Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park       3.0 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla FLats > Playground parking area   3.7 miles

Temps started at 70, ended at 77. Overcast then partly cloudy and humid with steady 5-10mph SW breeze.

Shortened hike along wet to muddy trails.  I planned to do a longer hike but with the trail being as muddy and slippery as it was, decided to forego a longer hike and settled for a shorter one.  Deer, cottontail rabbits, a Roadrunner as well as the return of The King (photo attached) were spotted.  Other birds were out singing for mates but overall it was a case of "I hear the birds but they are staying too low to photograph."  One exception - after flushing out numerous coveys of quail while hiking, I finally spotted one quail running along the ground.  Also, at Isabel Harte Day Use Area, there appear to be a pair or even two pairs of Killdeer that are now park residents.  I'd like to see some hatchlings but I'll have to wait a bit to do so.

NOTES -

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

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

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park   4.0 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral >Playground parking area    2.8 miles

Leg 3 -  Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area    3.1 miles

Temps started at 69, ended at 84.  Sunny with a steady Southerly 10 mph breeze.  Slight humidity.

Mileage based on prior hike - no pedometer today!

Easy hike along familiar trails.  Quite a few deer were out including a younger one or two.  Birds were singing for mates and a few high flying pairs of cormoronts and Great Blue Herons were heading North.  Not much to see except another sign Spring has arrived - the bee brush(bush) has started to bloom on some of the bushes along Tasajilla Flats and Roadrunner Trails (photo attached).  The faint scent of vanilla combined with the scent of the agarita blooms on nearby plants was a pleasure to enjoy.

SPECIAL INFO -  today was the first time in a few years I had a rattlesnake encounter.  It happened on the last mile of Roadrunner loop near the gatehouse.  I was hiking back to Playground when I heard a "buzzing" sound coming from the left.  My first thought was to look at the nearby mesquite for a cicada and wondered why it was out so early.  The buzzing increased and I quickly realized it was a rattler but I didn't see him.  I moved as far to the right as possible and hurriedly walk away until the noise abatted.  Curious, I slowly walked back and as I did the ratttling increased so I stopped and finally saw the 3-4 foot long snake - he was coiled into a strike pose about 10 feet away from me hidden in the shaded grass near the left edge of the trail.  I backed away again until he stopped rattling and watched as he uncoiled and slowly made his way to the mesquite tree.

I was near the gatehouse and reported it to the rangers.  They said mine was the third report this week - and today is Wednesday!  ALWAYS watch where you place your feet!!!

NOTES -

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 trailhead.  Be advised the water hose needs to be gripped near the base otherwise you will be sprayed as it has a crack in it.

Water and shade are available at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop.  There are three areas with water, shade, info kiosks and toilets available at various place along Roadrunner Loop.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking rarea > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park    3.2 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Horhy Toad > Talley Valley > Chaparral > Playground parking area    3.4 miles

Temp started at 69, ended at 84.  Sunny and clear with very STRONG winds (15-30mph).

Easy to see and traverse trails.  Deer, a lone javelina and some birds were out but most stayed in place because of the winds.  Right at the beginning of the hike, a loud Roadrunner was either squawking at me or looking for a mate (photo attached).  Other birds were singing but the majority stayed low and out of the wind.  The mesquites are leafing out with lime green fronds.  There will be an unusually cold weather front moving in tonight with temps expected to be 33 degrees - VERY different from the norm and not good for the just budding bushes and leafing trees.

NOTES -

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

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.  IMPORTANT - as of this writing the water at Burkett Park is ON.

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (N) > Flintstone > 5 Points Junction    3.5 miles

Leg 2 -  5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek > Potts Creek (W) > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park   4.2 miles

Temp started at 49, ended at 73.  Sunny with intermitent SSW 5-10mph breeze.

Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails.  A few deer and a solitary javelina were spotted.  A few birds were singing for mates but otherwise there was no animal or bird activity.  A few agarita bushes are putting out a few flowers and the smell is very nice!  Nothing much to report otherwise except in the notes below.

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.

SPECIAL NOTE - as of today (Feb 27, 2026) water IS NOT AVAILABLE at any of the locations.  Unknown when it will become available.

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > River Bend > service road to gate > service road to Cougar Overlook      6.3 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Flintstone > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park   3.1 miles

Temp started at 54, ended at 77.  High overcast clouds.  Steady, Southerly breeze increasing to 10mph.

Easy hike along dry and easy to traverse trails.  Deer were spotted coming into the park but none were seen on the trails.  No other animals were seen either but there were a few Turkey Vultures and Black Buzzards spotted at Cougar Overlook.  A lone mountain biker passed me near Burkett Trail on my return leg but that was it - the park was very quiet and still.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.  (see below for note #1)

Water, shade, info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.  (see below for note #2).

