South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett and Roadrunner Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 9/23/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.90 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett park 3.3 miles
Leg 2 Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.6 miles
Leg 3 Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temps in the low 80's, steady wind, sunny, light humidity.
I wanted to hike Roadrunner Loop since I haven't been on it in awhile but couldn't stop there so I decided to do my "normal" hike in reverse order - glad I did!
I started Leg 1 around 0930 and saw lots of birds including the attached photo of a male Golden Fronted Woodpecker being shadowed by a Hummingbird. Further on, I saw this season's first Goldfinch and the first verified Monarch butterfly.
Trails were dry except in a few widely scattered low spots where they were slightly muddy. Park personnel have mowed but the vegetation grows and grows!
Two notes of interest - (1) there are LOTS of ground bees on the top of Red Dam (part of the Red Dam Loop) and the vegetation is extremely thick so my advice is to avoid this trail until Winter and (2) the portion of Tasajilla Flats that had been impassable has been mowed BUT it is still very rough. If you hike it, watch where you place your feet!
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 is available in the campgrounds along the North, West and South sides of Roadrunner Loop.
South Shore Playground parking area to 5 Points Junction Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 9/15/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 13.80 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park > Burkett Trail > East Potts Creek > Armadillo > Playground > Bells Point > Playground (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 6.8 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (W) > West Potts Creek > Rollercoaster > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 7.0 miles
Temps in the 80's, mostly sunny, light wind and humid.
Long hike today along dry trails that are in need of trimming. For the past two years, San Angelo has had above average rain. This, coupled with the park's mesquite eradication program and last year's controlled fires, have caused the vegetation to grow rapidly. There have been efforts by park personnel to mow but the vegetation is winning the battle. If you hike, be aware of the possibility of snakes in the underbrush.
On the majority of my hikes I encounter a snake, mostly rattlers but not always. Today I saw a Sonoran Gopher Snake (photo attached) who wanted me to believe he was a rattler by rearing up and acting aggressive - problem with the act, he was about 12-18 inches long. Nonetheless, I gave him a wide berth and all was well.
Lots of grasshoppers out today and there are still a few patches of Bee Brush blooming and scenting the air - a long but pleasant hike.
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 Bell's Point -on Playground trail near the North end.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 9/8/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.70 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > service road (E) > Nature Loop > lanky Lackey > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo (E) > East Potts Creek 5.6 miles
Return East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett park > Winding Snake >Chaparral > Playground parking area 4.1 miles
Temps started in the mid 80's ended in upper 90's, sunny, light steady SW wind.
Trails are dry and in need of trimming which park personnel are doing. Due to rains in the recent past, there are portions of all the trails that could use some repair - either with fill dirt or rock.
Saw quite a few birds today including a juvenile male Vermillion Flycatcher, Yellow Billed Cuckoo, Loggerhead Shrike and numerous Mockingbirds, Sparrows and Quail.
Saw a fairly large rattler (photo attached) who I convinced to turn around and go back into the brush.
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
User:
MikeHikes - 9/4/2016
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Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Out Burkett park > Burkett trail > service road (ENE) > service road (W) > 5 Points Junction 2.5 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett trail > Burkett park 3.5 miles
Temps in the low 90's, partly cloudy, steady wind and slightly humid.
Almost all of the trails were dry with a few muddy spots. Trails could use another trim but they were all passable. No animal or reptiles seen, just some birds including this preening Roadrunner (photo attached). Quite a few folks on the trails for Labor Day weekend !
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Lookout
User:
MikeHikes - 9/1/2016
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 9.10 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Out Bell's Trailhead > service road (S) > Dinosaur > Badlands > River Bend > service road (E) > Cougar Lookout 5.6 miles
Return Cougar Lookout > Javalina > Lower Ghost Camp > North Slick Rock > service road (N) > Bell's Trailhead 3.5 miles
Temps in the mid-70's, very humid, cloudy, rain.
