San Angelo State Park

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park       3.0 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla FLats > Playground parking area   3.7 miles

Temps started at 70, ended at 77. Overcast then partly cloudy and humid with steady 5-10mph SW breeze.

Shortened hike along wet to muddy trails.  I planned to do a longer hike but with the trail being as muddy and slippery as it was, decided to forego a longer hike and settled for a shorter one.  Deer, cottontail rabbits, a Roadrunner as well as the return of The King (photo attached) were spotted.  Other birds were out singing for mates but overall it was a case of "I hear the birds but they are staying too low to photograph."  One exception - after flushing out numerous coveys of quail while hiking, I finally spotted one quail running along the ground.  Also, at Isabel Harte Day Use Area, there appear to be a pair or even two pairs of Killdeer that are now park residents.  I'd like to see some hatchlings but I'll have to wait a bit to do so.

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.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park   4.0 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral >Playground parking area    2.8 miles

Leg 3 -  Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area    3.1 miles

Temps started at 69, ended at 84.  Sunny with a steady Southerly 10 mph breeze.  Slight humidity.

Mileage based on prior hike - no pedometer today!

Easy hike along familiar trails.  Quite a few deer were out including a younger one or two.  Birds were singing for mates and a few high flying pairs of cormoronts and Great Blue Herons were heading North.  Not much to see except another sign Spring has arrived - the bee brush(bush) has started to bloom on some of the bushes along Tasajilla Flats and Roadrunner Trails (photo attached).  The faint scent of vanilla combined with the scent of the agarita blooms on nearby plants was a pleasure to enjoy.

SPECIAL INFO -  today was the first time in a few years I had a rattlesnake encounter.  It happened on the last mile of Roadrunner loop near the gatehouse.  I was hiking back to Playground when I heard a "buzzing" sound coming from the left.  My first thought was to look at the nearby mesquite for a cicada and wondered why it was out so early.  The buzzing increased and I quickly realized it was a rattler but I didn't see him.  I moved as far to the right as possible and hurriedly walk away until the noise abatted.  Curious, I slowly walked back and as I did the ratttling increased so I stopped and finally saw the 3-4 foot long snake - he was coiled into a strike pose about 10 feet away from me hidden in the shaded grass near the left edge of the trail.  I backed away again until he stopped rattling and watched as he uncoiled and slowly made his way to the mesquite tree.

I was near the gatehouse and reported it to the rangers.  They said mine was the third report this week - and today is Wednesday!  ALWAYS watch where you place your feet!!!

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parking area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park trailhead.  Be advised the water hose needs to be gripped near the base otherwise you will be sprayed as it has a crack in it.

Water and shade are available at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop.  There are three areas with water, shade, info kiosks and toilets available at various place along Roadrunner Loop.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking rarea > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park    3.2 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Horhy Toad > Talley Valley > Chaparral > Playground parking area    3.4 miles

Temp started at 69, ended at 84.  Sunny and clear with very STRONG winds (15-30mph).

Easy to see and traverse trails.  Deer, a lone javelina and some birds were out but most stayed in place because of the winds.  Right at the beginning of the hike, a loud Roadrunner was either squawking at me or looking for a mate (photo attached).  Other birds were singing but the majority stayed low and out of the wind.  The mesquites are leafing out with lime green fronds.  There will be an unusually cold weather front moving in tonight with temps expected to be 33 degrees - VERY different from the norm and not good for the just budding bushes and leafing trees.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground pakring area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.  IMPORTANT - as of this writing the water at Burkett Park is ON.

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction    3.5 miles

Leg 2 -  5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Potts Creek (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park   4.2 miles

Temp started at 49, ended at 73.  Sunny with intermitent SSW 5-10mph breeze.

Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails.  A few deer and a solitary javelina were spotted.  A few birds were singing for mates but otherwise there was no animal or bird activity.  A few agarita bushes are putting out a few flowers and the smell is very nice!  Nothing much to report otherwise except in the notes below.

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.

SPECIAL NOTE - as of today (Feb 27, 2026) water IS NOT AVAILABLE at any of the locations.  Unknown when it will become available.

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road to gate > service road to Cougar Overlook      6.3 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park   3.1 miles

Temp started at 54, ended at 77.  High overcast clouds.  Steady, Southerly breeze increasing to 10mph.

Easy hike along dry and easy to traverse trails.  Deer were spotted coming into the park but none were seen on the trails.  No other animals were seen either but there were a few Turkey Vultures and Black Buzzards spotted at Cougar Overlook.  A lone mountain biker passed me near Burkett Trail on my return leg but that was it - the park was very quiet and still.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.  (see below for note #1)

Water, shade, info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.  (see below for note #2).

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.

IMPORTANT INFO -

NOTE 1 - as of Feb 13, 2026 the park is working on Burkett Park to install a new picnic table area as well as a new water fountain.  The dry toilets are still available at this time but I don't know if the water is available.

NOTE 2 - as of Feb 13, 2026 the water at 5 Points Junction has been turned off. Bring plenty of your own water and/or check with park personnel to ensure there is water available.