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San Angelo State Park

Name: San Angelo State Park
Rating: 4.31

Type: Trail

Length: 50.00 Miles

Elevation Gain: N/A

Cost: $4.00

Rating:

(4.31)366

Difficulty: 1star

(1.05)

Solitude:

(4.65)

ADA Accessible: N/A

Bikes Allowed: Yes

Dogs Allowed: N/A

Interpretive Guide: N/A

City: San Angelo

County: Tom Green

More Information: More Info

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Photos

The owl was hunting when I interrupted him. He flew to the tree and squawked at me before settling down and watching as I took his photo. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Monarch Butterflies need milkweed!!!!! Help spread the seeds when they burst from the pods. (Photo by MikeHikes)

First time I've seen this bird. He was enjoying himself at the "No Swimming" pond near Burkett park -good thing the pond recently went from being a puddle to a fairly large body of water. (Photo by MikeHikes)

For years, beavers felled trees along Shady Trail but were never seen until today! Only saw one in this fairly large pool of water (river is not flowing) but he looked healthy enough. (Photo by MikeHikes)

The big rock is normally underwater but, as can be seen, the water just isn't there. (Photo by MikeHikes)

His expression sums up today's hike - nothing happening here. (Photo by MikeHikes)

For years I heard about a mythical "White Deer" at the park - on this hike, I saw it for the first time. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Calves are always hungry! Part of the state Longhorn herd at the park. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Was surprised to see this young coachwhip. I don't know if the warmer weather brought him out or some other reason. In any event, he met his end and the ants were having a feast. (Photo by MikeHikes)

The other members of the javelina family scampered into the surrounding brush but this one stayed in place sniffing and waiting to see if I'd follow - I didn't. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Looks like a winter visitor is back! (Photo by MikeHikes)

A good percentage of this trail is rocky with loose soil. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Only showing last 12 photos. View All Photos

Log Entries

North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Loop
By MikeHikes on 9/25/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 9.90 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes

Out - Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > DInosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road (NNE) > Cougar Overlook 6.3 miles

Return - Cougar Overlook > Javalina Trail > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead 3.6 miles

Temp started at 58, ended at 80. Sunny, no clouds, very light SW breeze.

An easy, peaceful hike along damp then dry trails. Numerous deer were out and a solitary owl was seen (photo attached) as I drove into the park. Some birds were out but nothing unusual to report. Really, nothing unusual or noteworthy to report, just a pleasant, peaceful hike in the state park with no crowds to disturb me.

NOTES

Info kiosk and bicycle repair station at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade are available in the nearby campgrounds.

Water, shade, and info kiosk available at Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.

Info kiosk, shade and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets availabvle at River Bend Campground.

North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Ghost Camp and Back
By MikeHikes on 9/16/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 5.70 Miles Duration: 3 hours

Out - Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > South Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > Ghost Camp > service road (W) 2.5 miles

Return - Service road (W) > River Bend Trail (N) > Badlands > Upper Big Hill > service road connector (NW) > Rocky Creek > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 3.2 miles

Temps started at 63, ended at 75. Mostly cloudy, light and intermittent wind.

Slower paced hike along damp to wet/muddy trails. Trails were still wet from last Wednesday and Thursday's 5-7 inches of rain - rain that is always welcome! The North Concho River actually looks like a river now; there were no dry patches present as there were before the rains. Vegetation has green'ed up as well.

Deer were spotted as was a raccoon who trapped himself inside a dumpster. We gathered fallen branches and made an escape ladder for him. A short minute later, he used the branches to climb out and scampered into the brush. I hope he learned a lesson and will avoid the dumpster but ......

Some birds were out but not as many as I'd hoped for; we saw one large raptor as we were getting ready to leave.

Muddy shoes and feet but a good hike!

NOTES

Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available at the nearby campground.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Campground.

Park Mid-section Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Figure 8
By MikeHikes on 9/7/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 11.40 Miles Duration: 5 hours, 15 minutes

Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL COnnector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek (E) > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.5 miles

Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Overlook > service road WNW > River Bend (S) > 5 Points Junction 2.8 miles

Leg 3 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > (East) Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 4.1 miles

Temp started at 69 and ended at 93. Sunny, no clouds and a steadily increasing SSW breeze.

A very good hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. Coming into the park, I saw numerous deer, javalinas and a "shore bird" at the pond closest to Burkett park; the "shore bird" is a juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron (photo attached) - the first I've seen at the park.

Not many birds were out at first but the numbers inceased as the hike progressed. I saw a lone Box Turtle that was the size of my fist along the trail just moseying along - been awhile since I saw the last one!

The hike went longer than I expected but was well worth it!

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.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.

South Shore Playground Parking Area to Burkett Park and Roadrunner Loop
By MikeHikes on 9/3/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 11.00 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.5 miles

Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground Parking Area 4.1 miles

Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.4 miles

Temp started at 69, ended at 86. Sunny with haze caused by high humidity, light breeze.

