North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Big Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 1/16/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.70 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road (N) > Cougar Overlook 6.1 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > South SLick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 3.6 miles
Temp started at 44, ended at 54. Sunny, few clouds. SW wind at 10mph, shifted to N wind at 20+mph with gusts.
Breezy, cold hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails with one major exception - Lower Ghost Camp (next parapgraph). Numerous whitetail deer survived the recent hunt that ended yesterday. In addition, I spotted an Axis deer buck and doe! Most birds were low to the ground and stayed in shrubbery due to the steady and cold winds. No photos taken for this hike.
Lower Ghost Camp Trail - at the southern-most end of the trail, the caution tape had been removed as well as any "Trail Closed" signs. All was good until I got to the river bend area where it was apparent the trail was gone and animals and/or humans had made an improvised trail of sorts. Followed the "new" trail until it came to the River Bend Campground where the tape and sign was back in place. Don't know if hooligans removed the other signage or if the park personnel did. In either case, cauition is advised if you choose to use this trail.
NOTES -
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available at campsites nearby.
Water, shade, and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Bell's Point and back
San Angelo State Park
- 1/8/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 5.80 Miles
Duration: 3 hours
Route - Burkett park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek Trail > Playground Trail > Bell's Point and return along the same route.
Temp started at 60, ended at 64. Sunny w/some cloudy, 10-20mph steady SW wind.
Easy hike shortened by a phone call. Deer were seen and I wish them luck for next weeks hunt which will beconducted throughout the entire park. Only a very small section at the extreme South end of the park will offer sanctuary.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 1/1/2026
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.50 Miles
Duration: 5 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 > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Temp started at 40, ended at 57. Brief sunny then overcast. Steady 5-10mph SW Breeze.
Easy hike on New Year's Day. Quite a few deer were out (photo attached) as well as a feral hog on Winding Snake. No threat was made so it was a peaceful encounter. A few birds were out but overall, it was just a pleasant hike!
Starting miles for 2026 - 5011.4
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground parking arrea.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets availabvle at Burkett Park.
Water and shade available at numerous campsites along Roadrunner. Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at three locations along Roadrunner.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 12/26/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek (W) > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Overlook 5.3 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > park service road (SW then S) > Trailhead to Trailhead > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.4 miles
Temp started at 60, ended at 77. Sunny then slightly overcast. Steady SW breeze at 5-10mph.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. A few deer were spotted but today was bird day. Cardinals, White Crowned Sparros, Meadowlarks, a Kestrel, and red-tailed hawk and the biggest surprise was a Belted Kingfisher at Turkey Creek. What water is there was stagnant so I assume the Kingfisher quickly moved on to a better hunting locale. The trails were good, the weather pleasant and the solitude was nice - a good hike!
This was my last hike for 2025. Here are a few stats -
Number of hikes - 43
Beginning miles - 4636.7
Ending Miles - 5011.4
Miles Hiked - 374.7
Avg Miles per hike - 8.7
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
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 parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 12/22/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.60 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
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 3.1 miles
Temp started at 39, ended at 70!! Sunny with some overcast clouds, steady SW 5-10mph breeze.
Easy hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. Deer were spotted as was a songle javelina, numerous Mockers, a Loggerhead SHrike, sparrows and a porcupine sleeping at the top of a tree (photo attached). Not much activity until it warmd up a bit and even then it was pretty quiet. One negative - I found 1/2 of a baby porcupine on the Nature Trail. No idea what got him but I hope it was a quick death.
On a more positive note - today I passed the 5,000 recorded mile mark hiking on Texas trails - the vast majority of the mileage was at San Angelo State Park where I've hiked for almost 25 years. I know the trails well!
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.
Three stations with water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available along Roadrunner Loop. Water and shade available at numerous campsites along the way.