Out Playground parking area > Tasajila Flats > Park Entrance and return > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 5.5 miles
Return Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop (.25 mile and return) > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area 3.4 miles
Temp started at 51 and ended at 59. Overcast and gloomy with a steady 10 mph westerly wind.
Trails were very damp or wet and in the case of Red Dam Loop, too wet to traverse. Vegetation has died off so the trails were easy to see. Lots of White Crowned Sparrows and other small ground hugging birds were out. I also saw four American Kestrels and some type of hawk looking for a meal. I watched one Kestrel almost catch a small bird as I was returning on the Chaparral Trail. The bird made a quick turn and the Kestrel missed his grab and went hungry a little longer.
My first detour involved hiking along the park entrance and picking up trash. Since I didn't bring my camera, I decided to collect trash; paper, plastic bags, fast food wrappers and a half dozen empty beer cans had been tossed along the road leading to the park - very unsightly! Hopefully, it will stay clean but I have my doubts.
The second detour was at Red Dam Loop. I started along the trail heading East and was able to hike about a quarter mile before I came to a fairly wide and ankle deep, stream. Based on knowledge of the trail and past experiences, I assumed there would be at least two more areas of deep water on Red Dam Loop and figured I'd spend lots of time cleaning my boots by continuing. I decided to retrace my steps back to Chaparral and continue to Playground which I did. I'd advise anyone reading this to avoid Red Dam Loop for the foreseeable future.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground Parking Area.
Water, shde, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
IMPORTANT - The trail maps have been updated HOWEVER the trail maps at the info kiosk have not. Trust the paper trail maps.