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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Leg 1 -  Chaparral Pavillion > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park      2.7 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > service road (NE) > Chaparral Pavillion   3.2 miles

Temp started in low 60's, ended in mid-70's.  Overcast then sunny with a steady breeze.

The park is greening up!  It was as if a switch had been turned on from a week ago - the mesquites are now a lime green and the grass is showing, more flowers have appeared and some of the bushes have small flowers on them.  The birds have become more numerous with Scissortails and Kingbirds making an appearance.  No animals seen besides a few whitetail deer. 

Even though the area is still in a drought condition, it's heartening to see the vegetation and wildlife making an appearance.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosks and toilets available at the campgrounds near the Chaparral Pavillion.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Leg 1 -  Isabel Harte > Winding Snake> Burkett Park   1.7 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > park road (NE) > Isabel Harte  1.8 miles

Temp in mid-60's, mostly sunny, steady breeze.

A simple, relaxing hike along familiar trails.  More birds are out but the only ones spotted were Mockers, red-winged blackbirds, cowbirds, white crowned sparrows and turkey vultures.  A lone javalina was seen near Burkett Park - he saw us and wandered by without concern.

NOTES

Shade available at campsites at Isabel Harte.  Water at a central location.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Leg 1 -  Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek  > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction      4.1 miles

Leg 2 -  5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > service road (ENE) > service road (SSW) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park     2. 0 miles

Leg 3 -  service road > Tasajilla Flats Trail (final section) and back > service road    1.0 miles

Temp started at 40, ended at 60.  Sunny with a steady 5-10mph breeze from the NE.

Easy hike along damp to slightly muddy trails due to a recent rain two nights ago.  A few agarita bushes have yellow blooms but there is no scent yet.  Small groups of three or four deer were spotted and some birds were seen as well - mostly White Crowned Sparrows.  The recent rain has also kick started the grass to grow and green sprouts have appeared in the burned areas.

Initially it was cold but once the sun appeared the temperature warmed rapidly which made this a very relaxing hike.

NOTES

Water, shade info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Water, shade, and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.