NOTE - This section of the state park is on the West side of FM2288 directly across from the North Shore check-in gate. You can park by the toilets on the East side of FM2288 just past the check-in gate or on the West side of FM2288 by the swinging entrance gate to this section of the park. I recommend you park by the toilets.
Mild temps, sunny and a light wind made this hike enjoyable. I'd been to this section of the park last year and wanted to revisit it since I saw different birds nesting along the North Concho River which runs through. Unfortunately the words "runs through" are a misnomer - the North Concho River, as of this writing, consists of sections of water alternating with sections of dry river bottom; the drought continues.
Can't say much for the hike route itself. Since this section of the park is normally used solely by the park's longhorns and seasonal hunters, there are no hiking trails per se; consequently, we hiked on an overgrown dirt service road that ran parallel to the North Concho River - the road was very muddy in places.
I hoped to see Mississippi Kites nesting, as I had last year, but there were none. Only wildlife I saw today, besides the heron, was a single turkey vulture, cardinals, sparrows and some ducks on the river. I did see quite a bit of was trash - mostly fired shotgun shells, paper, and old cans.
Unless I want to look for juvenile Great Blue Herons, I don't think I'll be back to this section of the park anytime in the near future.