Long and uneventful hike along trails that were dry, easy to see and traverse. I saw numerous deer as well as the "usual suspects" in the bird viewing department. The only things worth mentioning -- the sighting of a foot long Ring-Necked snake, the second of this year, and a male Vermillion Flycatcher. Photos of the snake are of the "so what" type so I'm not bothering to post and the Vermillion Flycatcher was far away to the point the photos easily identified him but again only a "so what" photo.

As mentioned in a prior hike report, even if the hike was uneventful, it was still much better than sitting at home and looking at a computer monitor or television screen!

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 available at Burkett Park.

Water and shade are available at numerous campsites along most of Roadrunner Loop. Toilets and info kiosks are available at a few locations as well.

North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Loop
By MikeHikes on 8/26/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 8.40 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Out - Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Scenic Loop > North Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook 3.7 miles

Return - Cougar Overlook > service road (WSW) > River Bend > Badlands > service road (E) > Upper Big Hill > Rocky Creek > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 4.7 miles

Temp started at 68, ended at 78. Sunny very light breeze.

All trails were easy to see and traverse except for portions of North Slick Rock which could use some vegetation cutting. For many years, along the Shady Trail bordering the North Concho River, there have been trees felled by beavers but I never saw a beaver ... until today. As I hiked along the trail, I saw a "V" cutting along the pool of water in the riverbed (the water has not been flowing for some time now). I watched and saw a fairly large beaver glide along back and forth, seemingly unconcerned I was watching and taking photos. After three minutes of swimming back and forth, he decided he had enough and disappeared under the water. A bit further down the trail, I saw a Summer Tanager - not considered "rare" but definitely uncommon.

The rest of the hike was simply hiking along, listening to the birds and seeing deer bound away. A good hike!

NOTES

Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade are available in the nearby campground.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at the River Bend Campground.

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.

Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
By MikeHikes on 8/21/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 9.10 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes

Out - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > River Bend (N) > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook 5.8 miles

Return - Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.3 miles

Temp started at 68, ended at 89. Sunny with high, thin, overcast clouds. Light SE breeze.

All trails were dry and easy to traverse. Animals spotted were deer, longhorns and one monstrously large Jack Rabbit (no photo). There were a few birds out this morning - Mockingbirds, Doves and various sparrows as well as a lone Scissortail Flycatcher. The North Concho River has all but disappeared - there are patches of water but not much is visible (photo attached) - RAIN IS NEEDED !!!!!

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
By MikeHikes on 8/15/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 7.30 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes

Out - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.7 miles

Return - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground Parking Area 3.6 miles

Temps started at 82 and ended at 89. Mostly cloudy with light breeze.

A very uneventful hike. All trails were dry and easy to traverse. There were a few people on the trails but I observed no animals and only a few birds. Even though the hike was uneventful, it's always better to spend the morning hiking at the park rather than sitting at home in front of the TV or computer.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station at Playground parking area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

North Shore Parking Area to Ghost Camp Loop
By MikeHikes on 8/11/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 8.80 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes

Out - parking area > Bell's Trailhead > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail > Lower Big Hill > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road to Ghost Camp 5.7 miles

Return - Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > South Slick Rock Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > park road to parking area 3.1 miles

Temp started at 77, ended at 92. Sunny with few clouds, 10 mph Southerly breeze.

A good hike today! Trails were dry, easy to see and traverse which is not unusual but what made the hike memorable, was the variety of animals spotted. I saw an armadillo, a skunk, a porcupine, lots of deer and a few birds. Specifically, I observed and photographed, a "white" deer which I'd heard about for years but never saw until today (photo attached). Of course the deer was extremely spooky so the photo is not the best quality due to the distance involved, nonetheless, the deer is clearly visible and its easy to see, it's coloring is not that of an ordinary deer!

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available on or near Bell's Trailhead.

Water, shade, and info kiosk available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.

Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction and back
By MikeHikes on 8/8/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 8.30 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes

Out - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction 3.7 miles

Return - 5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Potts Creek (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 4.6 miles

Temp Started at 77, ended at 93. Sunny with a few clouds and light SW breeze.

All trails were easy to see and traverse. There were more people on the trails than I am used to seeing (due to today being Saturday). Javalinas, deer and some birds were out but once again, the birds were not as numerous as I had expected them to be. It was an easy, but uneventful, 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.

South Shore Playground parking area to Isabel Harte + Roadrunner Loop
By MikeHikes on 8/4/2020
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 8.50 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Park road to Isabel Harte 2.7 miles

Leg 2 - Park road to Isabel Harte > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > playground parking area 2.5 miles

Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.3 miles

Temp started at 70, ended at 95. Sunny with light, steady breeze.

Slow and easy hike along dry, easy to traverse trails. Deer were out as were some birds but nothing spectacular. Lots of green vegetation still but no wildflowers to speak of although there were a few sunflowers out.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk, bicycle repair station and toilets at Playground parking area.

Water and shade at various campsites parallel to Roadrunner Loop. A toilet is available at the mid-point.

Only showing last 10 log entries. View All Log Entries