South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8

Leg 1 -   Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lankey Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park   3.2 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 > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area    3.2 miles

Temp in the low 70's, sunny, STRONG northerly winds.

Good hike today with quite a few animals spotted - javalina, cottontail rabbit, Jack Rabbit, white tail deer, and a Mexican ground squirrel.  The winds were VERY strong and kept a lot of the birds out of the air - when I saw birds, they never flew more than a few feet away.

Trails were dry, some had been groomed but a lot of them have become covered with vegetation; especially some type of knee high, or taller, weeds with a very sharp, pointed head that has a tendency to jab you when you walk through a patch.  The Talley Valley trail is in need of some repairs due to erosion as well as the vegetation so caution is advised if you hike it.

Bee brush is once again blooming and scent the air.  I was surprised at the relatively low number of cactus flowers in bloom.  The ones in bloom have numerous bees and other insects acting as pollinators. 

The Boy Scout bridge on Burkett Trail has signs posted advising caution due to bee activity - first time I've seen this type of sign.  I didn't notice any bees but the wind may have kept them at bay.

All in all, 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.