Route - Park at the restrooms by the North Shore entrance then exit the park on foot and cross FM2288.  You will see a swinging gate that grants access to the park.  Round trip mileage is 6 miles.

Temps in the low 70's, partly cloudy then sunny, with fairly strong N by NW winds.

Once or twice a year, I hike this route which does not follow a named trail; instead, the trail is an old dirt road which fades into a single dirt trail as you walk deeper into the park.  There are numerous cow/animal trails crisscrossing the entire section of the park, nonetheless, the trail can be found if you look for it.  The trail ends at the fence line of a house on private property.  I recommend you come back the same way although you can follow another trail that runs parallel to the original trail for about 1/2 mile before you have to cut back to the original trail.

The main trail runs roughly parallel to the North Concho River - this river feeds into O.C. Fisher Reservoir located in the main section of the park.  It is recommended you stay on the North side of the river since private property runs along the river on the South side.  Additionally, the north side also has more trees and vegetation than the south side. Depending on the time of year, the vegetation may be thicker and higher than you'd expect. There are usually numerous members of the park's longhorn herd in the area so be aware of them - they'll leave you alone if you leave them alone.

As to the hike itself - this is one of the better hikes at the park to see birds you don't normally see elsewhere in the park due to the proximity of the river, the amount of shade trees and large swatches of grass and flowers.  Being west Texas, the river may or may not have water in it (it has quite a bit of water at the moment) which will affect the number and variety of birds you'll see. 

Ducks, Great Blue Herons, a Crested Caracara, Kingbirds, Vermillion Flycatchers, Western Bluebirds as well as sparrows, house finches and other birds were seen.  No animals besides the longhorn cattle were spotted and I saw my first reptile of the year - a lizard. 

The trail was overgrown with vegetation but fairly easy to hike on.  I made numerous forays along animal trails to the river as I looked for birds.  Some of these trails led to overlooks of the river, others took me to the river itself.  Caution is advised because these trails are NOT MAINTAINED and, some that go to the river, are fairly steep and slippery with loose dirt.

NOTES -

Before going on the hike, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND you talk to park personnel to ensure the area is open to hiking since it is sometimes closed due to hunting when other portions of the park are still open.  Additionally, it doesn't hurt to let them know you plan to be there hiking.

I recommend you look at this portion of the park using Google Earth (imagery is listed as 2019).  If the imagery date is correct, the photos were taken in January or February since the trail is easily seen and not obscured by vegetation.

Water, info kiosk and toilets available at the North Shore entrance (where you should park).  THERE IS NO WATER OR SANITARY FACILITIES AVAILABLE ON THE ROUTE.  Make sure you take plenty of water and bring your own paper in case "nature calls".

Out     Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction    4.0 miles

Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > service road (NNE) > service road (SSE) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park     2.5 miles

Temps started in low 60's, ended in low 70's.  Slight overcast with somewhat steady breeze.

An easy hike along dry and easy to see trails.  The yellow flowers are still present but the blue/purple flowers are multiplying in number.  There was a faint perfume to the air but since the agaritas have lost their blooms, the scent is faint.  In the near future, Bee Brush will have it's tiny, white vanilla scented flowers blooming.

Saw a large Javalina run across the trail about 30 yards in front of me - I readied the camera to capture a photo of the "family" but no family appeared.  Numerous birds were singing, the trails were nice and the weather was great - a very nice hike!

NOTES

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

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

Out      Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S 50 meters) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > service road (100 meters) > Badlands Trail > River Bend Trail > Lower Ghost Camp trail > River Bend Ghost Camp    5.3 miles

Return  River Bend Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp trail > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead   1.8 miles

Temp started at 52, ended at 62.  Sunny with strong NNW winds at 10-15 mph.

