Park Mid Section Burkett to Cougar Overlook Figure Eight

Out     Burkett Park > park road (West) > Roller Coaster Trail > West Potts Creek > Armadillo Trail > Turkey Creek Trail > River Bend Trail > service road (East) > Cougar Overlook       4.6 miles

Return Cougar Overlook > Flintstone Trail > Playground Trail > Armadillo Trail > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park         4.4 miles

If you have a map or use Google Earth and follow the route I took, you'll see why I call this a Figure Eight.

A very nicely scented hike today !  The bee balm bushes are beginning to flower and the vanilla scent is in the air.  The gnats were also out and were bothersome when in valleys or areas where the breeze did not hit me.  Otherwise, a very enjoyable hike.

One thing that I noticed is the trails have become "rockier" than they were in the past.  A few weeks back we had a very heavy rainfall which washed a lot of soil from the trails exposing the rocks or bedrock underneath.  Last week, severe winds hit the area and knocked down quite a few branches in the park and probably also blew away some more topsoil from the trails.

I have bumped the difficulty scale up a half point because of this.  There are a few trails that you have to be more cautious on - Armadillo Trail, Roller Coaster, parts of Flintstone and Playground.  Of course, you should always be careful when you hike but you really need to pay more attention when you are on these trails.

I saw a snake today but couldn't get a photo.  It was a rather large snake and was as green as a prickly pear palm.  I caught a glimpse of him as he slithered away as I approached. 

NOTES -

Toilets, info kiosk, shade and water are at Burkett Park. 

Water, shade and info kiosk at the Multi Trail Junction where Turkey Creek, River Bend and Flintstone Trails meet.  If you follow my route you will arrive at this junction on your way out and on your return.

Water and shade are also available at Bell's Point which is on the Playground Trail and is shown on park maps.