South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadunner Loop

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.