.
All in all a good hike PLUS this hike puts me at #1 for total miles hiked in Texas!
NOTES
Shade at campsites and water at a central location are available at Isabel Harte.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Park Mid-Section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 6/15/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.90 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett park > Burkett Trail > potts Creek > Playground by-pass > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Overlook 4.7 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > service road (WNW) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.2 miles
Temp started at 78, ended at 88. Sunny with high clouds and consistently strong & gusty SW winds.
An easy hike along easy to see trails. Some of the trails have become overgrown with vegetation, particularly Playground Trail north of Bell's Point as well as significant portions of Flintstone Trail. The trails can be seen but caution is advised due to snakes and other park residents who may be stepped on in the high grass.
Although the strong winds kept many birds down low another factor may have been the numerous Mississippi kites flying around! I counted a cluster of 15 kites at one point while on Flintstone Trail near 5 Points Junction.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to River Bend Campground Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 6/12/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 5.40 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Badlands Trail > park road 3.8 miles
Leg 2 - Park road (NE) > River Bend Campground > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 1.6 miles
Temp was 78 at start, 90 at end. Sunny with steady SW wind 10-20mph.
Easy hike along dry and somewhat bushy trails. Mesquites are growing and their branches are hanging in the trail - caution is advised for bikers and equestrians! Not much bird activity, no animals spotted but we saw quite a few lizards. All in all an uneventful, warm but pleasant hike.
NOTES
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available at nearby campground.
Water, shade and info kiosk availabe at DInosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 6/11/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.80 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett park 3.8 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area 3.0 miles
Temp started at 78, ended at 95. Sunny with steady SW breeze. Light humidity.
All trails were dry and easy to traverse. There was some vegetation on portions of various trails but nothing that blocked your view of where you would place your foot. Spotted this year's first snake - an 18 inch garter snake (?) - light green/grey that popped his head out of a hole, saw me and slithered out of sight. Unfortunately we also saw a tarantula being dragged by a wasp into a hole where the spider would become food for the wasp's young - BRUTAL!
Lots of folks on the trails and most importantly the fishing pond was filled and overflowing! How long it will remain so - unknown.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parkign area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Park Mid-section Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 6/1/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.30 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster Trail > (West) Potts Creek Trail > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.0 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > service road (ENE) > service road (SW) > Burkett Trail > Burkett park 2.3 miles
Temp started at 78, ended at 88. Patly cloudy, humid with a light SW breeze.
An easy hike along dry and familiar trails. Quite a few people were out today! The scent of vanilla was subtle but pervasive for the entire hike because the bee bush is starting to bloom. Not much happened regarding animals or birds with one exception - at the end of the hike, along Burkett Trail, a group of Mississippi Kites were flying nearby. One stood watch at the top of a dead tree and the others were flying in lazy circles but would burst into aerial acrobatics before resuming their lazy circles in the air.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk are available at 5 Points Junction.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadunner Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 5/29/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.10 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Horny Toad Trailhead > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snak > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.4 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temps started at 78 and ended at 90. Sunny, with a few clouds. A strong and consistent SW wind (15-20mph).
What a difference a few days makes! I was on the trail three days ago and the trails were damp to muddy - today, they were all bone dry. More people than I normally encounter but there were no problems from anyone so while not the solitude I usually have, it was not bad.
There are more individual cactus blooms out but no clusters or bunches that I could find. Some of the other wildflowers have disappeared as well. The gnats that were so prevalent on my last hike were absent today - probably due to the dry conditions and strong winds. There were some insects out and they were enjoying what flowers and cactus blooms there were.
Only saw two white tail deer and no other animals. Birds were pretty scare as well although I observed a hawk being chased by a Kingbird for quite a distance. Later, another hawk on Red Dam Loop keep following me which gave me the chance to get some good photos (one is attached). I think he felt I would scare up a meal and I believe I almost did. As I approached a dead mesquite tree the hawk lifted and landed on a branch and was trying to get something but didn't appear to be successful. I assume it was a spiny lizard or some other small reptile.
I spotted quite a few lizards on the trail today but got no photos. All in all it was a warm but windy hike that was very nice.
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.
Water and shade available at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop. There are three toilets and two of them have showers and info kiosks near Roadrunner Loop.
