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San Angelo State Park

Type: Trail

Length: 50.00 Miles

Elevation Gain: N/A

Cost: $4.00

Rating:

(4.18)599

Difficulty: halfstar

(0.89)

Solitude:

(4.63)

ADA Accessible: N/A

Bikes Allowed: Yes

Dogs Allowed: N/A

Interpretive Guide: N/A

City: San Angelo

County: Tom Green

More Information: More Info

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Photos

Haven't spotted many young birds this year but this group of four Swallows were sitting on this branch as their parent sat on another. When I got closer for a better photo, Mom took notice and they all flew off. (Photo by MikeHikes)

There is a very large and visible rock in the middle of the river near this bend. Usually it is easy to see and gives an idea of how deep the river is. Well, the river is deep because the rock has disappeared under the river water. (Photo by MikeHikes)

LOTS of fawns are out at the park. If you startle either mother or fawn into running, please allow them to regroup before moving. (Photo by MikeHikes)

This doe was right at the Tasajilla Flats trailhead enjoying breakfast when I saw her. She saw me and appeared to smile before wandering off. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Normally I see turkeys at the park but haven't for some time. Well, this one appeared as I was on the road inside the park. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Mockingbird parents were quick to chase away a bird that they deemed was too close to their fledgling. (Photo by MikeHikes)

One of the pair of Roadrunners I saw did not want to be seen and took refuge behind some vegetation. When I moved to get a better photo, he quickly disappeared. (Photo by MikeHikes)

This javelina was very protective of the smaller one in the background. When the younger one got across the road safely, he calmly joined him without incident. (Photo by MikeHikes)

This grey fox was conducting an inspection when I saw him. He decided he had enough and disappeared when I got closer to him. (Photo by MikeHikes)

This reclining feral cat seemed to be surveying his domain. I didn't disturb him and hope a fox seen a few minutes earlier further down the trail did not disturb him either. I think this guy could hold his own if the fox saw him as a meal. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Almost all the prickly pear blooms had insects of one type or another visiting them. (Photo by MikeHikes)

First time I've seen this kind of bird and I saw a pair of them! As I continued to hike, I saw other Lark Buntings in the trees. Very striking bird! (Photo by MikeHikes)

Only showing last 12 photos. View All Photos

Log Entries

South Shore - Playground Parking Area to Burkett Parkto Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
By MikeHikes on 7/26/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 10.70 Miles Duration: 5 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 > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek Trail > service road (W) > Turkey Creek (S) > Potts Creek Trail (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster Trail > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 4.2 miles

Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.8 miles

Temps started at 75, ended at 92. Sunny at first then high whispy clouds. Steady 5-10mph SSW breeze. Low humidity.

All trails were dry and easy to traverse with exceptions being in spots due to high vegetation. Only animals spotted were a few deer and not many birds were out with a few exceptions being a Night Hawk, Vermillion Flycatcher and a family of swallows (photo attached). There were the usual Mockers and various sparrows as well. Being Saturday, there were more trail users but never enough to cause a problem.

BE ADVISED - Take care before sitting at the green metal picnic table & bench located at the junction of Burkett Trail and Potts Creek Trail ! There is an active wasp nest underneath.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground Parking Area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and a dry toilet are available at Burkett Park.

Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Short Loop
By MikeHikes on 7/19/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 8.70 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes

Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Rollercoaster Trail > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > park service road (NW) > Cougar Overlook 5.3 miles

Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.4 miles

Temps started at 75, ended at 90. Sunny with a few high, wispy clouds. Fairly steady southerly breeze from 0-10mph.

Recently re-opened all trails north of Burkett Park EXCEPT for Shady Trail, North Scenic Loop and Lower Ghost Camp Trail. LOTS of flood damage that is being repaired.

The trails are easy to see and have a few spots where the rains washed all the topsoil off making the rocky base a little more treacherous to hike on. In other places, the topsoil was deeper and easier to hike on. Vegetation is growing and the rains have prompted the bee bush to come into bloom once again.

