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San Angelo State Park

Type: Trail

Length: 50.00 Miles

Elevation Gain: N/A

Cost: $4.00

Rating:

(4.27)302

Difficulty: 1star

(1.12)

Solitude:

(4.61)

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

Interesting scene of airplane contrails and no upper winds. (Photo by MikeHikes)

As can be seen at the North Scenic Loop, there is water in the North Concho River which feeds into the reservoir. Also note the abundance of green algae in the water - not a good thing! (Photo by MikeHikes)

The Yellow Flowers are Making an Appearance

Almost all of the flowers I saw today were yellow. Can't wait to see the cactus in bloom as well! (Photo by MikeHikes)

It was a very nice day at the park! (Photo by MikeHikes)

The only agarita bush in bloom in the whole park -VERY early in my opinion. (Photo by MikeHikes)

There used to be a fairly large colony of Robins who stayed year round near Shady Trail. They all disappeared a few years ago but today, I spotted five Robins; perhaps they'll return and establish a new colony. (Photo by MikeHikes)

I can't tell what kind of sparrow this is but he watched me take his picture then he jumped back in the brush and disappeared. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Not the best photo but it is a Crested Caracara. (Photo by MikeHikes)

A composite photo of an American Kestrel spotted today. He was flying away from me as I hiked. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Looking North by Northwest from Bell's Cross on top of the Big Hill. As can be seen, there isn't much color this time of year. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Been awhile since I've seen a Bluebird at the park. This was one of two that were chittering in the tree as I approached. I got the picture then they took off. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Although it is Fall, the vegetation is still mostly green - of course, there are always a few exceptions. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Only showing last 12 photos. View All Photos

Log Entries

South Shore Playground Parking Area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
By MikeHikes on 3/21/2019
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 11.10 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.4 miles

Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > (East) Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.8 miles

Leg 3 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.9 miles

Temp started at 60, ended at 72. Partly cloudy to slight overcast. Sporadic, light SW breeze.

Pleasant hike with numerous birds singing and lots of flowers blooming. Yellow is the predominant flower color followed by patches of blue/purple flowers with spots of white and orange flowers seen as well. Butterflies and blue dragonflies were out as well as other, less appreciated bugs such as flies and gnats.

The trails are easy to see and were dry with the exception of a few wet spots on the Red Dam Loop as well as near the western end of West Potts Creek trail. On the "dry" trails, the rocky soil has become loose in places so caution is advised when going up or down an incline (such as Roller Coaster); very easy to fall or twist an ankle by stepping on the wrong piece of soil.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.

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

IMPORTANT - the water at Burkett Park looks "chalky" or mineralized however, it doesn't have an odor or taste so it's safe to drink.

North Shore Bell's Trailhead to River Bend Ghost Camp Loop
By MikeHikes on 3/14/2019
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 7.10 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes

Out Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S 50 meters) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > service road (100 meters) > Badlands Trail > River Bend Trail > Lower Ghost Camp trail > River Bend Ghost Camp 5.3 miles

Return River Bend Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp trail > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 1.8 miles

Temp started at 52, ended at 62. Sunny with strong NNW winds at 10-15 mph.

A shorter than usual, easy hike along trails that were 90% dry and 10% damp. Saw more people on the trails so I assume it was due to Spring Break. Singing birds were heard and seen but I saw no wild life or reptiles, i.e. rattlesnakes. Earlier this week, strong winds blew through the area and because of this, I found numerous, already dead, mesquite branches laying all over the trails. There is quite a bit of water in the Concho River and it's slowly flowing into the O.C.Fisher Reservoir. As usual, a bag of trash was collected while I hiked. Not much else to report.

NOTES

Water available at campsites near Bell's Trailhead.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.

IMPORTANT - NO WATER available today. I reported it and the camp host said he'd check the faucet. Strongly advise anyone to take their own water.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Ghost Camp.

CAUTION - watch for snakes and insects (wasps) before using the dry toilets. TP may not be available.

Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
By MikeHikes on 3/7/2019
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 8.30 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes

Out Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.4 miles

Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.9 miles

Temps started at 60, ended at 72. Overcast, steady SW wind at 10-15 mph.

An easy, leisurely hike today along dry and easy to see trails. Recently, the park was closed for controlled burns and then a cold snap hit the area so no hikes for me in two weeks! Last time I was out, the agaritas were just beginning to bloom and scent the air; today, I was glad to see numerous agarita bushes in various stages of blooming. Although the scent they released was not overwhelming, nonetheless, it was still present at various places along the trails.

Lots of birds but most were not singing. I saw a couple of raptors high in the sky as well as an American Kestrel perched in a tree so that may be the reason. No animals or reptiles were seen.

No evidence of the controlled burn along my route and the park is beginning to "green out" but not overly so.

NOTES

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

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

Water and shade available at Bell's Point.

IMPORTANT - The info kiosk maps are still out of date - trust the new, park trails map given (free) at the South Shore gate.

South Shore Playground Parking Area to Burkett Park Loop
By MikeHikes on 2/15/2019
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 7.60 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Out Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.9 miles

Return Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.7 miles

Temps started at 70, ended at 83, windy then strong winds, sunny.

Gorgeous day for a hike ! The strong winds kept most birds either out of the air entirely or those that flew, did so in short, low flights. No animals were spotted. More agarita bushes are scenting the air with their small, yellow flowers!