The trails had been mowed but were wet and mud due to recent rains. As I was hiking the rains started and continued for some time. Shelter was obtained at Cougar Lookout as I waited until the rains abated. On the return hike, the trails were even wetter and muddier than before, in one case a stream was gushing down a portion of a trail (photo attached). On the return leg, I had to use the service roads that had been recently scraped. On numerous sections, I was walking through ankle to calf deep water.
Prior to the rains I saw a rattlesnake lying by the trail as I rounded a bend - startled me as well as the snake but he slid sideways into the brush watching me all the time with a few rattles given. Also saw a Horned Toad and a few birds. The sagebrush and beebrush were blooming as well.
NOTES
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Trailhead.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks viewing area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend ghost camp.
WATER AVAILABILITY AT THE RIVER BEND GHOST CAMP IS FAIRLY RECENT. There had been water but about 2-3 years ago, it was shut off, now it is back on. This is significant because it is one of two water spots in the North Shore area.
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 8/21/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.60 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > service road (E) > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's trail > Burkett park > Burkett trail > East Potts Creek > Armadillo 5.0 miles
Return Armadillo (W) > West Potts Creek > Rollercoaster > Suzanne's trail > Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 5.6 miles
Temps in the low 70's to start and low 80's at end, mostly cloudy, intermittent winds, humid.
I went on a slow, careful trek today along this route. Recent rains have made the trails either (a) wet and muddy or (b) wet and rocky depending on how much of the soil was washed away. There were a few Bee Brush beginning to bloom once more so that was a pleasant scent to encounter. Saw lots of birds and there were more people on the trails than usual - I saw 1 runner, 2 mountain bikers and 4 hikers - not many, to be sure, but for this park, quite a few!
All in all, the trails need to be groomed and in some spots, repaired with fill dirt or rock to combat the erosion the rains have caused. The final section of Tasajilla Flats trail (the northernmost leg) is impassable - the vegetation is very thick and higher than the 7 foot tall signpost.
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 Bell's Point
User:
MikeHikes - 8/7/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 4.60 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Out Burkett park> Burkett > East Potts Creek > Armadillo (E) > Playground > Bell's Point 2.5 miles
Return Bell's Point > Playground (N) > service road (NE) > service road (SW) > Burkett > Burkett park 2.1 miles
Temp about 103, mostly sunny, light wind, HOT!
Fitness hike with friends. Saw a Great Horned Owl near Bell's Point and heard (twice) sounds of a cat but we couldn't see it. Don't know if it was a feral cat or a bobcat kitten.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point.
CAUTION - shaded areas have active wasp/hornet nests in the corners - be careful.
Park Mid-section Burkett to Cougar Overlook
User:
MikeHikes - 8/4/2016
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Solitude:
Distance: 8.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Out Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Rollercoaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook 5.3 miles
Return Cougar Overlook > service road (SW) > Burkett Trail > Burkett park 3.1 miles
Temp was 80 at start and 97 at end, sunny, no clouds, steady light SW breeze.
Haven't been to Cougar Overlook in quite awhile and I wanted to see how the N Concho River was flowing. Along the way, I saw three Roadrunners and it looked like it was one adult and two juveniles. Numerous small birds, no reptiles or animals at all.
When I arrived at the Overlook, I immediately saw the river, while still flowing, has decreased in depth - there is a prominent rock that has been completely covered with water but it is now visible to a small degree.
Walked back along the service roads which have been recently scrapped. Saw one mountain biker and that was it!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Shade and info kiosk available at Cougar Overlook.
CAUTION - all shade areas have active wasp/hornet nest so be careful where you sit!
South Shore Playground parking area Figure Eight
User:
MikeHikes - 7/29/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.50 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3 miles
Leg 2 - Playground parking area > Tasajillo Flats > service road (E) > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.7 miles
Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.8 miles
Temps in the upper 70's to upper 80's, sunny, some clouds, steady low breeze.