Only animals spotted were five Tom turkeys near Javelina Pond, not many birds out except for quail. Numerous single quail as well as coveys were seen.

For all the damage reported, the mid-section of the park appeared only slightly damaged. On a positive note, the flood waters have caused the North Concho River to be very full. So much so that a very prominent large rock that sits in the middle of the river and has always been visible, has disappeared under the river waters! (Photo attached).

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are at Burkett Park.

Water, shade and info kiosk are at 5 Points Junction.

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are at Cougar Overlook.

South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
By MikeHikes on 7/11/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 9.50 Miles Duration: 5 hours

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats Trailhead> Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.7 miles

Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.8 miles

Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles

Temps started at 72, ended at 85. Slightly humid, sunny then overcast. Light SW breeze becoming steady 10mph SW breeze.

Easy hike along dry to damp trails that were affected by last week's torrentyial rain. Some portions of the trails have more topsoil and others less exposing even more rocks. Vegetation is growing quickly so some parts of the trails are not clearly visible until you are right on them.

Bee bush and a few wildflowers are blooming, there are numerous fawns running around (photo attached) as well as cottontail rabbits and the usual birds.

IMPORTANT NOTE - at this time, the North Shore of the park which includes ALL trails North of Burkett Park are CLOSED due to the torrential rains last week when 14 inches of rain fell in one hour! Repairs to the park and it's trails are scheduled but it may be some time before the trails in the park's mid and northern sections are open.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at the Playground parking area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.

Water and shade are available at numerous campsites running parallel to Roadrunner Loop. In addition there are three locations along the Loop with water, shade, info kiosks and toilets.

South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park - Big Loop
By MikeHikes on 6/26/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 6.90 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > 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 > Playgroun parking area 3.2 miles

Temp started at 75, ended at 88. Slightly humid and sunny with fairly stead 5-10mph SSW breeze.

Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. Deer (photo attached) as well as a hummingbird, two Horned Toads, a stick bug and a Blue Grosbeak were spotted. Otherwise, it was simply an enjoyable hike.

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 5 Points Junction Loop
By MikeHikes on 6/20/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 7.80 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Leg 1 - Burkett park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek Trail > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 3.7 miles

Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek Trail > Potts Creek Trail (SW) > West Potts Creek Trail > Roller Coaster Trail > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 4.1 miles

Temp started at 75 ended at 88. Overcast then mostly sunny. Light then steady 10-15mph Southerly breeze. Slightly humid.

Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails; portions of which had been recently groomed. Animals spotted were a grey fox, deer, a turkey (photo attached), Jack Rabbits and a cottontail rabbit. Not many birds were out although a male Painted Bunting flew across the trail as I hiked back.

Nothing of significance to report - it was just a very pleasant and relaxing hike!

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Water, shade and an info kiosk available at Bell's Point.

Water, shade and an info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.

South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park - Figure 8
By MikeHikes on 6/14/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 7.10 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Isabel Harte Park Road (SW) > Lankey Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.0 miles

Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Isabel Harte Park Road (SW) > Nature Trail > Horny Toad > Talley Valley > Chaparral > Playground parking area 4.1 miles

Temp started at 75, ended at 88. Overcast and humid, steady 5-10mph SW breeze.

Easy hike along dry to slightly damp trails. Vegetation covers various parts of the trails so caution is advised. Larger than normal number of trail users due to it being Saturday.

Usual birds were out as were cottontail rabbits, deer and two javelinas. A few juvenile birds were spotted and a pair of Mockers gave chase to a blackbird that was too close to their fledgling (photo attached). Wildlfowers are beginning to bloom again with the predominant color being yellow.

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.

South Shore - Playground to Burkett Park (Short Route)
By MikeHikes on 6/5/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 6.10 Miles Duration: 3 hours

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > 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

Temp started at 76, ended at 84. Humid and hazy at first but gradually drier and sunnier. Intermittent SW 0-5mph breeze.

Shorter than usual hike along dry trails. Although the hike was short in length I saw a few interesting birds - one Bullock's Oriloe at the beginning of the hike and an Orchard Oriole at the end. Also saw a pair of Roadrunners hunting but only captured one of them hiding from me (photo attached).

