Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/18/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.00 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.2 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 2.3 Miles
Leg 3 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (S) > Playground bypass > Potts Creek (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.5 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 91. Overcast and humid with steady 10-20mph SW winds.
A warm and humid hike along dry trails that are overgrown in numerous places with vegetation hanging over the trail. Caution is advised due to snakes and other park residents that could be underfoot!
Today I saw the year's first Grey Fox on West Potts Creek Trail. I saw him but by the time I had the camera up to take his photo, he was gone. About two minutes later I saw a very large and regal feral cat (photo attached) resting. I suspect if the fox saw the cat he would leave it alone, the cat was that large! Other sightings today were the year's first snake, a non-poisonous one, and both male and female Painted Buntings.
Another cautionary note - along Burkett Trail near the base of Highland Ridge there are two LARGE areas of ground dwelling bees on and very near the trail itself. I reported this to park personnel but until the bees leave or the park people somehow move them, be very cautious if you take this popular trail.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk are available at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade and info kiosk are availabe at Bell's Point.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/11/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.80 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.5 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temp started at 49, ended at 74. Sunny, steady NW winds at 5-10mph.
Easy hike along dry to dew-dampened trails. Some parts are overgrown with vegetation but they are still easy to traverse. Numerous cottontail rabbits and deer were out as were Nighthawks and the usual suspects of Mockingbirds, Scissortails and various kinds of Sparrows.
Lots of wildflowers and cactus blossoms are in bloom giving color to an otherwise drab scenery.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parkng rea.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burtkett Park.
Water and shade are available at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop. There are three toilets and info kiosks along the Loop as well.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook and Back
San Angelo State Park
- 4/25/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.30 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook 6.0 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javalina > Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp (N) > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 3.3 miles
Temps started at 64, ended at 76. Overcast with a 0-5mph SW breeze. Humid.
Easy hike along dry or damp or muddy trails. Recent rains have helped produce an abundance of wildflowers throughout the park! The mesquite trees are full of lime green leaves and are producing golden fronds. Bee Bush is also blooming and perfume the air with their fragrance.
Today I saw the first Horned Lizard, i.e., "Horned Toad" of the year as well as the first sighting of a pair of Lark Buntings (photo attached). Numerous lizards were out as was a single fairly large feral hog that I inadvertently spooked while hiking. Fortunately, he ran away from me rather than toward me.
NOTES -
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available at nearby campsites.
Water, shade and info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 4/17/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.10 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Temp started at 65, ended at 85. Overcast then partially sunny with steady 5-10mph SW wind.
Easy hike along dry, easy to traverse, maintained trails. I saw two large groups of deer at the beginning of the hike but then no other animals were spotted. Birds were more numerous and I saw a group of Cedar Waxwings near the park entrance on Tasajilla Flats Trail. Scissortail Flycatchers were spotted in a half a dozen locations and Kingbirds were also spotted. Numerous flowers of yellow, blue and purple were scattered all along the park area. Bee bush is just beginning to blossom as well.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and abicycle repair station are available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Water and shade are available at numerous campsites along Roadrunner Loop. There are three info kiosks and toilets along Roadrunner Loop as well.
South Shore - Playground Parking Area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 3/26/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.70 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg1 - Playground Parking Area > Chaparral > Tally Valley > Horny Toad (N) > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.3 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.6 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area 2.8 miles
Temp started at 66, ended at 80. Heavy then lighter overcast. Wind from West at 5-10mph.
Easy hike along dry easy to traverse trails. Saw a couple of deer families and one cottontail rabbit. Birds were more numerous, singing for mates. I spotted this year's first Vermillion Flycatcher at a distance (photo attached). Not much was going on today, the hike was enjoyable though!
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.