South Shore - Playground to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/29/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.80 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral (N) > Winding Snake> Burkett Park 3.1 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.7 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temps started at 65, ended at 83. Overcast for Legs 1 & 2, then mostly sunny for Leg 3. Light and variable 0-5mph SW breeze.
Trails ran the gamut from dry to damp to muddy to rocky to smooth with a few portions of the trail, completely submerged in ankle deep rain runoff water.
Quite a few javelinas were present today (photo attached). One small family group had an adult member act in a very protective manner when he/she spotted me. It slowly walked toward me with hair bristled. I spoke calmly and stood my ground as the javelina stopped about 10 yards away. While it was watching me, a smaller javelina was able to cross the road and get to safety. At that point the defender calmly walked away from me, hair bristled upright. Later I saw other javelinas along other portions of the trail stand calmly and watched me saunter by.
I also saw the first of the year Jack Rabbits as well as more Cottontails. Birds were numerous and the gnats are becoming more noticeable. A lot of the wildflowers and cactus blossoms are gone although there are still plenty of Texas Thistles and Mexican Hats.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair staiton are available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Water and shade are available at the campsites along Roadrunner Loop and there are three separate stations where water, shade, ino kiosk and toilets are available.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/23/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Playgrounnd parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.7 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 85. Sunny with fairly stead 10mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along recently groomed trails that are dry, easy to see and traverse. After parking, I saw this grey fox watching me from the cabins (photo attached). When I tried to get closer for a better photo, he decided it was time to leave and disappeared. Further down Tasajilla Flats I rounded a curve and was met by a skunk's rear end with the tail in the air! I quickly got past him and he went the other way - no chemical attack on his part for which I was grateful.
Otherwise, the usual birds were flying about, a few lizards were spotetd and surprisingly the cactus blooms seemed to be tappering off. There weren't as many blooms open or present on the prickly pear cactus as there were on my last hike in the park mid-section. Wildflowers also seem to be disappearing except for the Texas Thistle which is thriving in many different places.
All in all, a good short hike that helped break in a new pair of Teva hiking sandals.
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.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/18/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.00 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.2 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 2.3 Miles
Leg 3 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (S) > Playground bypass > Potts Creek (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.5 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 91. Overcast and humid with steady 10-20mph SW winds.
A warm and humid hike along dry trails that are overgrown in numerous places with vegetation hanging over the trail. Caution is advised due to snakes and other park residents that could be underfoot!
Today I saw the year's first Grey Fox on West Potts Creek Trail. I saw him but by the time I had the camera up to take his photo, he was gone. About two minutes later I saw a very large and regal feral cat (photo attached) resting. I suspect if the fox saw the cat he would leave it alone, the cat was that large! Other sightings today were the year's first snake, a non-poisonous one, and both male and female Painted Buntings.
Another cautionary note - along Burkett Trail near the base of Highland Ridge there are two LARGE areas of ground dwelling bees on and very near the trail itself. I reported this to park personnel but until the bees leave or the park people somehow move them, be very cautious if you take this popular trail.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk are available at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade and info kiosk are availabe at Bell's Point.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/11/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.80 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.5 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temp started at 49, ended at 74. Sunny, steady NW winds at 5-10mph.
Easy hike along dry to dew-dampened trails. Some parts are overgrown with vegetation but they are still easy to traverse. Numerous cottontail rabbits and deer were out as were Nighthawks and the usual suspects of Mockingbirds, Scissortails and various kinds of Sparrows.
Lots of wildflowers and cactus blossoms are in bloom giving color to an otherwise drab scenery.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parkng rea.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burtkett Park.
Water and shade are available at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop. There are three toilets and info kiosks along the Loop as well.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook and Back
San Angelo State Park
- 4/25/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.30 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook 6.0 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javalina > Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp (N) > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 3.3 miles
Temps started at 64, ended at 76. Overcast with a 0-5mph SW breeze. Humid.
Easy hike along dry or damp or muddy trails. Recent rains have helped produce an abundance of wildflowers throughout the park! The mesquite trees are full of lime green leaves and are producing golden fronds. Bee Bush is also blooming and perfume the air with their fragrance.
Today I saw the first Horned Lizard, i.e., "Horned Toad" of the year as well as the first sighting of a pair of Lark Buntings (photo attached). Numerous lizards were out as was a single fairly large feral hog that I inadvertently spooked while hiking. Fortunately, he ran away from me rather than toward me.
NOTES -
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available at nearby campsites.
Water, shade and 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 available at River Bend Campground.