South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett (Short Loop) + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 8/27/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.20 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Horny Toad Trailhead > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral Trail > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Temp started at 74, ended at 92. Mostly sunny with some clouds, ligh SW breeze at 5-10mph.
East hike along recently groomed trails. Not much wildlife or birds were out today. I saw a 3-4 foot long coachwhip snake on Roadrunner Loop as well as a Horned Lizard a little later. Otherwise, it was just a pleasant hike in the park with lots of solitude and silence.
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.
Water and shade available at various campsites along Roadrunner Loop. Water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available at three locations along Roadrunner Loop.
Park Mid-Section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 8/22/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.60 Miles
Duration: 4 hours
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster Trail > West Potts Creek Trail > Potts Creek Trail > Turkey Creek Trail > 5 Points Junction 4.2 miles
Leg 2 - 5 Points JUnction > Flintstone (S) > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground (S) > Potts Creek Trail > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.4 miles
Temps started at 72, ended at 91. Sunny with very light 0-5mph N breeze. Slight humidity.
Easy hike along dry to dew dampened trails. Most of the trails traversed were easy to hike but there were a few areas of high vegetation. Loose soil and rocks on the trail make any hike one of caution and watching where you put your feet. I saw a few coveys of quail as well as some young quail on the trail. White tail Bucks of all sizes are displaying their new antlers and there are still numerous fawns running around with their mothers. A few javelinas were spotted at the beginning of the hike but not much wildlife was spotted.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk is available at 5 Points Junction.
Water, shade, and info kiosk is available at Bell's Point.
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.