Park Mid-Section Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Figure 8
By MikeHikes on 8/21/2019
Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 10.60 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Rollercoaster > West Potts Creek > Armadillo > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction 4.3 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Overlook > service road (WNW) > River Bend (S) > 5 Points Junction 2.7 miles
Leg 3 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > Armadillo > East Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.6 miles
Temps started at 74 and ended at 96. Sunny with light then a steady breeze .
Since we've had no rain for almost two months and have had almost a month of 100+ temps, the trails are dry, easy to see and traverse BUT the same weather conditions have caused the soil to become so dry and loose, it is easier to lose your footing on the rocky portions of the trails. Surprisingly, the majority of the park, for the most part, is still green! There were a few portions of the Playground and Armadillo trails that could use some grooming but overall, the trails were very good!
Perhaps due to the heat or the time of the year, the bird activity is minimal. What birds that were out were mostly making short flights from bush to bush or down to the ground - there were very few in the tree tops singing or trying to draw attention to themselves.
I saw a fox (photo attached) which is becoming a normal event. In the past, seeing a fox was rare - for the last few hikes, I've seen at least one each time. Don't know if the population is increasing or they are hungry and looking for food when I happen to be out.
I saw and learned something about the longhorns today. The park is divided in sections by barbed wire fences and cattleguards so they can run the cattle in different locations. Well, while on Flintstone heading to Cougar Overlook, I saw three young longhorns by a cattle guard and fence. Two of the calves spooked and ran away from me down the fence line. The third, a slightly larger calf, ran toward the cattleguard and jumped over the cattleguard while simultaneously ducking under the poles supporting the cattleguard and fence thereby joining the rest of the herd on the other side of the barbed wire fence!
I was told some of the larger longhorns jump over the cattleguard with no problem - I learn something new every day!
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Info kiosk, shade and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
Water and shade available at Bell's Point.