Two separate hikes connected by the Playground parking area. Roadrunner Loop is a 3 miles route that is a flat dirt trail with some shade. Saw quite a few birds including a Painted Bunting and a hummingbird. An easy way to stretch the legs.
The second hike is over very familiar terrain and is somewhat more difficult with rocky trails and slight hills. Park personnel have been working to clean the overgrown parts BUT there is a major blockage, to the point of it being immpassable, on the final portion of Tasajilla Flats trail (i.e., the northernmost portion that connects to Nature Loop). Recommend you do what I did - when you come to the final portion entrance, take the service road East and connect with the southern point of the Nature Loop trail. By doing so, you'll avoid all the overgrown area and not lose much mileage.
Saw quite a few birds including the juvenile Scissortail Flycatcher (photo attached). All in all the trails have been worked on but are not quite up to the level they have been in the past.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade and toilets available at the half way point on Roadrunner Loop.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Park Mid-section Burkett park to 5 Points Junction
User:
MikeHikes - 7/24/2016
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Solitude:
Distance: 6.10 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Out Burkett park > Burkett > service road (NE) > firebreak road (W) > 5 Points Junction 2.5 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett > Burkett park 3.6 miles
Temps at and above 100, sunny, humid and a steady breeze from the South.
Easy hike for the first part of the hike along roads although the fireroad had been mowed awhile back, some of the cut weeds were sharp!
Return route was along trails, some overgrown in parts but passable. Saw an owl but couldn't get a photo. Not much going on due to the time of day and the heat - most of the birds were staying still and there were a few lizards out - that's all.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Water, shade, info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point.
CAUTION - All shaded areas have wasp nests. The covered area at Bell's Point has wasp nest in each corner! Be aware where you sit.
Park Mid-Section Burkett park to 5 Points Junction
User:
MikeHikes - 7/19/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.60 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Out Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Rollercoaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.1 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett > Burkett park 3.5 miles
Temps in the 80's to start and mid 90's at end. Sunny and a steady light breeze from the South.
An easy hike today with absolutely no one else on the trails. I spotted some birds, a few lizards and two shed snake skins but no snakes - one discarded skin was almost 6 feet long. The bee brush is still blooming and putting out a fragrant scent but there were few wildflowers still in bloom. It is evident park personnel have mowed some of the trails but not all of them as there are more than a couple of sections which are VERY overgrown.
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.
CAUTION - Wasp/hornet nests are under all of the covered, i.e., "shade" areas. Be cautious when resting in the shade!
Park Mid-Section Burkett park to Bell's Point
User:
MikeHikes - 7/10/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 4.70 Miles
Duration: 2 hours
Out Burkett park > Burkett trail > East Potts Creek > Armadillo shortcut > Playground > Bell's Point 2.7 miles
Return Bell's Point > Playground (N) > service road (NE) > service road (SW) > Burkett Trail > Burkett park 2.0 miles
Temps in the mid 90's, sunny, a little humid and a steady wind.
Fitness hike with a friend. Parts of the trails are still overgrown but they are passable. Saw a Painted Bunting for the first time on the Playground Trail just below Bell's Point. This year I've seen more Painted Buntings at more locations in this park, than any time in the past. (photo attached)
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point.
CAUTION - at both locations, there are active wasp/hornet nests in the upper corners of the shade coverings. Be careful!!
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett park
User:
MikeHikes - 7/2/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 2.7 miles
Return Burkett park > Winding Snaker > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Temps in the low 80's, a few clouds and a steady breeze.
A nice hike today along familiar trails. Some portions of the trails could use another trimming but for the most part, they are passable. Saw an interesting bird nest (photo attached). The back story - whenever I hike I pick up trash so I always carry a bag with me. On some occassions, I've picked up too much trash and run out of space in my bag so when I find more trash, I stage it along the trail where I'll see it next time and gather it. A month or so ago, I staged a can and a broken bottle in the tree trunk just off a trail with the intent of gathering it when I came by next time. I waited too long as can be seen in the photo! A Mourning Dove decided the trunk was the perfect place to build a nest so, I'll give her a month or more before I return to clean out the trunk.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
South Shore Short hike
User:
MikeHikes - 6/25/2016
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Solitude:
Distance: 3.00 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Route Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop (S) > Horny Toad > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temp in the mid 80's, overcast and light wind.
