Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to Cougar Lookout Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 1/14/2018
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 11.00 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Out Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Playground > Bell's Point > Flintstone (N) > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Lookout 6.1 miles
Return Cougar Lookout > service road (SW) > River Bend (S) > 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett park 4.9 miles
Temps started at 40 and ended at 60, sunny, steady wind.
Park was closed for a few days for a controlled burn which happened to be in the section I hiked. The trails are easy to find and so are a few deer/cow trails that may throw you off if you don't know where you're going. Not all the vegetation has been burned so it's not a desolate vista.
Not many birds out and no animals were seen.
A long, good hike but nothing special happened today.
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.
Info kiosk, shade and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Lookout.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett Park
User:
MikeHikes - 1/7/2018
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.7 miles
Return Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Temps in the low 50's, overcast with a strong, steady wind.
First entry for 2018 - starting with 1946.5 miles hiked with 250 log entries for Texas and 1972.6 miles hiked with 256 log entries nation-wide.
Gray, gloomy day but still good for a hike at the park. Trails were dry and easy to traverse. There were some birds out but because of the strong winds, they tended to stay low in the scrub and trees. Besides the usual suspects, I saw a Verdin (photo attached), the first in a couple of years and in a part of the park I'd never encountered one before. Also saw a fairly large flock (25-30 birds) of Goldfinches hunting for seeds in the dried sunflower and thistle heads. A few white tail deer spotted rounded out the wildlife observed today.
Nothing else to report, so will close.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
South Shore Playground parking area to Isabel Harte and back
User:
MikeHikes - 12/15/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 4.40 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Route Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > park road (NE) to Isabel Harte > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 4.4 miles
Temps in the mid 30's, sunny with high clouds, somewhat steady light Northerly wind.
Trails were dry and easy to traverse, the deer were out as were the birds. I saw a large buck, then a smaller one and finally a very young buck with spikes. Then near the end of the hike, I saw three Goldfinches - the first in a few years!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Shade and dry toilets available at Isabel Harte Day Use Area.
South Shore Isabel Harte to Burkett Park Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 12/13/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 3.40 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Route Isabel Harte Day Use Area > Winding Snake > Burkett park > Lankey Lackey > park road (NE) to Isabel Harte Day Use Area 3.4 miles
Temps in the low 30's at start, low 40's at end. Sunny and slight breeze.
Easy hike along dry, clear trails. Saw quite a few deer and some birds. Frost was still on the ground so there wasn't a lot of activity until we got close to deer then they'd take off running. Also saw a single javalina in the dried lake bottom.
NOTES
Shade and dry toilets available at Isabel Harte.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
South Shore Tasajilla Flats Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 12/11/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 3.30 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Route Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Temps in the upper 30's to start and mid 40's at end, sunny, no wind.
A quiet, easy hike along some trails I'm rarely on. The trails were dry, in fairly good repair and easy to hike on. There were some birds out and, as a bonus, we saw a larger than expected number of deer running around; survivors of the recent hunts.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 12/10/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.80 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.9 miles
Temp start at 40, end at 73. Sunny with wispy upper level clouds, light wind.
A crowded day at the park! The warm weather brought out a lot of people today - mountain bikers, hikers and a few trail joggers. The trails are in good condition, dry and easy to traverse. Park personnel have groomed a few portions of the trails as well.
Usual birds were out - Mockingbirds, White Crowned Sparrows, Black Throated Sparrows, Pyrrhuloxia, and a few raptors. No animals except for part of the official Texas Longhorn herd which were in the hiking area near Armadillo Ridge. Not much to report other than it was a 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.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett Park
User:
MikeHikes - 11/26/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.30 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.7 miles
Return Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.6 miles
Temp start at 50, end at 70, sunny, light southerly wind.
Park was crowded with holiday guests and there were more people on the trails as well. Trails were in good condition except portions of Red Dam Loop are still overgrown but passable. Lots of birds out, especially White Crowned Sparrows; seeing more raptors as well. Also saw a feral cat on Winding Snake. He was unaware of my presence for a little while but when he saw me, he was off in an instant (photo attached).
All in all, it was a good hike!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, infor kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Park Mid-Section Burkett park to 5 Points Junction
User:
MikeHikes - 11/3/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.70 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Out Burkett park > Burkett Trail > East Potts Creek > Armadillo (ENE) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 3.9 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (E) > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail . Burkett park 3.8 miles
Temp start at 50, end at 78, sunny, few clouds, light breeze.
A hike with a purpose. Been reports of a white deer, not an albino, near Bell's Point. We looked and couldn't find a white deer but we did see this season's first Ruby Crowned Kinglet (photo attached).
The trails are well maintained with the exception of Playground trail and it is in need of grooming and in a few places, some rock or dirt to fill eroded areas. Still passable but ....