A shorter than usual, easy hike along trails that were 90% dry and 10% damp.  Saw more people on the trails so I assume it was due to Spring Break.  Singing birds were heard and seen but I saw no wild life or reptiles, i.e. rattlesnakes.  Earlier this week, strong winds blew through the area and because of this, I found numerous, already dead, mesquite branches laying all over the trails.  There is quite a bit of water in the Concho River and it's slowly flowing into the O.C.Fisher Reservoir.  As usual, a bag of trash was collected while I hiked.  Not much else to report.

NOTES

Water available at campsites near Bell's Trailhead.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area. 

    IMPORTANT - NO WATER available today.  I reported it and the camp host said he'd check the faucet.  Strongly advise anyone to take their own water.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Ghost Camp. 

    CAUTION - watch for snakes and insects (wasps) before using the dry toilets.  TP may not be available.

Out      Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park      3.9 miles

Return  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area      3.7 miles

Temps started at 70, ended at 83, windy then strong winds, sunny.

Gorgeous day for a hike !  The strong winds kept most birds either out of the air entirely or those that flew, did so in short, low flights.  No animals were spotted.  More agarita bushes are scenting the air with their small, yellow flowers!

Trails were groomed, dry and easy to traverse with the notable exception of Red Dam Loop.  About a quarter mile in, the trail became damp then wet with standing water.  There are ways around the water but your shoes will still get wet.  Once you get on the dam itself, the trail is dry again and stays so until you go further then you are, once again, in muddy terrain.  The mud ends after a short time and you're back on dry trails.  The trail is easy to do but you can count on getting your shoes somewhat wet and muddy.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE -  For some reason the water spigot at Burkett park was having issues as if there was air in the pipes.  Water pressure was VERY inconsistent and when water came out, it was very "chalky" looking and my hiking partner suggested "they" might be cleaning the pipes.  In any event, I didn't drink the water but washed my hands and suffered no ill effects.

Out      Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Armadillo (NE) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction     3.7 miles

Return  5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (SW) > West Potts Creek > Roller COaster > Lanky Lackey (10 meters) > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park     4.5 miles

Started with overcast skies and temp at 27; ended with partly cloudy skies and temp at 45.  Light wind.

A gloomy and cold start for today's hike; ice coated the water trough at Burkett Park. Trails were dry, easy to see and traverse. Although I saw a few of the park's longhorns grazing, there were no birds or other wildlife observed for the first half of the hike and only a few birds were seen while on the return leg.    Nothing really happened on the hike - it was colder than normal but the hike was very doable!

NOTES

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

Water and shade available at Bell's Point.

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

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

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area    4.1 miles

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

Temp started at 44, ended at 59.  Overcast then sunny.  Steady 10-15 mph SW wind.

First hike of 2019 and first hike in new Columbia hiking boots.  Beginning mileage = 2324.5 miles with 295 logged entries.

An overcast, windy, cold day on wet and muddy trails.  The weather conditions kept the wildlife hidden with the exception of a few birds.  Most stayed low to the ground but there were two American Kestrels and two Loggerhead Shrikes hunting.  All the other birds stayed in place or made short flights, low to the ground. 

Trails are easy to see and traverse and the park personnel have groomed the Roadrunner Loop again.  It has been leveled and widened making it an easy hike for anyone.  A bag of trash was picked up but nothing else to report. 

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, shade and toilets available at the mid-point of Roadrunner Loop.

Water and shade available at various campsites along the edges of Roadrunner Loop.

IMPORTANT - trail maps have been updated BUT the maps in the info kiosks have not.  Trust the paper trail map you get at the park entrance.

Route   Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area

Temp in the mid-50's, overcast then partly cloudy, light wind.

A short hike around the Loop.  The trail had been leveled/graded fairly recently so the ground was relatively soft but rocks of various sizes were laying on the trail - very easy to twist an ankle if you aren't careful!

Some birds were out but nothing unusual.  Just a short hike with friends on Christmas!

NOTES

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

Water, shade and toilets at a few spots alongside the trail.

