South Shore Playground Parking Area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 3/21/2019
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 11.10 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.4 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > (East) Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.8 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.9 miles
Temp started at 60, ended at 72. Partly cloudy to slight overcast. Sporadic, light SW breeze.
Pleasant hike with numerous birds singing and lots of flowers blooming. Yellow is the predominant flower color followed by patches of blue/purple flowers with spots of white and orange flowers seen as well. Butterflies and blue dragonflies were out as well as other, less appreciated bugs such as flies and gnats.
The trails are easy to see and were dry with the exception of a few wet spots on the Red Dam Loop as well as near the western end of West Potts Creek trail. On the "dry" trails, the rocky soil has become loose in places so caution is advised when going up or down an incline (such as Roller Coaster); very easy to fall or twist an ankle by stepping on the wrong piece of soil.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
IMPORTANT - the water at Burkett Park looks "chalky" or mineralized however, it doesn't have an odor or taste so it's safe to drink.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to River Bend Ghost Camp Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 3/14/2019
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.10 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Out Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S 50 meters) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > service road (100 meters) > Badlands Trail > River Bend Trail > Lower Ghost Camp trail > River Bend Ghost Camp 5.3 miles
Return River Bend Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp trail > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 1.8 miles
Temp started at 52, ended at 62. Sunny with strong NNW winds at 10-15 mph.
A shorter than usual, easy hike along trails that were 90% dry and 10% damp. Saw more people on the trails so I assume it was due to Spring Break. Singing birds were heard and seen but I saw no wild life or reptiles, i.e. rattlesnakes. Earlier this week, strong winds blew through the area and because of this, I found numerous, already dead, mesquite branches laying all over the trails. There is quite a bit of water in the Concho River and it's slowly flowing into the O.C.Fisher Reservoir. As usual, a bag of trash was collected while I hiked. Not much else to report.
NOTES
Water available at campsites near Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
IMPORTANT - NO WATER available today. I reported it and the camp host said he'd check the faucet. Strongly advise anyone to take their own water.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Ghost Camp.
CAUTION - watch for snakes and insects (wasps) before using the dry toilets. TP may not be available.
Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 3/7/2019
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.30 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Out Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.4 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.9 miles
Temps started at 60, ended at 72. Overcast, steady SW wind at 10-15 mph.
An easy, leisurely hike today along dry and easy to see trails. Recently, the park was closed for controlled burns and then a cold snap hit the area so no hikes for me in two weeks! Last time I was out, the agaritas were just beginning to bloom and scent the air; today, I was glad to see numerous agarita bushes in various stages of blooming. Although the scent they released was not overwhelming, nonetheless, it was still present at various places along the trails.
Lots of birds but most were not singing. I saw a couple of raptors high in the sky as well as an American Kestrel perched in a tree so that may be the reason. No animals or reptiles were seen.
No evidence of the controlled burn along my route and the park is beginning to "green out" but not overly so.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point.
IMPORTANT - The info kiosk maps are still out of date - trust the new, park trails map given (free) at the South Shore gate.
South Shore Playground Parking Area to Burkett Park Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 2/15/2019
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.60 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.9 miles
Return Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.7 miles
Temps started at 70, ended at 83, windy then strong winds, sunny.
Gorgeous day for a hike ! The strong winds kept most birds either out of the air entirely or those that flew, did so in short, low flights. No animals were spotted. More agarita bushes are scenting the air with their small, yellow flowers!
Trails were groomed, dry and easy to traverse with the notable exception of Red Dam Loop. About a quarter mile in, the trail became damp then wet with standing water. There are ways around the water but your shoes will still get wet. Once you get on the dam itself, the trail is dry again and stays so until you go further then you are, once again, in muddy terrain. The mud ends after a short time and you're back on dry trails. The trail is easy to do but you can count on getting your shoes somewhat wet and muddy.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
SPECIAL NOTICE - For some reason the water spigot at Burkett park was having issues as if there was air in the pipes. Water pressure was VERY inconsistent and when water came out, it was very "chalky" looking and my hiking partner suggested "they" might be cleaning the pipes. In any event, I didn't drink the water but washed my hands and suffered no ill effects.
South Shore Playground Parking Area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 2/5/2019
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.00 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Armadillo (WSW) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Lanky Lackey (10 meters) > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area
Temp started at 60, cloudy with light fog. As the hike progressed, the sky cleared, the wind picked up and the temp warmed to 76.
A false Spring today as the temperature will stay warm for a few days before another cold front arrives with another freeze. Trails were dry, for the most part, with a few wet spots on Roller Coaster and Chaparral. Most of the trails have been groomed so they are easy to see. Numerous types of birds were out in force; lots of them singing for mates! A few raptors were on the hunt as well.
I saw my "first for this year" Agarita bush in bloom with numerous small, yellow flowers perfuming the air - the scent reminds me of hot dust, mesquite wood smoke and honey. (photo attached)
Picked up a couple of bags of trash from the trails but otherwise, all went well.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.