A short hike today. Tasajilla Flats trail has been partially cleared of high vegetation BUT the final section is still EXTREMELY choked with vegetation - be prepared!
Nature Loop and Horny Toad trails have been cleared. All the trails are "rockier" because the recent rains washed off the topsoil, so wear good shoes! Didn't see any wildlife and not many birds were out either.
NOTES Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
South Shore Playground parking area Figure 8
User:
MikeHikes - 6/5/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.80 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Leg 2 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 6.7 miles
Temps in the low 80's, sunny w/clouds, steady light breeze.
We've had much needed and welcome, rain off and on for the past week so the trails are damp and slick for the most part - vegetation has gone WILD! In addition, when I hiked through portions of the trails that blocked the wind, the gnats were thick and FEROCIOUS!
There are sections of Tasajilla Flats and Roadrunner Loop that are extremely difficult to hike through - some of the brush is chest high and the trail was hidden. I talked to a ranger about closing some of the trails due to the thick vegetation, he told me the park personnel planned to begin trail maintenance this coming week.
Saw lots of birds today including a Blue Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, Yellow Billed Cuckoo, two Roadrunners and lots of Black-throated Sparrows.
I also saw a Mexican Ground Squirrel which is not common for the park (photo atttached).
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett Park
User:
MikeHikes - 5/29/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours
Out Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.2 miles
Return Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Lanky Lackey > Nature Loop shortcut > Horny Toad > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 2.8 miles
Temps in the mid 80's, partly cloudy and steady breeze.
Today, many birds were seen including a Blue Grosbeak (photo attached) as well as lots of lizards. The vegetation is growing over many sections of the trails although there are a few areas that have been cut. Caution is advised when on the trails because of snakes. A new alert for bees has been posted as well.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets 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
User:
MikeHikes - 5/22/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.80 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Out Burkett park > Burkett > East Potts Creek > Armadillo > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 3.4 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Armadillo (E) > East Potts Creek > Burkett > Burkett park 3.4 miles
Temps in the mid 80's, humid, cloudy and light wind.
Very humid and hot but a nice hike. There really wasn't much going on today; saw lots of lizards, some birds and one small horned toad. I watched a hawk being chased off by two smaller birds (photo attached) which looked like a pair of Kingbirds.
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets 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 Dinosaur Loop
User:
MikeHikes - 5/15/2016
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Rating:
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Solitude:
Distance: 4.70 Miles
Duration: 2 hours
Route Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > service road (SW) > service road (W) > Dinosaur Trail > service road (N) > Bell's Trailhead
Temps in the low 70's, cloudy and steady breeze.
Very nice day to hike with friends. Lots of cactus are blooming, other flowers are in bloom, lots of birds and a few lizards as well as a snake. The trails are becoming overgrown with vegetation and there is some kind of taller grass that has arrowheads that stick to your clothes as you pass by. Kept getting jabbed in my socks so was constantly stopping and pulling the thorny seeds out.
NOTES
Water is available at Bell's Trailhead. Look around for the fountain by the parking area.
Water , shade and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks viewing area. ONLY WATER AVAILABLE IN THE NORTH SHORE AREA.
South Shore Playground parking area to 5 Points Junction
User:
MikeHikes - 5/6/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 14.70 Miles
Duration: 6 hours
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 8.2 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground Trail >Armadillo (W) > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral> Playground parking area 6.5 miles
Temps in low 70's to start and upper 80's at end. Sunny and windy.
Lesiurely hike today. Major portions of the Tasajilla Flats trail is overgrown with vegetation - be careful and make sure you don't step on a snake! I saw lots of lizards, lots of birds including Black Throated sparrows, a Yellow Billed Cuckoo, a couple of Night Hawks, a Great Horned Owl and numerous Mockingbirds. There are many wildflowers out and the prickly pear cactus are starting to bloom as well. The scent of vanilla from the Bee Brush shrubs is very strong!