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

IMPORTANT INFO -

NOTE 1 - as of Feb 13, 2026 the park is working on Burkett Park to install a new picnic table area as well as a new water fountain.  The dry toilets are still available at this time but I don't know if the water is available.

NOTE 2 - as of Feb 13, 2026 the water at 5 Points Junction has been turned off. Bring plenty of your own water and/or check with park personnel to ensure there is water available.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Chaparral Trail > Winding Snake > Burkett Park   3.0 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > park road to Isabel Harte > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Playground parking area  3.8 miles

Temps started at 31, ended at 44.  Overcast, light 0-5mph SW breeze.

A cold overcast day for a hike but as the Norwegians say "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."  My clothing was good and kept me warm and secure as I hiked.  A few groups of deer who had escaped last week's hunt were running about and a few birds were also spotted (photo attached).

Trails were fine and as usual, I found trash which I went to deposit into a dumpster at the Isabel Harte Day Use Area.  When I opend the dumpster, I found it was empty except for one fairly large, frightened raccoon huddled in a corner of the cold dumpster.  After retrieveing a large broken mesquite branch, I attempted to prod the raccoon to climb out but he was too scared so I left the branch securly propped in the corner near him and continued my hike.

We are preparing for severe weather in a few days and I worried about the raccoon being so frightened that he wouldn't leave the safely of the dumpster.  I decided to change my hike route and check on him.  If he was still in the dumpster, I'd alert park personnel to see if they could resolve the matter.  When I returned to the dumpster, about an hour later, it was empty - the raccoon had used the branch to escape and return to the wild.  A happy ending!

NOTES -

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

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

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 be conducted 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.

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.

Leg 1 -  Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > park service road (SW) > Rocky Creek Trail > park service road (S) > South Slick Rock > River Bend Campground > Upper Ghost Camp Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook       3.5 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail > River Bend (W then N) > Badlands > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead     3.9 miles

Temp started at 50, ended at 56.  Overcast for the 1st 2/3 of the hike then partly sunny with clouds.  0-5mph Westerly breeze, light humidity.

Easy hike along recently opened trails with the Lower Ghost Camp Trail still CLOSED.  Shady Trail and the North Scenic Loop have reopened.  The July 4th flood was pretty severe and left a lot of debris scattered about (photo attached).

Due to the temperature and the overcast skies, there was almost no bird activity and only a few deer were out.  The only good news is the river still has water in it.  For this park, that is very welcome news!

NOTES - 

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

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

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

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 > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park     3.7 miles

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

Temsp started at 36, ended at 54.  Overcast with 5-10mph WSW breeze.

An easy hike along dry and easy to traverse trails.  Cold at first but gradually warmed up.  LOTS and LOTS of deer spotted - especially 6 and 8 point bucks.  No doubt they sought refuge from the recent hunt of a few days ago.  Not many birds spotted although I saw a red tailed hawk at a distance and quite a few quail.  Overall it was a good hike to enjoy nature while it was cold outside.

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.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Chaparral > Tally Valley > 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    3.1 miles

Temp started at 46, ended at 74.  Sunny with light, intermittant SW breeze.

Easy hike along dry and easy to see trails.  Nothing unusual about today's hike.  I saw deer and javelinas, birds and a few raptors in the air, few to no insects and no reptiles.

As of this date, the trails North of Burkett Park remained closed due to hunting.

NOTES - 

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

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

Leg 1-  Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur (S) > Lower Big Hill > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Slick Rock > River Bend Campground > Upper Ghost Camp > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook      5.0 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > service road (W) > River Bend Trail (N) > Badlands > Service road (NE) > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead     4.2 miles

Temps started 59, ended at 85.  Sunny with steady 5-10mph SSW Breeze.

Easy hike along dry, easy to see trails.  It has been a few months since I hiked the North Shore due to the July 4th flood.  Trails are still closed (Shady Trail, North Scenic Loop and Lower Ghost Camp trails).  The rest of the trails are still there and hike-able.

Monarch Butterflies are beginning to migrate South for the winter.  I saw numerous single fliers as well as a few bunches mostly hanging around the pecan trees.

Biggest surprise was seeing a small herd of Axis Deer (photo attached) fairly close to the park entrance.  I've occasionally observed their ancestors for a few years when I would see them while hiking Shady Trail.  I was told the Axis Deer had escaped from a hunting ranch that is across the road from the park.

NOTES -

Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead.  Water and shade is available at nearby campsites.

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

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

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