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point.
Water, shde and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
South Shore Playground parking area to Nature Loop figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 11/1/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 3.20 Miles
Duration: N/A
Route Playground parking area > Chaparral > Tally Valley > Horny Toad (N)> service road (W) > Tasajilla Flats (N) > Nature Loop (S) > Horny Toad (S) > Tasajilla Flats (E) > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Temp from 50-52, sunny, light breeze and mild.
Easy hike along some lesser used trails. Tally Valley and Horny Toad are in need of some maintenance, i.e., filling in rough spots with rock or dirt, but otherwise all trails in pretty good condition. Saw some deer, a Kestrel and numerous small birds. Very pleasant hike on a beautiful Fall-like morning!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett park
User:
MikeHikes - 10/27/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.60 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.5 miles
Return Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Temps in the low 40's, strong North wind, sunny.
A cold front moved through the area giving perfect weather for a hike! All the trails were easy to traverse; the vegetation is dying out and there were no snakes to look out for. Saw individual birds here and there although near the end of the hike, we saw a few small groups of whitetail deer.
Only picked up a few pieces of trash on the trails so it was a good hike.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Fitness Hike - Roadrunner Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 10/25/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 3.20 Miles
Duration: N/A
Route - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Working with a friend to help get him back into hiking.
Roadrunner Loop was created for runners and hikers only - no mountain bikes or equestrians are allowed. The trail is in an irregular oval shape, is mostly dirt and level - very easy to traverse.
It parallels the RV and tent camping areas. There are some mesquite trees along the trail but for a good portion, the trail is in the open and there is no shade which in the Summer, can be brutal.
Numerous park birds can be seen as can deer, turkeys and javalinas.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water and toilets are available at the mid-way point by the camping area.
Water and shade is available at numerous campsites on the opposite side of the road parallelling the trail.
Park Mid-Section Burkett park to 5 Points Junction Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 10/20/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.20 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Out Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo (ENE) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 4.6 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (ENE) > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett park 3.6 miles
Temps start at 69, rain and wind then changed to partly cloudy and warmer ending temp at 80.
Had some rain at the beginning of the hike but not enough to do much as far as making the trails muddy. The trails are in pretty good shape and show some recent grooming by park personnel. Although I was the only person on the trails today, not many birds were out until I reached 5 Points Junction, then they re-appeared. I saw all the usual suspects as well as a couple of Orange Crowned Warblers, which are winter visitors here, and a pretty large Great Horned Owl which flew by.
Not much happened otherwise but it was still a good hike.
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.
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 10/14/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.10 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo (E) > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett park 6.8 miles
Return Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Temp started at 72 ended at 85, some clouds then sunny, steady breeze, humid.
The trails are well maintained with the exception of Red Dam Loop. I would advise anyone who is not familiar with it, to avoid it until it can be groomed.
Not many birds out at first although they did make an appearance later in the hike. No animals or reptiles were seen. Quite a few Monarch Butterflies were out stopping to eat the blooming Bee Brush.
Quite a few hikers and mountain bikers were out as well. My allergies kicked in once again so although I enjoyed the hike, I'll be glad when the seasons make a change!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Lookout
User:
MikeHikes - 10/6/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Out Bell's Trailhead > service road (S) > Dinosaur > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur > Lower Big Hill > service road > Scenic Loop > service road > Badlands > River Bend > service road (ENE) > Cougar Lookout 6.3 miles
Return Cougar Lookout > Javalina > River Bend (N) >service road (ENE) > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp > South SLick Rock > service road (NW) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 3.4 miles
Temps start at 72 end at 88, humid and cloudy then sunny, steady breeze.
Been awhile since I hiked the North Shore trails! The trails have been groomed and are easy to traverse. There were quite a few doves, mockingbirds and scissortail flycatchers out as well as butterflies and a whole lot of GRASSHOPPERS!
There really wasn't much going on today, just a very slow hike with my allergies showing up in full force.
On a negative note - I was recently at Glacier National Park and hiked a few trails over a three day period. In three days, I only found one small scrap of paper on the trails. Today, as I hiked, I picked up a Walmart bag full of trash - broken glass, old cans, plastic water bottles, GU packets and plastic bag remnants. I know there were a lot more folks from all over the world who visited Glacier and were respectful enough to not trash up the park. I'm positive the trash I picked up today is from the "locals" who use the park and think nothing of tossing their garbage along the trails their using. Just doesn't make sense to me. Off my soapbox.
NOTES
ALWAYS check with park personnel either by calling or checking their fakebook page before planning to hike - hunting season is coming up and the park is closed to hikers/bikers on certain days.
Water is available in the campground/picnic area by Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Shade and info kiosk available at Cougar Lookout.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Ghost Camp. USE CAUTION IF USING THE TOILETS - snakes and bugs.
