South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park - Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 6/14/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.10 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Isabel Harte Park Road (SW) > Lankey Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.0 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Isabel Harte Park Road (SW) > Nature Trail > Horny Toad > Talley Valley > Chaparral > Playground parking area 4.1 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 88. Overcast and humid, steady 5-10mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along dry to slightly damp trails. Vegetation covers various parts of the trails so caution is advised. Larger than normal number of trail users due to it being Saturday.
Usual birds were out as were cottontail rabbits, deer and two javelinas. A few juvenile birds were spotted and a pair of Mockers gave chase to a blackbird that was too close to their fledgling (photo attached). Wildlfowers are beginning to bloom again with the predominant color being yellow.
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.
South Shore - Playground to Burkett Park (Short Route)
San Angelo State Park
- 6/5/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.10 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Temp started at 76, ended at 84. Humid and hazy at first but gradually drier and sunnier. Intermittent SW 0-5mph breeze.
Shorter than usual hike along dry trails. Although the hike was short in length I saw a few interesting birds - one Bullock's Oriloe at the beginning of the hike and an Orchard Oriole at the end. Also saw a pair of Roadrunners hunting but only captured one of them hiding from me (photo attached).
I saw maybe one dozen cactus blooms still on the prickly pear cactus and the vast majority of wildflowers have disappeared BUT Lemonmint is beginning to appear in greater numbers. There are still quite a few thistles out but even they are diminishing.
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.
South Shore - Playground to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/29/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.80 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral (N) > Winding Snake> Burkett Park 3.1 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area 3.7 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temps started at 65, ended at 83. Overcast for Legs 1 & 2, then mostly sunny for Leg 3. Light and variable 0-5mph SW breeze.
Trails ran the gamut from dry to damp to muddy to rocky to smooth with a few portions of the trail, completely submerged in ankle deep rain runoff water.
Quite a few javelinas were present today (photo attached). One small family group had an adult member act in a very protective manner when he/she spotted me. It slowly walked toward me with hair bristled. I spoke calmly and stood my ground as the javelina stopped about 10 yards away. While it was watching me, a smaller javelina was able to cross the road and get to safety. At that point the defender calmly walked away from me, hair bristled upright. Later I saw other javelinas along other portions of the trail stand calmly and watched me saunter by.
I also saw the first of the year Jack Rabbits as well as more Cottontails. Birds were numerous and the gnats are becoming more noticeable. A lot of the wildflowers and cactus blossoms are gone although there are still plenty of Texas Thistles and Mexican Hats.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair staiton 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 Roadrunner Loop and there are three separate stations where water, shade, ino kiosk and toilets are available.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/23/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Playgrounnd 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 > Playground parking area 2.7 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 85. Sunny with fairly stead 10mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along recently groomed trails that are dry, easy to see and traverse. After parking, I saw this grey fox watching me from the cabins (photo attached). When I tried to get closer for a better photo, he decided it was time to leave and disappeared. Further down Tasajilla Flats I rounded a curve and was met by a skunk's rear end with the tail in the air! I quickly got past him and he went the other way - no chemical attack on his part for which I was grateful.
Otherwise, the usual birds were flying about, a few lizards were spotetd and surprisingly the cactus blooms seemed to be tappering off. There weren't as many blooms open or present on the prickly pear cactus as there were on my last hike in the park mid-section. Wildflowers also seem to be disappearing except for the Texas Thistle which is thriving in many different places.
All in all, a good short hike that helped break in a new pair of Teva hiking sandals.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at the Playground Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 5/18/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.00 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.2 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 2.3 Miles
Leg 3 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground (S) > Playground bypass > Potts Creek (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.5 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 91. Overcast and humid with steady 10-20mph SW winds.
A warm and humid hike along dry trails that are overgrown in numerous places with vegetation hanging over the trail. Caution is advised due to snakes and other park residents that could be underfoot!
Today I saw the year's first Grey Fox on West Potts Creek Trail. I saw him but by the time I had the camera up to take his photo, he was gone. About two minutes later I saw a very large and regal feral cat (photo attached) resting. I suspect if the fox saw the cat he would leave it alone, the cat was that large! Other sightings today were the year's first snake, a non-poisonous one, and both male and female Painted Buntings.
Another cautionary note - along Burkett Trail near the base of Highland Ridge there are two LARGE areas of ground dwelling bees on and very near the trail itself. I reported this to park personnel but until the bees leave or the park people somehow move them, be very cautious if you take this popular trail.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk are available at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade and info kiosk are availabe at Bell's Point.