South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/15/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.5 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Temp started at 70, ended at 80. Sunny with a light SW breeze.
A short hike along very familiar trails. All trails are dry and easy to traverse but the vegetation is growing. No wildlife, except for a lone Cottontail Rabbit was seen. In addition, not many birds were out either. A few more cactus are showing flowers and the insects are finding them (photo attached). Some lizards were seen on the Winding Snake and Chaparral trails but they scampered off as soon as I spotted them.
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.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/5/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.40 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Point Junction > River Bend > service road (N) > Cougar Overlook 5.5 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (S) > Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 4.9 miles
Temp started at 70, ended at 82. Overcast at first but became sunny and cloudless at Cougar Overlook. Steady 5-10mph NW breeze.
A longer hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. Because of the reent humidity in the air, the vegetation is growing and a few of the trails are becoming "shaggy". Caution is advised due to the potential of stepping on a small reptile or a rattler. Lizards are out but no snakes so far. I saw a group of 15-20 javalinas including small ones, on Roller Coaster Trail as well as a few whitetail deer later on. Birds were singing and I'm seeing more Kingbirds than before. Mockers, various sparrows as well as Turkey Vultures were also spotted.
Wildflowers are more common and I saw Mexican hats, Indian Blankets and other coloful but unknown to me, flowers. Of note was the first cactus flower of the season (photo attached). After spotting the first I saw two smaller flowers on a different plant at a different part of the park. Rain would be welcome but none is in the forseeable future - not good.
Side note - my pair of Teva hiking sandals came apart near Cougar Overlook but held up enough to complete my hike. This pair lasted for about 2 seasons - maybe 300-400 miles.
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.
Water, shade and info kiosk availabe at Bell's Point.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 4/29/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.30 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad trailhead > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.9 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.4 miles
Temp started at 72, ended at 82. Cloudy then mostly sunny. Steady SW winds from 10-15mph w/higher gusts.
A pleasant hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. The park is greening up with the mesquite trees lime green leaves filled with feathery fronds. A few of the Lace cactus have buds growing but no flowers yet. Lots of lizards were seen as were numerous birds - Spring is here and they are singing for mates (photo attached). I saw two cottontail rabbits and a few deer but no other animals. Of note - there were about 20 Turkey Vultures riding the winds and coming quite low to look for food but I never saw any land so no luck there.
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.
South Shore - Chaparral Pavillion to Burkett Park Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 4/17/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 5.90 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Chaparral Pavillion > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park 2.7 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > service road (NE) > Chaparral Pavillion 3.2 miles
Temp started in low 60's, ended in mid-70's. Overcast then sunny with a steady breeze.
The park is greening up! It was as if a switch had been turned on from a week ago - the mesquites are now a lime green and the grass is showing, more flowers have appeared and some of the bushes have small flowers on them. The birds have become more numerous with Scissortails and Kingbirds making an appearance. No animals seen besides a few whitetail deer.
Even though the area is still in a drought condition, it's heartening to see the vegetation and wildlife making an appearance.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosks and toilets available at the campgrounds near the Chaparral Pavillion.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
North Shore - Area 7 Visit
San Angelo State Park
- 4/14/2022
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.50 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Route - North Shore restroom > jeep trail/dirt road/hiking trail > turn around and return along same route > North Shore restroom 6.5 miles
Temp started mid-40's, ended low 70's. Sunny with a steady NW breeze.
IMPORTANT - I strongly advise hikers to check-in at the South Shore gatehouse. You will need a daily park pass and the combination to the gate padlock AND, more importantly, there are times when hunting is allowed in this area and not in the larger park area so you must ensure it is safe to enter. I also suggest you park by the bathhouse/restrooms near the North Shore gatehouse to ensure your vehicle is safe.
Once you have your car parked, go out the gate you just came in and cross FM2288. You will enter Area 7 through a swinging gate. Once you get inside, look for and follow the trail. You'll soon come to the wider dirt road. Follow it to the end always keeping an eye open for the trail when you come to the power lines.
This hike is one I take once or twice a year. The trail is an old jeep trail/dirt road that parallels the North Concho River until you come to the fence that marks the park's property line (about 3 miles one way). The trail is not marked but fairly easy to follow if you keep your eyes open. The river has some dry patches but there is water there (photo attached). You normally see some water fowl as well as various animals, including the park's Longhorn herd (on occassion).
Today we saw a small herd of juvenile feral pigs (7-9 in one group and 4 in another) that was a first for us. Some ducks and a Great Blue Heron were spotted in addition to the hogs and an assortment of year round bird residents. It was a pleasant hike and one that will be done again after/if/when we ever get some rain to make the river flow.
NOTES
Water, info kiosk and toilets are available at the North Shore gate area.