South Shore - Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 10/16/2024
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 3.10 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area
Temp started at 57, ended at 64. Sunny with a steady ENE wind at 10-15mph.
A simple, easy exercise hike along Roadrunner Trail Loop. Nothing of import to report, just had to get out and stretch my legs. No photos for this trip.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parking area.
Water and shade available at campsites along Roadrunner Loop. There are three stations along the trail that provide water, shade, info kiosk and toilets.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook - Short Lazy 8 Route
San Angelo State Park
- 10/2/2024
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Scenic Loop > Lower Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javelina > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Ghost Camp Shortcut > Lower Ghost Camp > Upper Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > North Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > dirt road parallel to Lower Big Hill > Rocky Creek Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 3.2 miles
Temps started at 58, ended at 80. Sunny with intermittent 0-5mph breeze.
The Monarchs are migrating! The park is on their migration path and as the temperatures warmed up, the Monarchs were very visible as they rested on the pecan trees and fed on the gayfeather flowers that are in bloom. The river still has water in it but the water is no longer flowing into the reservoir. Hopefully, we will get more rain and get the water flowing again.
Near Cougar Overlook on the return leg, I encountered three good sized feral hogs (photo attached). They began to walk toward me on Javelina Trail but when I made a noise they immediately broke contact and went back into the bush.
Not many birds were out but I spotted Curved Billed Thrashers, Scissortails, Cardinals and a few others.
All in all, an easy and very pleasant hike.
NOTES -
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available at nearby campsites.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/27/2024
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.30 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Temps started at 59, ended at 85. Sunny with 0-5mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along dry or dew dampened trails. A female javelina and two little ones were spotted along Winding Snake Trail, bird activity was all the usual suspects - Mockers, Sparrows, turkey vultures and Loggerhead Shrikes. A single tiny toad was almost stepped on along Horny Toad Trail.
A note to dog owners who bring their dogs to the park - it's great that you pick up your dog's scat so other animals or trail users do not get into it BUT after bagging your pet's scat TAKE THE GREEN PLASTIC BAG CONTAINING YOUR DOG'S SHIT AND PUT IT IN A TRASH CAN - ESPECIALLY IF THE BURKETT PARK TRAILHEAD TRASH CAN IS LESS THAN 50 YARDS FROM WHERE YOU LEFT SAID BAG OF SHIT ON THE WINDING SNAKE TRAIL.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at the Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk, dry toilets and TRASH CANS are available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets are available at three locations along Roadrunner Loop. Water and shade available at numerous campsites along the same trail.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/20/2024
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.10 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Rollercoaster > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.3 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (S) > Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.8 miles
Temps started at 74, ended at 86. Overcast for Leg 1, sunny for Leg 2. SSW breeze at 0-5mph.
Easy hike along dry trails. Nothing of note except the large number of toads on the West Potts Creek Trail! I saw about 30-40 of them and have attached a photo to show the size - they are tiny! I assume the recent rains caused the toad eggs to hatch at the same time but it's possible the large group of tiny toads I saw in the same area are siblings. In either case, they need to hop away from the trail or they will be crushed by shoes or tires.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade, and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/16/2024
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.80 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > 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 3.1 miles
Temp started at 68, ended at 86. Sunny and light breeze from SW at 0-5 mph.
Easy hike along dew dampened trails. Not much damage from the rains of a few weeks ago. Bee bush is already blooming and it's vanilla scent was in the air. Saw a few more birds out including a Loggerhead Shrike. At the end of the hike, a pair of roadrunners chattered and made their presence known. One in particular watched me as I hiked (photo attached).
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.