San Angelo State Park

Out    -   Burkett park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road (NW) > Cougar Overlook       5.7 miles

Return -  Cougar Overlook > service road (SE) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park      3.1 miles

Temps started in the low 70's, ended in mid-80's.  Sunny with a slight NE breeze.

I was surprised when, as I was driving into the park, a doe crossed the road in front of me with two fawns - the fawns were so small that at first I thought a pair of dogs were chasing the doe!  They caught their mother and the three of them continued on their way (no photo - damn!).

On Monday (about 36 hours earlier), a severe storm hit the park with heavy winds, hail and rain.  The bird viewing structure was destroyed, damage was done to some camping sites/pavillions and the wind was so strong, it flipped a 5th wheel onto it's side.  When I began my hike, the trails were mostly damp to slightly muddy so they were easy to traverse BUT the earlier strong winds, caused many trees to lose branches of various sizes which were on the trails.  I was able to clear most of the storm debris from the trails so that's not an issue.  Unfortunately, the rain washed away some of the topsoil on the trails so caution is advised due to the loose rocks on the trails.

Immediately noticeable as I hiked the trails, were the numerous Texas millipedes and Velvet Mites!  I avoided them as much as possible but they were so numerous, especially the Velvet Mites, I may have squashed a few unintentionally.

Birds were out and I watched a Lark Sparrow try to get a juvenile to hunt on it's own.  Birds may have smaller brains than humans but they know something a lot of folks don't want to acknowledge - the young have to survive on their own and can't be allowed to rely on their parents forever - off my "OK Boomer"  soapbox.

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.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area      3.5 miles

Leg 2 -  Playground parking area > Horny Toad > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park     3.8 miles

Leg 3 -  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area     2.9 miles

Temps in the low to mid-80's, steady 15+ mph winds with frequent strong gusts, sunny but hazy with wind blown dust.

Yesterday's 106 degree temp prevented me from hiking, so I decided today would be a good day to hike.  The trails are dry and most of them are in need of mowing.  Most of the wildflowers have disappeared but there are still patches of flowers here and there.  There are a few areas full of vanilla scented Bee Bush but even they are dissipating.  The strong, steady wind kept most of the small birds either in the scrub or if they took flight, it was for short distances.  The Turkey Vultures were the only big birds I saw flying at any altitude today.  I saw three bison calves (photo attached) when I was on Roadrunner Loop - this was the first time I've seen three calves at the same time.   

On my last three hikes, including today's, I spotted a male Painted Bunting.  Each hike was in a different area of the park, so it appears the Painted Buntings are more numerous in the park than I imagined. 

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at Playground Parking Area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets are available at the mid-point of Roadrunner Loop.

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

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park       3.4 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek Trail > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park    3.8 miles

Leg 3 -  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area   2.8 miles

Temps in the low 70's to mid 80's.  Overcast then mostly sunny with a slight intermittent breeze.

A pleasant but somewhat crowded hike at the park.  "Crowded" because there were numerous bikers and hikers, a few trail runners, couples with children, couples with dogs, couples by themselves.  Everyone without exception, was pleasant and civil to one another so I had no issue with anyone BUT I'm used to seeing maybe one other person, if that, on the trails as I hiked. I won't complain too loudly though because even with the numerous individuals on the trails,  there were still many miles where I didn't see or hear anyone.

I logged my first sighting for the year of a living snake (I saw a few dead ones on earlier hikes).  The snake was a Northern Ring Necked Snake that was about eight inches long and as thin as a piece of paracord. It was on the Lanky Lackey trail and as I approached, it slithered away too quickly for me to get a photo but, nonetheless, I could identify it.  I saw lots of birds, a family of five javalinas, numerous deer and a couple of cottontail rabbits as well as one Jack Rabbit.

A very pleasant day!

NOTES

All trails names are in accordance with the new signage.  Two important changes  -

    (1)  "Horny Toad" has absorbed the first 100 yards or so of Tasajilla Flats so Horny Toad now starts near Playground Parking Area and Tasajilla Flats starts where it connects to Horny Toad. 

    (2)  "Potts Creek Trail" (formerly listed as East Potts Creek) and "Playground Trail" have absorbed what used to be listed as "Armadillo Trail".

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.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park    3.4 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area    3.0 miles

Temps started at 75, ended at 82.  Cloudy, gloomy and HUMID with sporadic sunlight until the end of the hike when the sun came out.  Light wind.

Uneventful hike along mostly groomed trails - about half of Winding Snake needs to be mowed!  Birds were singing but not out and about as I had hoped.  No animals were seen with the exception of a cottontail rabbit and a Mexican ground squirrel. I saw a solitary lizard near the end of the hike.  There are more wildflowers in bloom as well as a sizeable number of cactus blossoms.  Not much else to report.

NOTES

NEW Trail signage is up so I'll use the trail names that are on the sign.  Example - "Nature Loop" is now known as "Nature Trail".

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

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

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Loop > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park    3.9 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area                    3.4 miles

Leg 3 -  Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area           3.2 miles

Temps started at 65, ended at 85.  Sunny with a steady 10-20 mph wind from the South then shifting from the West.

Hiked along dry, easy to see and traverse trails; some have been recently groomed.  Numerous birds were heard but rarely seen - the high winds kept most birds stationary and when they did fly, it was low and for short distances.  No animals spotted.  Wildflowers are increasing with more yellow and white flowers but the Indian Blankets are making their appearance in scattered clusters along the trails.

I saw numerous lizards (photo attached) while on Roadrunner Loop.  These were the first lizards spotted this year and I have no idea why they all congregated on Roadrunner Loop.

There were two other cars at the park but I didn't see a single person on the trails the entire time I was out. 

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground parking area. TOILETS ARE CLOSED DUE TO THE VIRUS AND THE WATER IS INSIDE THE RESTROOMS. Water is available at the nearby campsites.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.  TOILETS ARE CLOSED DUE TO THE VIRUS.

Water and shade are available at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop.

Info Kiosk, water, and toilets available at the mid-way point on Roadrunner Loop.  TOILETS ARE CLOSED DUE TO THE VIRUS.