South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park - Short Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 10/26/2023
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.0 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lankey Lackey > Nature Trail > Horny Toad > Playground parking area 3.4 miles
Temps started at 72, ended at 82. Sunny with some high overcast clouds, fairly steady SSW breeze of 5-10mph. Slightly humid.
Easy hike along damp to slightly muddy trails that were fairly easy to traverse. The park received almost three inches of rain earlier this week whcih was certainly welcome but we need a whole lot more. The trails were fairly easy to traverse and find places to step without becoming mired in mud. Of note was the fact that I saw a Killdeer for the first time this year! They are normally fairly common but these past few years, not so common. I aslo saw a Scissortail, a Loggerhead Shrike and surprisingly, a small ring collared snake. No photos taken.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at the Playground Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook - Figure 8 Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 10/20/2023
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.50 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Rocky Creek > Lower Big Hill > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground> Lower Ghost Camp > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook 3.6 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail> River Bend Trail > Badlands > Upper Big Hill > Rocky Creek > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 3.9 miles
Temps started at 52, ended at 86. Sunny with a very light (1-5 mph) wind.
A quiet, relaxing hike along recently groomed trails that are easy to see and traverse. The animal activity was limited to a few deer and later, to seeing the rear end of a feral hog as he grubbed along a river bank visible from Cougar Overlook (photo attached). Not many birds were out and the scenery was about the same as it was last month - no real difference and no color change even though Fall is officially here.
NOTES -
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade are available in the nearby campground.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Campground.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction - Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 10/12/2023
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.30 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Rollercoaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek (E) > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 4.6 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Potts Creek (E) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Temp started at 68, ended at 78. Sunny with 15-20mph SSW wind with stronger gusts.
Easy hike along dry, easy to traverse trails. Very little animal activity and virtually no bird activity either. The Monarch butterflies are migrating and the strong winds kept them in place as I only saw a few fluttering close to the ground. Nonetheless, it was pleasant to hike, feel the sun and wind on my skin and hear the strong winds blow.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk at Bell's Point.
Water, shade and info kiosk at 5 Points Junction.
South Shore - Playground to Burkett Park Loop + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/27/2023
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.10 Miles
Duration: 5 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 > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Temp started at 68, ended at 89. Light, 1-5mph SW breeze. Sunny w/a few clouds.
Easy hike along dry to morning dew damp trails that were easy to see and traverse. Some vegetation growing on the trails but only in spots and not insurmountable.
Not much to see today except for a few Scissortails and some micro-birds that were so fast and low in the brush I couldn't identify them. A few lizards and a few deer were the only other creatures out and about. One good thing was seeing and smelling the bee bush small white flowers blooming after the recent rainfall. The vanilla scent of the tiny flowers is always very pleasant to enjoy while hiking!
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.
Water and shade available at campsites parallel to Roadrunner Loop and there are three areas with water, info kiosk and toilets along Roadrunner Loop.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Big Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/20/2023
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.50 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road (ENE) > Cougar Overlook 6.3 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp Trail (N) > South Slick Rock > North Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 3.2 miles
Temps stared at 72, ended at 92. Sunny with steady 10-15mph SSW breeze.
Easy hike along dry to muddy in spots trails that were relatively easy to traverse. Vegetation has grown and in a few places, the vegetation is fairly high.
There were rains last week and it shows (photo attached)! The North Concho River has more water in it but it is NOT flowing so there are still dry patches between watering holes. The water near Shady Trail is definitely up from a few weeks ago and I watched a beaver glide along as well as numerous large fish and turtles. Other areas along the trails that had been dry now have watering holes and ponds. Unfortunately, they will probably dry up sooner than later as there is no rain predicted for the near future. Of note was the appearane of a VERY large feral hog soon after I started hiking on Dinosaur Trail. He saw me at a distance and took off running across the open field so although there was no danger to me, it was disheartening to see the hog in the first place.
NOTES -
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available in the nearby campground.
Water, shade and an info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at the River Bend Campground.