North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook and Back
San Angelo State Park
- 4/25/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.30 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook 6.0 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javalina > Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp (N) > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 3.3 miles
Temps started at 64, ended at 76. Overcast with a 0-5mph SW breeze. Humid.
Easy hike along dry or damp or muddy trails. Recent rains have helped produce an abundance of wildflowers throughout the park! The mesquite trees are full of lime green leaves and are producing golden fronds. Bee Bush is also blooming and perfume the air with their fragrance.
Today I saw the first Horned Lizard, i.e., "Horned Toad" of the year as well as the first sighting of a pair of Lark Buntings (photo attached). Numerous lizards were out as was a single fairly large feral hog that I inadvertently spooked while hiking. Fortunately, he ran away from me rather than toward me.
NOTES -
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available at nearby campsites.
Water, shade and info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 4/17/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.10 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 15 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 > Playground parking area 3.3 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Temp started at 65, ended at 85. Overcast then partially sunny with steady 5-10mph SW wind.
Easy hike along dry, easy to traverse, maintained trails. I saw two large groups of deer at the beginning of the hike but then no other animals were spotted. Birds were more numerous and I saw a group of Cedar Waxwings near the park entrance on Tasajilla Flats Trail. Scissortail Flycatchers were spotted in a half a dozen locations and Kingbirds were also spotted. Numerous flowers of yellow, blue and purple were scattered all along the park area. Bee bush is just beginning to blossom as well.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and abicycle 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 numerous campsites along Roadrunner Loop. There are three info kiosks and toilets along Roadrunner Loop as well.
South Shore - Playground Parking Area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 3/26/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.70 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg1 - Playground Parking Area > Chaparral > Tally Valley > Horny Toad (N) > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.3 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.6 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area 2.8 miles
Temp started at 66, ended at 80. Heavy then lighter overcast. Wind from West at 5-10mph.
Easy hike along dry easy to traverse trails. Saw a couple of deer families and one cottontail rabbit. Birds were more numerous, singing for mates. I spotted this year's first Vermillion Flycatcher at a distance (photo attached). Not much was going on today, the hike was enjoyable though!
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.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Armadillo to Cougar Overlook Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 3/22/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.50 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 15 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek (E) > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 4.5 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone Trail (N) > Cougar Overlook > service road (W) > River Bend (S) > 5 Points Junction 2.6 miles
Leg 3 - 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Potts Creek (E) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.4 miles
Temp started at 47, ended at 80. Sunny w/light 0-5mph SW breeze changing to 10-15mph West and NW winds.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. One white tail deer was spotted and some birds. LOTS of people on the trails today as it was a Saturday and nice weather, once it warmed up. Birds were singing for mates, a few were photographed but nothing spectacular (photo attached). Flowers are appearing, particularly small yellow flowers and small bunches of purple-ish flowers. The agaritas are still blooming as well. Overall a pleasant hike.
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.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
South Shore - Playground to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 3/12/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.50 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking Area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.6 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
Temp started at 51 and ended at 81. Mostly sunny with haze then partly cloudy. Steady 10-15mph West wind increasing to 20-25mph while on Leg 3.
East hike on dry trails. Only animals spotted were a few deer in a few places. The birds are singing for mates and the agarita bushes are covered with yellow flowers releasing a heady scent. A few people were on the trails but it was not crowded by any stretch of the imagination.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playround Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water and shade available at various campsites around Roadrunner Loop and there are three stations where water, toilets and info kiosks can be found.