Out      Playground parking area > Tasajila Flats > Park Entrance and return > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park       5.5 miles

Return  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop (.25 mile and return) > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area      3.4 miles

Temp started at 51 and ended at 59.  Overcast and gloomy with a steady 10 mph westerly wind.

Trails were very damp or wet and in the case of Red Dam Loop, too wet to traverse.  Vegetation has died off so the trails were easy to see.  Lots of White Crowned Sparrows and other small ground hugging birds were out.  I also saw four American Kestrels and some type of hawk looking for a meal.  I watched one Kestrel almost catch a small bird as I was returning on the Chaparral Trail.  The bird made a quick turn and the Kestrel missed his grab and went hungry a little longer.

My first detour involved hiking along the park entrance and picking up trash.  Since I didn't bring my camera, I decided to collect trash; paper, plastic bags, fast food wrappers and a half dozen empty beer cans had been tossed along the road leading to the park - very unsightly!  Hopefully, it will stay clean but I have my doubts.

The second detour was at Red Dam Loop.   I started along the trail heading East and was able to hike about a quarter mile before I came to a fairly wide and ankle deep, stream. Based on knowledge of the trail and past experiences, I assumed there would be at least two more areas of deep water on Red Dam Loop and figured I'd spend lots of time cleaning my boots by continuing.  I decided to retrace my steps back to Chaparral and continue to Playground which I did.  I'd advise anyone reading this to avoid Red Dam Loop for the foreseeable future.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground Parking Area.

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

IMPORTANT - The trail maps have been updated HOWEVER the trail maps at the info kiosk have not.  Trust the paper trail maps.

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

Leg 2 -   Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > East Potts Creek > Armadillo Trail (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Lanky Lackey (20 m) > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park    3.9 miles

Leg 3 -   Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area     3.3 miles

Temp started at 43, ended at 70.  Overcast at first but cleared to sunny with high clouds.  Light then steady breeze.

Due to park closure for hunting and Thanksgiving events, I hadn't been to the park for some time.  Today there were quite a few people out hiking, biking and jogging on the trails, perhaps trying to exercise away that second, or third, piece of pie they had a few days ago.

Trails were for the most part, dry and easy to traverse.  One notable exception was the northern end of West Potts Creek trail.  Since Potts Creek has water in it and the trail crosses the creek bed, the trail itself has a section that is very muddy.  Adding to the mud, today's weather was warm so the mosquitoes were out - I have a dozen bites already swelling up. 

The other exception was on Roller Coaster trail.  There are significant portions of the southern section of the trail with standing water and mud - VERY surprising since we've had no rain yet the water trickles down from the hill above.  No idea where the source is but this is West Texas and all water is welcome.

I saw a Kestrel and a couple of Eastern Bluebirds which is unusual; especially seeing the Bluebird.  The last Bluebird I saw was at the North Shore portion of the park; to the best of my recollection, this is the first time I've seen this bird in the South Shore section (photo attached).  There were some butterflies still fluttering around and quite a few low flying/ground hugging birds that would pop up, fly about five or six feet, then disappear in the scrub.  A temperature drop is expected tonight that will last for three days then a gradual warm up before turning cold once again.  I hope all the park residents have a place to stay lined up for this changing weather.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground Parking Area.

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

IMPORTANT - The park trails map has been updated but the maps in the info kiosk have not.  Trust the park map EXCEPT in regard to Armadillo Trail; the new park map does NOT include it.  You will see trail markers (poles) with "Armadillo" painted on them at the junctions of Armadillo and East Potts Creek and at Armadillo and West Potts Creek. 

Out     Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park     4.2 miles

Return Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parkign area                       3.2 miles

Temp started in low 50's, ended in low 70's.  Sunny with clouds, light breeze.

Leisurely hike along wet and muddy trails.  It rained two days ago and the saturated ground is still very wet.  LOTS of butterflies out today.  Bee brush is blooming as are some wild flowers.  Quite a few birds out as well although nothing unusual.  A very pleasant hike!

