South Shore - Playground Parking Area to Burkett Park
San Angelo State Park
- 2/27/2021
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.50 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Out - Playground parking area > Horny Toad > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lankey Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett park 4.0 miles
Return - Burkett PArk > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.5 miles
Temp started at 50, ended at 60. Foggy with light wind from SW.
Easy hike along dry to damp trails. Bird activity was almost non-existent - probably due to the recent bitterly cold weather and snow but there were a few birds out (photo attached). Saw a few mountain bikers, hikers and a trail runner; otherwise, it was quiet. Nothing else to report.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook and Back
San Angelo State Park
- 2/8/2021
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.90 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 10 minutes
Out - Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Scenic Loop > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > dirt service road (W) > River Bend (S) > Javalina > Cougar Overlook 3.9 miles
Return - Cougar Overlook > service road (WNW) > River Bend (N) > Badlands > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > Dinosaur Trail > Bell's Trailhead 6.0 miles
Temp started at 43, ended at 71. Light winds from the SSW at 10-15mph.
Very pleasant hike today. A small herd of deer were spotted as I drove in but otherwise, animal activity was zero! I saw turtles, a few ducks, a large raptor and some smaller songbirds including a Bluebird but only got a few photos. One mountain biker and one hiker were the only humans who shared the trails with me. The trails are still dry and easy to see. There are a few green shoots on the mesquites so Spring will be here before you know it.
NOTES
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available in the camping area near Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade,info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Campground.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade, and an info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area on Dinosaur Trail.
South Shore - Playground Parking Area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 2/4/2021
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.9 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Trail > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.9 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Temps started at 57, ended at 68. SW winds at 10-15mph shifting to NW 20-25mph. Partly cloudy.
A pleasant but uneventful hike along dry and easy to see and traverse trails. Warmer weather for a few days so there were more peopl on the trails than usual. NO animals of any kind were spotted. I could hear birds singing but the vast majority of them were staying very low. Nothing else to report.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station on Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available Burkett Park.
Park Mid-Section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook and Back
San Angelo State Park
- 1/29/2021
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.00 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Out - Burkett Park > Ws to LL Connector > Rollercoaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Overlook 5.9 miles
Return - Cougar Overlook > service road (SW) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.1 miles
Temp started at 38, ended at 58. Overcast with SW winds starting at 0 and growing to 15-20 mph. At the end of the hike, some sunlight shone.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. Overcast, cold day made the vast majority of birds and animals to stay in place. I saw a pack of 20-25 javalinas at the beginning of the hike when I was on Rollercoaster Trail. First, a javalina was startled by my approach and jumped up, then I noticed others were on both sides of the trail. I tried to not frighten them and let them regroup as I moved slowly forward and was able to pass the majority of them without causing them to panic.
I saw a lone raptor fly overhead and saw a Loggerhead Shrike sitting on a branch. One other bird of note - on the way back, I spotted a single Robin perched on the top of a tree - this Robin was the first I've seen at the park in a long time. When I brought my camera up for a photo, he took off.
Much trash was picked up and I decided to include a photo to illustrate the reason people should pick up after themselves. I pick up whatever trash I find while hiking, not only for aesthetic reasons but because of the harm the smallest item of trash can do to the wildlife.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park and back
San Angelo State Park
- 1/15/2021
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 50 minutes
Out - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.5 miles
Return - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Horny Toad > Talley Valley > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.5 miles
Temp started at 31, ended at 50. Sunny, no clouds with NW wind increasing from 5mph to 15mph.
Temperatures gradually warmed above freezing which caused the change in trail conditions so the trails were frozen when I started and muddy when I finished the hike. I spotted a number of whitetail deer and a lone javalina. Also seen were a couple of red tailed hawks as well as numerous smaller birds. Nobody else was on the trail so it was a solitary, pleasant, and peaceful hike.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.