Trails were groomed, dry and easy to traverse with the notable exception of Red Dam Loop. About a quarter mile in, the trail became damp then wet with standing water. There are ways around the water but your shoes will still get wet. Once you get on the dam itself, the trail is dry again and stays so until you go further then you are, once again, in muddy terrain. The mud ends after a short time and you're back on dry trails. The trail is easy to do but you can count on getting your shoes somewhat wet and muddy.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE - For some reason the water spigot at Burkett park was having issues as if there was air in the pipes. Water pressure was VERY inconsistent and when water came out, it was very "chalky" looking and my hiking partner suggested "they" might be cleaning the pipes. In any event, I didn't drink the water but washed my hands and suffered no ill effects.

South Shore Playground Parking Area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
By MikeHikes on 2/5/2019
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 10.00 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park

Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Armadillo (WSW) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > Lanky Lackey (10 meters) > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park

Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area

Temp started at 60, cloudy with light fog. As the hike progressed, the sky cleared, the wind picked up and the temp warmed to 76.

A false Spring today as the temperature will stay warm for a few days before another cold front arrives with another freeze. Trails were dry, for the most part, with a few wet spots on Roller Coaster and Chaparral. Most of the trails have been groomed so they are easy to see. Numerous types of birds were out in force; lots of them singing for mates! A few raptors were on the hunt as well.

I saw my "first for this year" Agarita bush in bloom with numerous small, yellow flowers perfuming the air - the scent reminds me of hot dust, mesquite wood smoke and honey. (photo attached)

Picked up a couple of bags of trash from the trails but otherwise, all went well.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets 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 1/29/2019
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 8.20 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Out Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Armadillo (NE) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 3.7 miles

Return 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (SW) > West Potts Creek > Roller COaster > Lanky Lackey (10 meters) > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 4.5 miles

Started with overcast skies and temp at 27; ended with partly cloudy skies and temp at 45. Light wind.

A gloomy and cold start for today's hike; ice coated the water trough at Burkett Park. Trails were dry, easy to see and traverse. Although I saw a few of the park's longhorns grazing, there were no birds or other wildlife observed for the first half of the hike and only a few birds were seen while on the return leg. Nothing really happened on the hike - it was colder than normal but the hike was very doable!

NOTES

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

Water and shade available at Bell's Point.

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

North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Lookout and Back
By MikeHikes on 1/22/2019
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 11.10 Miles Duration: 5 hours

Out Bell's Trailhead > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend > service road (N) > Cougar Lookout 6.6 miles

Return Cougar Lookout > Javalina > River Bend (about .25 mile) > service road (N) > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Ghost Camp > South Slick Rock > service road (NW) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 4.5 miles

Temps started at 55 and ended at 67. Overcast and gloomy at first then partly cloudy. Steady 10-15 mph SW wind.

Most of the trails in the middle and north sections of the park, have a hiker/horse trail running somewhat parallel to the hiker/bike trail. Today was "hiker/horse trail" day and I stayed on them as much as possible. These trails, for the most part, were dry or slightly damp and rougher than the hiker/bike trails due to the horse's hooves impacting the trail; especially when the trail was wet and muddy. Nonetheless, it was good to hike slightly different trails while I observed the birds and conducted minor trail maintenance/trash pick-up.

NOTES

Water available at the campsites by Bell's Trailhead.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.

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

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Ghost Camp.

South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett Park and then Roadrunner Loop
By MikeHikes on 1/16/2019
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 10.20 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.0 miles

Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 4.1 miles

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

Temp started at 44, ended at 59. Overcast then sunny. Steady 10-15 mph SW wind.

First hike of 2019 and first hike in new Columbia hiking boots. Beginning mileage = 2324.5 miles with 295 logged entries.

An overcast, windy, cold day on wet and muddy trails. The weather conditions kept the wildlife hidden with the exception of a few birds. Most stayed low to the ground but there were two American Kestrels and two Loggerhead Shrikes hunting. All the other birds stayed in place or made short flights, low to the ground.

Trails are easy to see and traverse and the park personnel have groomed the Roadrunner Loop again. It has been leveled and widened making it an easy hike for anyone. A bag of trash was picked up but nothing else to report.

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.

Water, shade and toilets available at the mid-point of Roadrunner Loop.

Water and shade available at various campsites along the edges of Roadrunner Loop.

IMPORTANT - trail maps have been updated BUT the maps in the info kiosks have not. Trust the paper trail map you get at the park entrance.

South Shore Playground Parking Area to Burkett Park and Back
By MikeHikes on 12/31/2018
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 7.10 Miles Duration: 3 hours

Out Playground parking area > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park 3.1 miles

Return Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 4.0 miles

Temps started at 41, ended at 45. Sunny with a few wispy clouds, steady 20+ mph WNW wind.

Last hike of 2018 on wet and muddy trails. Nobody else on the trails and no other cars in the parking lots when I arrived or departed. The wind kept the birds low to the ground except for a group of Crested Caracaras flying high and away from me (photo attached). This is the second time I've seen these birds at the park; although the photo is not the best, it is proof they were there!

Stats for the year -

Mileage on 01/07/2018 1946.5 miles with 250 log entries

Mileage on 12/31/2018 2324.5 miles with 295 log entries

Miles Hiked in 2018 378 miles with 45 log entries

NOTES

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

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

South Shore Roadrunner Loop Christmas Hike
By MikeHikes on 12/25/2018
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 3.10 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Route Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area

Temp in the mid-50's, overcast then partly cloudy, light wind.

A short hike around the Loop. The trail had been leveled/graded fairly recently so the ground was relatively soft but rocks of various sizes were laying on the trail - very easy to twist an ankle if you aren't careful!

Some birds were out but nothing unusual. Just a short hike with friends on Christmas!

NOTES

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

Water, shade and toilets at a few spots alongside the trail.

Only showing last 10 log entries. View All Log Entries