Found a dead Worm Snake that was about 4 inches long and as thick as a piece of heavy twine - there were no marks on him so I have no idea why he died. Further on, I found a dead lizard with no visible marks on him either.
I saw a mountain biker when I started and two mountain bikers near the end of the hike; otherwise, the trails were mine! A great hike overall!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park (visit on way out and back).
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point - 1/2 miles South from the northern end of Playground Trail.
South Shore Playground parking area to Burkett Park
User:
MikeHikes - 5/1/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.40 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop (short) > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park 3.2 miles
Return Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Temps in the low 60's, overcast, windy.
A good hike - saw lots of birds including a male Painted Bunting, a Bullock's Oriole, Lark Sparrows and lots of others. Also saw a rather large Coachwhip.
The trails are shaggy with new vegetation. A few sections have been cut because of an organized race yesterday but otherwise, the grass is growing.
Photo attached is of a hawk that has some serious looking damage to his wing yet didn't seem to have any issues with his flying ability.
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 Bell's Point
User:
MikeHikes - 4/24/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 4.70 Miles
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Out Burkett park > Burkett > East Potts Creek > Armadillo (E) > Playground > Bell's Point 2.7 miles
Return Bell's Point > Playground (N) > service road (ENE) > service road (SW) > Burkett > Burkett park 2.0 miles
Temps in the low 80's, sunny and steady wind.
Nice hike with friends. Saw a Coachwhip snake, a mating pair of Horned Toads, a porcupine and a roadrunner with a mouse in it's beak. Some trash on the trails as well but it wasn't much.
Only one low spot on the trail was muddy so I won't complain. All in all, a nice hike.
South Shore Playground to Burkett park
User:
MikeHikes - 4/10/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 5.90 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Route Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Suzanne's Trail > Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking lot 5.9 miles
Temps in the mid 70's, sunny and windy.
Fitness hike with friends. Not much to report. The trails are good, quite a few birds out but no reptiles or animals.
Any time you can hike with friends, it's a good hike.
Two Hikes in One Day
User:
MikeHikes - 4/5/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
First Hike -
Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Second Hike -
Out Burkett park > Suzanne's Trail > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4 miles
Return 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett park 3.6 miles
Temps in the mid 60's to start and upper 70's at end, sunny and steady, breeezy wind.
Wanted to do two hikes today and did. On the first hike, I saw three Vermillion Flycatchers which is very unusual because in all the years visiting this park, this is the first year I've seen ANY of these birds and now they're all over!
Second hike was just as interesting as I saw my first Black Chinned Hummingbird of the year as well as my first rattler. Also saw many other birds and a feral cat running on the trail. The vegetation continues to grow and the trails are looking shaggier all the time.
The scent of just blooming Bee Brush was carried on the steady winds as well as the scent of other flowers - very pleasant indeed!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
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 (near the North end of Playground Trail).
South Shore Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge
User:
MikeHikes - 4/2/2016
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Out Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Horny Toad > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > Roller Coaster> West Potts Creek > Armadillo (E) > East Potts Creek 4.5 miles
Return East Potts Creek (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.9 miles
Temps in the mid-50's to start and mid-60's at end, sunny and light northerly wind.
Another Verdin day! Prior to this year, I saw my first and only Verdin about 10 years ago - in the past 6 weeks, I've seen three Verdin in three different locations so unless the same bird is getting chased out of each area, there are a few around now.
Unfortunately, I also saw my second dead skunk - one last week at the north shore and one today. In both cases, the carcass was lying right in the middle of the trail and the body had been consumed. Nature can be cruel but .....
Picked up some trash from Horny Toad and hopefully I will continue to find less each trip. Quite a few people on the trails today but there was plenty of room for everyone.
All in all a nice hike!
NOTES
Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett park.