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.

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

IMPORTANT - Park trail maps have been updated and do NOT match the map in the info kiosks - trust the park map.

Out      Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (South - it's a service road) > North Scenic Loop > South Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > service road (W 100 yards) > River Bend Trail (go straight 200 yards) > Javalina > Cougar Lookout        3.9 miles

Return  Cougar Lookout > service road (W) > River Bend (NW) > Badlands > service road (NE 30 yards) > North Slick Rock > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (N) > service road (NW) > Bell's Trailhead    6.5 miles

Temps started in low 50's, ended in mid-60's.  Cloudy with intermittent breeze from the South.

Wet, muddy, rough or rocky - take your pick and one or more of those descriptions fit the trail conditions on today's hike.  We had a week of welcome rain which brought a much needed boost to the lakes and reservoirs; O.C. Fisher (at the park) went from 7.9% to 14.3 % - not much of a difference to many but a BIG improvement to the lake.  The North Concho River, which feeds the lake, for the longest time was dry in many places and was not flowing but today, it is flowing and adds even more water to the lake.  

The rains have also helped the migrating Monarchs (I saw many individuals but no large groups) by causing the Bee Brush to bloom once more.  Lots of other butterflies were present as well, all feasting on the numerous small flowers present. I saw about 20-25 Whitetail deer during the hike and for the first time, an American Badger.  

I was walking along Javalina Trail on my way to Cougar Lookout and as I rounded a small bend, I saw a badger about 20 yards in front of me.  I began to raise my camera and as I did, he ducked into a patch of prickly pear.  I waited a minute to see if he'd come back out but he didn't.  I walked slowly past and stopped about 20-30 yards away and waited.  After another minute, the badger cautiously lifted his head up and peered at me while he remained in the midst of the prickly pear.  After a few seconds, he turned and disappeared in the brush - all I saw was the top portion of his body as he scurried away.  The photo I took of him watching me from the brush wasn't worth much and I discarded it.  Oh well, next time I'll get a good photo.

NOTES

Water available at Bell's Trailhead in the camping area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.  

Shade, info kiosk and bicycle repair station available at Cougar Lookout.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracking Viewing Area.

SPECIAL NOTE - On the return leg, when I came down the service road from the Badlands Trail, there is a junction of trails at the base of the hill.  The iron post trail signage says "North Slick Rock" BUT when you reach the end of the trail, there is a wooden sign that says the trail you just traversed is "Dinosaur Trail".  This can be misleading.

ALSO - The park has updated their paper maps but have not yet updated the maps in the info kiosks.

ROUTE   Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > park road to Isabel Harte > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area       5.0 miles

Temps in lower 70's, sunny and a steady breeze.

Pleasant hike on a gorgeous day.  Due to an upcoming race at the park, some of the trails have been groomed and some have not.  The long, straight stretch of Nature Loop and all of Red Dam Loop haven't been groomed and need to be.  Otherwise, the trails are easy to see and somewhat easy to traverse - caution is always advised due to loose rocks/soil on the trails.

A couple of things of interest - saw a large gathering of migrating seagulls swirling in the air about O.C. Fisher (photo attached) and watched a Tarantula Hawk fly and drag a paralyzed tarantula along the park road going to Isabel Harte.  It left the tarantula in the road when we approached; we verified it was a paralyzed tarantula and walked away.  We watched and eventually, the Tarantula Hawk returned to it's prey.  Nothing we could do to help the tarantula since it was already paralyzed and would eventually die reagrdless if the hunter returned or not.  Life isn't always fair or pretty.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.

IMPORTANT - As mentioned in earlier logs, the park's maps have been updated BUT they don't match all the trail signage or the maps in the info kiosk.  Notable exclusion is the absence of "Armadillo Trail" on the new maps but the trail signage still lists it.  Pay attention to where you're at and trust the park map.