South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett park and Roadrunner Loop

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park    3.4 miles

Leg 2 - Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area         3.5 miles

Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area     3.0 miles

Temps start at 45 and end at 62, sunny, with a light, steady wind.

Cold start to a day of hiking.  Trails were dry and the vegetation is dying off BUT the Talley Valley and majority of Red Dam Loop trails are overgrown and should be avoided unless you are familiar with them.  Numerous parts of both trails are so overgrown that the trail disappears so unless you're already familiar with the trail, best to stay off these two until park personnel have a chance to cut back the vegetation.

Not many birds were out except for a few Loggerhead Shrikes (photo attached) and two different red-tailed hawks.  A couple of butterflies were seen which surprised me.  Since it's Saturday, the trails had a few more more people on them - hikers and mountain bikers - than I usually encounter.  Everyone was in a cheerful mood as they enjoyed the weather and the trails.

NOTES

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

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

Water, shade and toilets available at the mid-way point on Roadrunner Loop.

Water and shade available along Roadrunner Loop at the campsites.