South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Short Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 3/15/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.60 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking rarea > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Horhy Toad > Talley Valley > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.4 miles
Temp started at 69, ended at 84. Sunny and clear with very STRONG winds (15-30mph).
Easy to see and traverse trails. Deer, a lone javelina and some birds were out but most stayed in place because of the winds. Right at the beginning of the hike, a loud Roadrunner was either squawking at me or looking for a mate (photo attached). Other birds were singing but the majority stayed low and out of the wind. The mesquites are leafing out with lime green fronds. There will be an unusually cold weather front moving in tonight with temps expected to be 33 degrees - VERY different from the norm and not good for the just budding bushes and leafing trees.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground pakring area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park. IMPORTANT - as of this writing the water at Burkett Park is ON.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park - Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 3/6/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.70 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > park road to Isabell Harte > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 4.5 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > park road to Isabel Harte > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Temp started at 60, ended at 80. Steady 15-20mph SW winds. Cloudy then partly cloudy.
Easy hike along familiar trails in a different manner. No animals were spotted and the few birds seen were staying low to the ground because of the heavy, steady winds. No other trail users were spotted. The only thing to report is that the agarita bushes are beginning to bloom and spill their fragrant scent into the air (photo attached).
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 - IMPORTANT - WATER IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 2/27/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 3.5 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Potts Creek (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 4.2 miles
Temp started at 49, ended at 73. Sunny with intermitent SSW 5-10mph breeze.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. A few deer and a solitary javelina were spotted. A few birds were singing for mates but otherwise there was no animal or bird activity. A few agarita bushes are putting out a few flowers and the smell is very nice! Nothing much to report otherwise except in the notes below.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.
Water,shade, and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
SPECIAL NOTE - as of today (Feb 27, 2026) water IS NOT AVAILABLE at any of the locations. Unknown when it will become available.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 2/20/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.10 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.1 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temps started at 44, ended at 60. Wind from NE at 5-10mph and felt colder than normal. Overcast and dreary.
Easy to see and traverse trails with absolutely no animal or bird activity due to the weather. No photos taken and not much to say about the hike except it was a hike and I got some exercise.
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. IMPORTANT - work continues at Burkett Park so I couldn't check on water availability.
Water and shade at various campsites as well as three places where water, shade, info kiosks and toilets are available along Roadrunner Loop.
Park Mid-Section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook
San Angelo State Park
- 2/13/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.40 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 45 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road to gate > service road to Cougar Overlook 6.3 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.1 miles
Temp started at 54, ended at 77. High overcast clouds. Steady, Southerly breeze increasing to 10mph.
Easy hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. Deer were spotted coming into the park but none were seen on the trails. No other animals were seen either but there were a few Turkey Vultures and Black Buzzards spotted at Cougar Overlook. A lone mountain biker passed me near Burkett Trail on my return leg but that was it - the park was very quiet and still.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park. (see below for note #1)
Water, shade, info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction. (see below for note #2).
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
IMPORTANT INFO -
NOTE 1 - as of Feb 13, 2026 the park is working on Burkett Park to install a new picnic table area as well as a new water fountain. The dry toilets are still available at this time but I don't know if the water is available.
NOTE 2 - as of Feb 13, 2026 the water at 5 Points Junction has been turned off. Bring plenty of your own water and/or check with park personnel to ensure there is water available.