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 9/23/2017
[View Log Page]
Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.20 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > East Potts Creek > Armadillo (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Lanky Lackey (10 yds) > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett Park 3.6 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Temps start at 75 end at 90, sunny with some clouds, steady South breeze.
Quite a few people out today enjoying the park. The trails have been groomed fairly recently and with the vegetation dying out somewhat, the trails are easy to see as well as easy to traverse. Quite a few birds out at the beginning of my hike but as time progressed, there were fewer flying or singing. Near the end of the hike I photographed a wasp riding a grasshopper. Don't know if it was successful in stinging the grasshopper as they disappeared into some grasses and I didn't want to disturb them. Photo attached.
Interesting event as I was driving into the park, a large Grey Fox crossed the road in front of me at a run - he was carrying a mouse or some other small mammal in his mouth. Of course by the time I stopped the car and grabbed my camera, he was already hidden in the scrub. I've seen quite a few foxes this year at the park and take it as a sign their population is growing.
All else about the same at the park.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Park Mid-Section Burkett park to 5 Points Junction Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 9/2/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.20 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Out Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster> West Potts Creek > Armadillo (NW) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 4.5 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (E) > East Potts Creek > Burkett trail > Burkett park 3.7 miles
Temps start at 70 end at 85, slight then steady breeze, sunny, no clouds.
Labor Day weekend brought out a number of people to the park today. Everyone was polite and cheerful so all was well! Trails have been groomed in the recent past and were dry and easy to see.
Not much wildlife or birds out although I saw two white tail bucks at the start of the hike. A negative was the discovery of a dead adult racoon in the open area of 5 Points Junction. I didn't see any indication of a violent death so wonder if it died from old age or disease. I left it where it was and told park personnel as I was leaving the park in case they wanted to investigate.
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.
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 8/29/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.60 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett park 3.7 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.7 miles
Temps in the low 80's, sunny with a few clouds, steady light northerly breeze.
Been awhile since I hiked! Trails are dry and easy to traverse. Quite a few birds out - the park is beginning to see some of the winter migrating birds come through. Nothing unusual to report so will make this very brief.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 8/6/2017
[View Log Page]
Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.20 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.7 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > Burkett trail > East Potts Creek > Armadillo (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.7 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chapparal > Playground parking area 2.8 miles
Temps start at 78, end at 96. Sunny, a few wispy clouds, fairly steady West breeze.
Unusual number of people in the park today and on the trails; all mountain bikers except one equestrian. Trails are for the most part, groomed and easy to traverse. The major exception is on the northern portion of Tasajilla Flats where the grass has grown quite a bit.
No animals seen, even the birds were hunkered down. I did see a few lizards and one horned toad.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Lookout Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 7/30/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.30 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 40 minutes
Out Bell's Trailhead > service road (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur tracks viewing area > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > Dinosaur Trail > service road (WNW) 50m > Badlands > River Bend > service road (ENE) > Cougar Lookout 5.8 miles
Return Cougar Lookout > Javalina > service road (ENE) 50m > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > South Slick Rock > service road (N) > North Scenic Loop > service road (ENE) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 3.5 miles
Temps in the mid 70's at start and mid 90's at end, sunny with a few clouds, slight breeze.
Trails are dry and easy to traverse. Most are clear of vegetation but there are patches that need to be cleaned up. Not as many birds out today and I only saw a few lizards and one fawn. Don't know the reason for that. Very peaceful and very enjoyable hike but there just wasn't much going on so I'll close this report.
NOTES
Water and shade available at the campgrounds near Bell's Trailhead.
Shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur tracks viewing area. NO WATER AT THIS TIME!!!!
Shade,info kiosk and bicycle repair station available at Cougar Lookout.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Ghost Camp. CAUTION is advised if you use the dry toilets (snakes and insects).
Park Mid-section Burkett Park to Cougar Lookout Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 7/16/2017
[View Log Page]
Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Out Burkett park > Winding Snake (20 yds) > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo (ENE) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (NE) > Cougar Lookout 6.0 miles
Return Cougar Lookout > service road (WSW) > River Bend (SW) > 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (ENE) > East Potts Creek > Burkett trail > Burkett park 4.7 miles
Temps - 82 at start and 100 at end, sunny with intermittent light winds.
First hike in the park's mid-section since the severe wind storm of a month ago. Nothing on the trails now but easy to see where branches had fallen and were moved off. Trails are dry and easy to traverse. The North Concho River seen from Cougar Lookout still has water but the rocks in the river are easier to see which means the water level has dropped - not a good thing.
Saw two fawns at the start of the hike but no other animals; not many birds out either. Saw a few mountain bikers but that was it.