Park Mid-Section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 5/26/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.40 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Overlook 5.1 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > service road (WSW) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.3 miles
Temp started at 54, ended at 85. Damp at first but then clear and sunny with a light westerly breeze.
A leisurely hike along damp to muddy trails which eventually dried out as the day passed. Heavy rain fell for brief periods of time a few days earlier and although it was brief, the vegetation appreciated the water. More flowers are out as are the gnats. VERY heavy swarms of gnats were along the damp trails and I had to wipe many of them off my sweatshirt, arms and face as I hiked through the clouds. Fortunately, they eventually disappeared as the day warmed up and even though they were numerous, they seemed intent on breeding and not bothering to clog up my eyes, ears and nose.
Millipedes and red bugs are also making an appearance. The agarita bushes have red berries on them and some of the prickly pear cactus blossoms are almost ready to open.
I saw my first for the year Grey Fox as well as a pair of turkeys. A small family of javelinas were spotted and photographed as well.
Unfortunately, a skunk had gotten into a stock tank filled with water and when it couldn't get out, had drowned. I used a stick to remove his body - sad. Too bad they don't have some type of wildlife ladder that could be put in the tanks to prevent this.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadrunner Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 5/22/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.40 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.4 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.8 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Temp started at 58, ended at 75. Overcast w/strong Northerly winds (10-20mph). Near end of hike winds lightened and sun came out briefly.
An unusual cold front moved into the area last night; the temperature and winds reflected the front was still moving in. Not many birds out except for an occassional Kingbird (photo attached). One cottontail rabbit was spotted at the beginning of the hike, otherwise, there were no animals spotted until the end when I saw a single White tail deer. It was a fairly dull hike to be honest but the trails were easy to see and traverse and any hike is better than no hike.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at the Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Water and shade are available at the numerous campsites along the Roadrunner Loop. There are three full toilets and info kiosks at various point near Roadrunner Loop.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 5/15/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.5 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Temp started at 70, ended at 80. Sunny with a light SW breeze.
A short hike along very familiar trails. All trails are dry and easy to traverse but the vegetation is growing. No wildlife, except for a lone Cottontail Rabbit was seen. In addition, not many birds were out either. A few more cactus are showing flowers and the insects are finding them (photo attached). Some lizards were seen on the Winding Snake and Chaparral trails but they scampered off as soon as I spotted them.
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.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 5/5/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.40 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Point Junction > River Bend > service road (N) > Cougar Overlook 5.5 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (S) > Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 4.9 miles
Temp started at 70, ended at 82. Overcast at first but became sunny and cloudless at Cougar Overlook. Steady 5-10mph NW breeze.
A longer hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. Because of the reent humidity in the air, the vegetation is growing and a few of the trails are becoming "shaggy". Caution is advised due to the potential of stepping on a small reptile or a rattler. Lizards are out but no snakes so far. I saw a group of 15-20 javalinas including small ones, on Roller Coaster Trail as well as a few whitetail deer later on. Birds were singing and I'm seeing more Kingbirds than before. Mockers, various sparrows as well as Turkey Vultures were also spotted.
Wildflowers are more common and I saw Mexican hats, Indian Blankets and other coloful but unknown to me, flowers. Of note was the first cactus flower of the season (photo attached). After spotting the first I saw two smaller flowers on a different plant at a different part of the park. Rain would be welcome but none is in the forseeable future - not good.
Side note - my pair of Teva hiking sandals came apart near Cougar Overlook but held up enough to complete my hike. This pair lasted for about 2 seasons - maybe 300-400 miles.
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 available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade and info kiosk availabe at Bell's Point.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 4/29/2022
[View Log Page]
Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.30 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad trailhead > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.9 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.4 miles
Temp started at 72, ended at 82. Cloudy then mostly sunny. Steady SW winds from 10-15mph w/higher gusts.
A pleasant hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. The park is greening up with the mesquite trees lime green leaves filled with feathery fronds. A few of the Lace cactus have buds growing but no flowers yet. Lots of lizards were seen as were numerous birds - Spring is here and they are singing for mates (photo attached). I saw two cottontail rabbits and a few deer but no other animals. Of note - there were about 20 Turkey Vultures riding the winds and coming quite low to look for food but I never saw any land so no luck there.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.