I saw maybe one dozen cactus blooms still on the prickly pear cactus and the vast majority of wildflowers have disappeared BUT Lemonmint is beginning to appear in greater numbers. There are still quite a few thistles out but even they are diminishing.

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.

South Shore - Playground to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
By MikeHikes on 5/29/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 9.80 Miles Duration: 5 hours

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral (N) > Winding Snake> Burkett Park 3.1 miles

Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.7 miles

Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles

Temps started at 65, ended at 83. Overcast for Legs 1 & 2, then mostly sunny for Leg 3. Light and variable 0-5mph SW breeze.

Trails ran the gamut from dry to damp to muddy to rocky to smooth with a few portions of the trail, completely submerged in ankle deep rain runoff water.

Quite a few javelinas were present today (photo attached). One small family group had an adult member act in a very protective manner when he/she spotted me. It slowly walked toward me with hair bristled. I spoke calmly and stood my ground as the javelina stopped about 10 yards away. While it was watching me, a smaller javelina was able to cross the road and get to safety. At that point the defender calmly walked away from me, hair bristled upright. Later I saw other javelinas along other portions of the trail stand calmly and watched me saunter by.

I also saw the first of the year Jack Rabbits as well as more Cottontails. Birds were numerous and the gnats are becoming more noticeable. A lot of the wildflowers and cactus blossoms are gone although there are still plenty of Texas Thistles and Mexican Hats.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair staiton are available at Playground parking area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.

Water and shade are available at the campsites along Roadrunner Loop and there are three separate stations where water, shade, ino kiosk and toilets are available.

South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop
By MikeHikes on 5/23/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 6.40 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 20 minutes

Leg 1 - Playgrounnd 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 > Playground parking area 2.7 miles

Temp started at 75, ended at 85. Sunny with fairly stead 10mph SW breeze.

Easy hike along recently groomed trails that are dry, easy to see and traverse. After parking, I saw this grey fox watching me from the cabins (photo attached). When I tried to get closer for a better photo, he decided it was time to leave and disappeared. Further down Tasajilla Flats I rounded a curve and was met by a skunk's rear end with the tail in the air! I quickly got past him and he went the other way - no chemical attack on his part for which I was grateful.

Otherwise, the usual birds were flying about, a few lizards were spotetd and surprisingly the cactus blooms seemed to be tappering off. There weren't as many blooms open or present on the prickly pear cactus as there were on my last hike in the park mid-section. Wildflowers also seem to be disappearing except for the Texas Thistle which is thriving in many different places.

All in all, a good short hike that helped break in a new pair of Teva hiking sandals.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at the Playground Parking Area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.

Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
By MikeHikes on 5/18/2025
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 10.00 Miles Duration: 5 hours, 20 minutes

Leg 1 - Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.2 miles

Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 2.3 Miles

Leg 3 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (S) > Playground bypass > Potts Creek (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.5 miles

Temp started at 75, ended at 91. Overcast and humid with steady 10-20mph SW winds.

A warm and humid hike along dry trails that are overgrown in numerous places with vegetation hanging over the trail. Caution is advised due to snakes and other park residents that could be underfoot!

Today I saw the year's first Grey Fox on West Potts Creek Trail. I saw him but by the time I had the camera up to take his photo, he was gone. About two minutes later I saw a very large and regal feral cat (photo attached) resting. I suspect if the fox saw the cat he would leave it alone, the cat was that large! Other sightings today were the year's first snake, a non-poisonous one, and both male and female Painted Buntings.

Another cautionary note - along Burkett Trail near the base of Highland Ridge there are two LARGE areas of ground dwelling bees on and very near the trail itself. I reported this to park personnel but until the bees leave or the park people somehow move them, be very cautious if you take this popular trail.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Water, shade and info kiosk are available at 5 Points Junction.

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.

Water, shade and info kiosk are availabe at Bell's Point.

Only showing last 10 log entries. View All Log Entries