San Angelo State Park

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead > service road to Cougar Overlook > Cougar Overlook      3.2 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction     1.3 miles

Leg 3 -  5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > service road to Armadillo Pavillion (NE) > Potts CReek (NE) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park   3.4 miles

Temp started at 77, ended at 91.  Sunny, slightly humid with a light 5-10mph SW breeze.

All trails were dry with a few patches of mud from a brief downpour received two days earlier.  Deer, a fox, a couple of roadrunners and a tortoise (photo attached) were spotted today.  I also saw a few Queen butterflies and the purple thistle is coming out in places - Fall is approaching although the current temperatures are not indicative of it.

Not many birds were out today but the park is having a spurt of "green" becauise of the recent rains.  More rain is predicted and that is always a good thing in West Texas.

NOTES -

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

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

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

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   3.3 miles

Leg 3 -  Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area    3.2 miles

Temp started at 79, ended at 92.  Sunny w/steady SW 10-15mph breeze.

An easy hike along familiar trails.  Does and fawns, Cottontails and Black Eared rabbits, birds and javelinas were spotted.  The trails themselves were dry and easy to traverse.  Rain is desperately needed but none is in sight for the forseeable future which is VERY bad - the lake is at .9% capacity and the mudflats are very visible even from a distance. 

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.

Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets are available at three points along Roadrunner Loop with water and shade available at numerous campsites along the loop as well.

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park     3.9 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area      3.9 miles

Leg 3 -  Playground parking area > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park    2.9 miles

Temp started at 77, ended at 92.  Mostly sunny w/clouds.  Humid w/fairly steady 10-20mph SSW breeze.

A nice hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails.  LOTS of animals spotted today - fawns, cottontail rabbits, jack rabbits, a skunk, a VERY large javelina and a lone fox (photo attached).  The fox was interesting because he saw me and stopped by a large prickly pear cactus bunch.  I stopped and waited to see what he would do.  When he saw I was only taking photos he very nonchalantly walked across my path about 15 feet away and climbed a hill.  I watched as he went up a little then found a spot and laid down to nap.  When I moved he opened his eyes but didn't move and as I looked back, he had already laid down again.  Very trusting.

NOTES -

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

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

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > dirt road to Armadillo Ridge > service road (WSW) > Turkey Creek (N) > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook    5.1 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > service road (SW) > Trailhead to Trailhead Trail (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park   3.3 miles

Temp started at 70, ended at 90.  Sunny w/slight 0-5mph WNW breeze.

Today was animal day!  I counted thirteen fawns with five does, three javelinas, and one porcupine.  Reptiles spotted were a coachwhip that was about three feet long, numerous lizards and a single Horned Toad.  Birds were too numerous to count.

All flowers with the exception of one small stand of sunflowers, are gone.  Cactus tunas are ripening and I watched a Mockingbird either eating one or a bug that was on one, when I stopped at Cougar Overlook (photo attached).

Overall a very nice hike.

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 are available at Cougar Overlook.

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    3.3 miles

Leg 3 -  Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area   3.1 miles

Temp started at 75, ended at 86.  Overcast w/steady SE breeze at 10-15mph.

All trails were dry, easy to see and traverse although some parts of Roadrunner Loop are in need of a trim.  I saw a 4 foot long Coachwhip snake but he saw me first and slithered away so no photo.  I also saw a Painted Bunting pair as well as a Mississippi Kite.  Two pairs of does and fawns were also seen as well as cottontail rabbits, lizards and a single horned toad.  Almost all of the wildflowers are gone with the exception of some small yellow daisy looking flowers which were few and far between.  The only flowering plant I saw were Desert Willows trees and there were only a few of them.

Unfortunately, I found a snake carcass on the trail (photo attached).  The ants were feasting on him so his death was not wasted.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station 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 half of Roadrunner Loop along with two toilet, water and info kiosks areas.