South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 8/8/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.50 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lankey Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snale > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Temps started at 75, ended at 95. Sunny with 5-10mph SW breeze.
All trails were dry and easy to traverse BUT caution is advised for numerous portions of the trails due to loose soil, loose rocks on the trail or excess vegetation covering the trails. Not much to see today with regard to animals or birds - a pair of javelinas, some white tail deer, the usual suspects with regard to birds, and a few lizards.
Of note while on Roadrunner Loop, I saw a "first in a few years" rattlesnake. He was lying parallel to the trail and began to curl into a strike position as I approached. I backed off then walked as far as I could opposite him to get past. He watched me and when I was about ten feet away, he slowly crossed the trail and went into the cactus and agarita bushes. He was maybe 2 to 2.5 feet long and I only saw four sets of rattles.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle reapir station are available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade, info kiosks and toilets are available at three locations along Roadrunner Loop. Water and shade are available at numerous campsites along Roadrunner Loop as well.
North Shore - River Bend Campground Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 8/3/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.30 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - River Bend Campground > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area 2.9 miles
Leg 2 - Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > DInosaur Trail (S) > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road to Ghost Camp > Upper Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Campground 3.4 miles
Temp started at 75, ended at 90. Sunny, no clouds, intermittent 5-10mph SSW breeze. Somewhat humid.
The park experienced torrential flooding rains on 4 July 2025 which completely destroyed Shady Trail, North Scenic Loop and the Lower Ghost Camp trails all of which were closest to the North Concho River that feed the O.C. Fisher reservoir in the park. Camping areas were also destroyed which resulted in the closure of the North Shore camping area and more importantly, the access gates are LOCKED and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
I accessed the River Bend Campground which was not destroyed via another entrance on FM2288 that is locked but will open with the gate code that is provided when you either check-in at the Suth Shore gate or when you register via the park website.
There was a brief rain event the night prior to my hike which meant the trails in parts were very muddy but more importantly, triggered a gnat resurgence. The gnats were ferocious and with little to no breeze, they were very annoying. Also of note, since the North Shore had been closed for some time, the spiders took advantage and stretched numerous webs across the open trails.
As for the hike, the trails that are still open are do-able but caution is advised for a number of reasons - the rains carved deep gulleys in some of the trails, the sun + warm temps + water = vegetation growth. Numerous places have high vegetation.
Lots of flood debris is visible in the areas closest to the river but otherwise everything is pretty much the same. No animals were spotted but there were some birds as well as lots of spiders.
Because of the closed trails as well as the remaining trails needing work, I won't return to the North Shore until late October. This should be enough time for the park personnel to repair and rehabilitate the trails.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
Water, shade, and info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.
South Shore - Playground Parking Area to Burkett Parkto Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 7/26/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.70 Miles
Duration: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek Trail > service road (W) > Turkey Creek (S) > Potts Creek Trail (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster Trail > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 4.2 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.8 miles
Temps started at 75, ended at 92. Sunny at first then high whispy clouds. Steady 5-10mph SSW breeze. Low humidity.
All trails were dry and easy to traverse with exceptions being in spots due to high vegetation. Only animals spotted were a few deer and not many birds were out with a few exceptions being a Night Hawk, Vermillion Flycatcher and a family of swallows (photo attached). There were the usual Mockers and various sparrows as well. Being Saturday, there were more trail users but never enough to cause a problem.
BE ADVISED - Take care before sitting at the green metal picnic table & bench located at the junction of Burkett Trail and Potts Creek Trail ! There is an active wasp nest underneath.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and a dry toilet are available at Burkett Park.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Short Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 7/19/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Rollercoaster Trail > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > park service road (NW) > Cougar Overlook 5.3 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.4 miles
Temps started at 75, ended at 90. Sunny with a few high, wispy clouds. Fairly steady southerly breeze from 0-10mph.
Recently re-opened all trails north of Burkett Park EXCEPT for Shady Trail, North Scenic Loop and Lower Ghost Camp Trail. LOTS of flood damage that is being repaired.
The trails are easy to see and have a few spots where the rains washed all the topsoil off making the rocky base a little more treacherous to hike on. In other places, the topsoil was deeper and easier to hike on. Vegetation is growing and the rains have prompted the bee bush to come into bloom once again.
Only animals spotted were five Tom turkeys near Javelina Pond, not many birds out except for quail. Numerous single quail as well as coveys were seen.
For all the damage reported, the mid-section of the park appeared only slightly damaged. On a positive note, the flood waters have caused the North Concho River to be very full. So much so that a very prominent large rock that sits in the middle of the river and has always been visible, has disappeared under the river waters! (Photo attached).
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk are at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are at Cougar Overlook.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 7/11/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.50 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats 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 2.8 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temps started at 72, ended at 85. Slightly humid, sunny then overcast. Light SW breeze becoming steady 10mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along dry to damp trails that were affected by last week's torrentyial rain. Some portions of the trails have more topsoil and others less exposing even more rocks. Vegetation is growing quickly so some parts of the trails are not clearly visible until you are right on them.
Bee bush and a few wildflowers are blooming, there are numerous fawns running around (photo attached) as well as cottontail rabbits and the usual birds.
IMPORTANT NOTE - at this time, the North Shore of the park which includes ALL trails North of Burkett Park are CLOSED due to the torrential rains last week when 14 inches of rain fell in one hour! Repairs to the park and it's trails are scheduled but it may be some time before the trails in the park's mid and northern sections are open.
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.
Water and shade are available at numerous campsites running parallel to Roadrunner Loop. In addition there are three locations along the Loop with water, shade, info kiosks and toilets.