South Shore Playground parking area to Isabel Harte Loop and The Roadrunner
San Angelo State Park
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4/24/2018
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Rating: 
Difficulty: 
Distance: 5.90 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 1.4 miles
Leg 2 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > park road to Isabel Harte > Chaparral > Playground parking area 4.5 miles
Temp around 65 at start, end at 75. Sunny with light winds.
Easy hike along familiar trails. LOTS of bird activity singing and buidling nests. Trails all dry and easy to walk upon.
Not really a lot going on but enjoyable nonetheless.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett park and return
San Angelo State Park
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4/18/2018
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Distance: 8.10 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 4.3 miles
Return Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.7 miles
Temp started at 65, ended at 75. Sunny with strong, steady winds.
Leisurely hike on the major South Shore trails. Bird activity pretty high - saw this year's first Cedar Waxwings at two different locations, lots of birds signing for mates and a few of the Lace Cactus have blooms while others do not.
Trails are dry, visible and easy to traverse; some trash was found but not much. Overall, this was an easy hike on a beautiful Spring day.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Lookout and back
San Angelo State Park
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3/31/2018
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Distance: 9.60 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Out Bell's Trailhead > service road (S) > Dinosaur > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend > service road (ENE) > Cougar Lookout 5.9 miles
Return Cougar Lookout > Javalina > service road (N) > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp > South Slick Rock > service road (N) > North Scenic Loop > service road (ENE) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 3.7 miles
Temps started at 65 and ended at 82, sunny with a few wispy clouds, strong steady winds.
A good hike on the North Shore trails. All trails had been groomed and for the most part, were easy to traverse. Last week, it rained and the cattle wandered along some of the wet, muddy trails leaving deep hoof prints. As the moisture evaporated, the prints hardened and are like concrete. This has changed the trail from smooth to very rough. As time passes, the trail will even out again but in the meantime, caution is advised because it is easy to twist an ankle if you're not paying attention.
Lots of folks on the trail today - equestrians, bikers and hikers. Because of the strong winds, most of the smaller birds stayed low if they flew at all. The only birds flying were turkey vultures at higher altitudes. I saw this season's first Scissortail Flycatcher but didn't get a photo.
NOTES
Water is available at the campsite near Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade and an info kiosk is available at the Dinosaur Tracking Viewing Area.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station is available at Cougar Lookout.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Ghost Camp. CAUTION - if you use the dry toilets be aware they are not serviced on a regular basis (bring your own TP!)
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett park and Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
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3/25/2018
[View Log Page]
Rating:
Difficulty:
Distance: 10.20 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park 3.4 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > Winding Snake (20 meters) > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.7 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Temps start at 65, end at 85. Partly cloudy with light wind.
Nice hike although more people than usual. The trails were dry and easy to see. Birds were signing but not really visible and when they were, they stayed in the brush more than in the trees. There were more bushes, cacti and flowers in bloom and that meant a lot of bees were buzzing around. For some reason, the bees really enjoyed the blooms on the center stalk of the yucca plants.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Water and shade available at campsites around the Roadrunner Loop. Toilet facilities are available at the mid-point.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett park and Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
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3/17/2018
[View Log Page]
Rating:
Difficulty:
Distance: 10.60 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.9 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.5 miles
Temp start at 55, end at 85. Overcast then sunny, steady SW winds.
Walked the Roadrunner Loop first then continued on the other South Shore trails. ALL of the campsites in the park were occupied and there were quite a few people walking around but fairly few were on the trails. The warm weather has brought out the birds - lots of singing and fluttering to establish territories. Saw three Vermillion Flycatchers - the first I've seen this year.
Warm weather brings out snakes and although I didn't see any, a couple who were on the trail told me they saw a non-poisonous snake a few days ago. Was also told that not all rattlesnakes rattle - the guy said the snakes are not warning where they are because of the feral hogs. I guess the hogs consider the rattles a food bell and take on the snake! Will check this out later to see if it's true or not.
All in all, a good hike!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and touilets available at Playground parking area.
Water and shade available at numerous campsites along Roadrunner Loop and at the mid-point, there is a toilet/shower facility.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.