South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park and back
San Angelo State Park
- 11/6/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 6.30 Miles
Duration: N/A
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.
South Shore - Playground Parking Area to Burkett Park Loop + Roarunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 10/22/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.50 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 45 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey Trail > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.7 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground Parking Area 3.1 miles
Temp started at 43, ended at 83. Sunny with intermittent SW 0-5mph breeze.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. Due to the temperature, this was my first of the season sweatshirt + shorts + shoes hike. The sweatshirt came off when I reached Burkett Park but had most assuredly needed for Leg 1 of the hike.
The Monarch Butterflies became more numerous but nor in flocks as the hike progressed and the day warmed. Lots of single then small groups of butterflies flew overhead - all heading South. Javelinas as well as white tail deer (photo attached) were seen and numerous birds such as Mockers, Scissortail Flycatchers and a horde of wood peckers were spotted at various times.
All in all a cold start but quickly warmed up hike.
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.
Water and shade availabe at numerous camsites along Roadrunner. Info kiosks, water and toilets are available at three locations along Roadrunner Loop.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook and Back
San Angelo State Park
- 10/16/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.20 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
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.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/30/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.50 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park 3.3 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Horny Toad > Talley Valley > Chaparral > Playground parking area 3.2 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.0 miles
Temps started at 60, ended at 83. Sunny with a slight 0-3mph SW breeze.
Easy hike along dew dampened to dry trails. There wasn't much going on but it was good to go out and stretch my legs listening to the birds sing (photo attached). Only a few deer were spotted, nothing really to report.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available 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. Three areas have water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available on Roadrunner.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to 5 Points Junction Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 9/23/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.70 Miles
Duration: N/A
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > Playground Trail > Bell's Point > Playground Trail (N) > Flintstone > 5 Point 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 79, ended at 88. Sunny, steady SW breeze at 10-15mph.
An east hike along dry and familiar trails. A few spots have vegetation growing but not enough to completely cover the trails - caution is still advised so you don't step on a park resident. Some of the desiduous trees are beginning to lose their leaves but he predominant mesquites are still very green as are most of the rest of the vegetation. A few flowers are still in bloom (photo attached) and there are still lots of cactus tunas available for consumption.
Monarch butterflies are due to arrive soon on their migration to Mexico. A few birds are beginning to migrate but not in great numebrs yet. LOTS of fawns and younger javelinas and there seem to be more Roadrunners and rabbits out as well.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.