Not too long ago I found my first tick on my sock. Today I found my first tick stuck to my leg. I scrapped her off (checked and it was a female Lone Star tick), saw she still had her head so I terminated her. Squeezed blood out of the bite wound and cleaned it best I could. Will keep an eye on the wound but I'm not too concerned about infections right now. In all my years of hiking, I've been lucky in never having a tick bite but this year, my string of good luck regarding ticks has been broken.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets at Burkett park.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point.
Water, shade and info kiosk at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and bicycle repair station available at Cougar Lookout.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett park
User:
MikeHikes - 7/9/2017
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.90 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.6 miles
Return Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Temps in the low 70's to start and low 80's at end, sunny, slight, steady breeze.
The park had been closed due to a severe wind storm that hit the park on June 23rd. Park personnel have cleared the trails so they are passable but there are still some mesquite debris, i.e., sticks with thorns, on the trails. Mountain bikers need to be aware of this.
Due to the storm and the rain, some of the loose soil has washed off exposing more rocks on the sloped portion of the trails and a little more soil now covers the rocks at the bottom of the trails. Overall the trails are easy to traverse.
I see the same birds and a few animals but no snakes or lizards.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett Park and Roadrunner Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 6/12/2017
[View Log Page]
Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.00 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 10 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park 3.4 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > Winding Snake (20 yds) > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.6 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temps start at 75 end at 93, sunny with a few clouds, steady light Southerly breeze.
An earlier than usual hike this morning. Trails were dry and for the most part, easy to traverse. Red Dam Loop and parts of Winding Snake need grooming but were easy to hike on. Just be on the look out for snakes!
Numerous birds were seen. A few such as the Painted Bunting and Vermilion Flycatcher were, a few short years ago, rarely seen. Now, it's unusual if I don't see a few on my hikes. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is another bird I'm seeing more of as well.
While on Tasajilla Flats, I saw a grey fox but he saw me first so I only got a few photos as he took off (photo attached).
Cottontail rabbits, white tail deer and a few lizards were spotted as well. No snakes seen but I know they're out there.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Water and shade available at the campsites alongside Roadrunner Loop.
Toilets available at the half way point of Roadrunner Loop.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Outlook and Return
User:
MikeHikes - 6/8/2017
[View Log Page]
Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.20 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Out Bell's Trailhead > service road (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Outlook 5.7 miles
Return Cougar Outlook > Javalina > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp > South Slick Rock > service road (NE) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 3.5 miles
Temps in the low 70's to start and mid 80's at end. Very high, hazy clouds and a slight Southerly breeze.
Trails are dry, easy to see and traverse. At some point, park personnel had cut back the vast majority of the vegetation from the trails. The lack of rain and the heat is keeping new growth at bay.
Quite a few birds out - Painted Buntings, some kind of hawk and a Yellow Billed Cuckoo were spotted as well as all the usual suspects. Saw my first Horned Toad of the year (photo attached). What surprised me was he didn't move as I approached, I stepped over him before he moved off the trail to some nearby greenery.
Took my shoes off to clear out some of the arrowhead weeds and a tick crawled off my sock; easy to spot and remove. In all my time hiking the park, this is the first time I'd seen one and I hope it's the last. I know a person who had a very severe reaction to Lyme Disease and I want no part of that!
I was the only person on the trails, enjoying the sounds of the wind and the birds as I hiked; it was a very pleasant.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk are available at Bell's Trailhead - water is at the campsites
Shade and info kiosk available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area on Dinosaur Trail. Water is available for horses but NO WATER FOR HUMANS.
Shade, info kiosk and bicycle repair station available at Cougar Outlook.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Ghost Camp.
USE CAUTION due to insects and snakes in the toilet area.
THIS IS THE ONLY POTABLE WATER LOCATION on this hike.
Park Mid-Section Burkett park to Cougar Lookout
User:
MikeHikes - 6/3/2017
[View Log Page]
Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.50 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett park> Winding Snake (20 yds) > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (NW) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 4.5 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (NE) > Cougar Lookout > service road (WNW) > River Bend (S) > 5 Points Junction 2.6 miles
Leg 3 - 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (ENE)> East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett park 3.4 miles
Temps in the 70's, humid, overcast and a light, steady Easterly breeze.
Leisurely hike today. There were lots of birds out especially the Painted Buntings - I saw five different ones at various locations; to me, this was a large number! Cottontail rabbits, deer and a solitary javalina were also spotted.
All in all, the trails were, for the most part, clear of vegetation with the exception of Playground Trail which had some sections in need of grooming.
All the trails were visible but the overhanging vegetation is a safety concern due to the danger of stepping on a rattlesnake. I saw a 2-3 foot non-rattlesnake stretched on a trail but was able to get it to move without incident.
As always, it was enjoyable and I can't wait for the next hike!