South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park   4.0 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral >Playground parking area    2.8 miles

Leg 3 -  Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area    3.1 miles

Temps started at 69, ended at 84.  Sunny with a steady Southerly 10 mph breeze.  Slight humidity.

Mileage based on prior hike - no pedometer today!

Easy hike along familiar trails.  Quite a few deer were out including a younger one or two.  Birds were singing for mates and a few high flying pairs of cormoronts and Great Blue Herons were heading North.  Not much to see except another sign Spring has arrived - the bee brush(bush) has started to bloom on some of the bushes along Tasajilla Flats and Roadrunner Trails (photo attached).  The faint scent of vanilla combined with the scent of the agarita blooms on nearby plants was a pleasure to enjoy.

SPECIAL INFO -  today was the first time in a few years I had a rattlesnake encounter.  It happened on the last mile of Roadrunner loop near the gatehouse.  I was hiking back to Playground when I heard a "buzzing" sound coming from the left.  My first thought was to look at the nearby mesquite for a cicada and wondered why it was out so early.  The buzzing increased and I quickly realized it was a rattler but I didn't see him.  I moved as far to the right as possible and hurriedly walk away until the noise abatted.  Curious, I slowly walked back and as I did the ratttling increased so I stopped and finally saw the 3-4 foot long snake - he was coiled into a strike pose about 10 feet away from me hidden in the shaded grass near the left edge of the trail.  I backed away again until he stopped rattling and watched as he uncoiled and slowly made his way to the mesquite tree.

I was near the gatehouse and reported it to the rangers.  They said mine was the third report this week - and today is Wednesday!  ALWAYS watch where you place your feet!!!

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parking area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park trailhead.  Be advised the water hose needs to be gripped near the base otherwise you will be sprayed as it has a crack in it.

Water and shade are available at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop.  There are three areas with water, shade, info kiosks and toilets available at various place along Roadrunner Loop.