North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Ghost Camp Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 10/10/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.00 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Badlands > River Bend Trail > Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Campground 6.0 miles
Leg 2 - River Bend Campground > Upper Ghost Camp (N) > South Slick Rock Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 2.0 miles
Temps started at 59, ended at 83. Sunny with light 0-5mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails (except Lower Ghost Camp in Leg 2). Objective was to see Monarch Butterflies as they migrate South for the Winter (photo attached). They were spotted individually as well as in small clusters in the pecan and mesquite trees. Unfortunately, not in the large numbers I had hoped to see.
Being Saturday, there were quite a few other trail users out looking for the Monarchs - nothing negative happened but solitude was not to be had.
Nonetheless, it was a pleasant hike.
NOTES -
Water and shade available near Bell's Trailhead as well as a bicycle repair station. Info kiosk is gone.
Water, shade, info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
South Shore - Playground Parking Lot to Burkett Park Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/25/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.20 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking lot > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 4.0 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking lot 3.2 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 85. Sunny with high, hazy clouds. Steady 5-10mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along dry and familiar trails. Animals spotted were a cotton rat, javelina and deer. Birds were a Loggerhead Shrike, Turkey Vultures, Scissortail, Mockers and a pair of Curve Billed Thrashers. The weather was pleasant, the breeze refreshing and cool and the Sun was warm but not scorching - a pleasant hike.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station at Playground parking lot.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park. NOTE - The water is running but still has a funky taste - bring your own!
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction - Short and Easy Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/14/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.20 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > park service road (W) > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.1 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > park service road (ENE) > park service road (SW) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 2.1 miles
Temps started at 76, ended at 91. Sunny with fairly constant 10-20mph SW breeze.
Short but enjoyable hike along familiar trails with a few new routes taken. Nothing unusual as far as the trails went.
Animals spotted were deer and as I was driving to Burkett Park, a small flock of turkeys took their time to cross the road in front of me. There were two adults and six younger turkeys in the group. Haven't seem too many turkeys lately so seeing the younger ones is a good sign. Along one service road I haven't been on for a few years, I spotted a Great Plains Rat Snake sunning itself (photo attached). He was no threat to me and I was no threat to him. I did nothing to get his attention just took a few photos and left him in peace. I can accept this will result in a boring photo but I am comfortable leaving the wildlife as they are.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park. SPECIAL NOTE - The water has a very bad taste coming out of the new water fountain and I would strongly recommend you not drink it.
Water, shade, and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction. SPECIAL NOTE - The water at 5 Points is NOT on. There have been water issues that were supposedly fixed but .....
South Shore - Isabel Harte to Burkett Park - Short Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/7/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 3.40 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Leg 1 - Isabel Harte > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 1.4 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > park road to Isabel Harte 2.0 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 84. Sunny with 0-5mph intermittent SW breeze.
VERY short hike today along familiar trails that were easy to see and traverse. Being Labor Day, there were many more park guests so the opportunity to take photos was limited as the hikers, mountain bikers and trail runners spooked most of the park inhabitants. A photo of the sunrise will have to do (photo attached).
Animals spotted were in singles - a single turkey, a single doe, a single cottontail rabbit. Same went for the reptiles - a single horned toad and a single lizard.
Although not a long hike, it was relaxing and I took the opportunity at the end to sit at a picnic table to look at the scenery.
NOTES -
Shade and dry toilets available at Isabel Harte. Water may be available but not certain.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Isabel Harte Loop + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 8/31/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.20 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Lanky Lackey > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > park road to Isabel Harte > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 5.0 miles
Leg 2 - Playground parking area > Roadrunenr Loop > Playground Parking Area 3.2 miles
Temps started at 76, ended at 88. Sunny w/light SW breeze.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see trails. Took a different route today for variety and to try to stay in the 7-8 mile range. Bird activity was up from my last hike and I saw more kinds of birds but still no raptors. I also saw a rat of some type, perhaps a cotton rat, on my way back to Playground. Of course, no photo was taken as it shot across the trail and into some cactus plants about ten yards in front of me. I did see another park resident, a skunk early on in my hike on Lanky Lackey. Eeven though I kept a far distance from him, he let me know he was aware of me and at one point, pointed his tail and stamped his feet in warning (photo attached). I was not sprayed and made no attempt to get closer to him - I let the camera zoom to get the photo.
I was surprised on Roadrunner loop to see a large horned toad, about 5 inches long, and further down the same trail, a toad about the size of a quarter. BIG difference is sizes!
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.
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets/showers available at three points along Roadrunner Loop.