North Shore Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Lookout

Out     Bell's Trailhead > service road (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > Dinosaur > service road (NW 50 yds) > Badlands > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Lookout        5.8 miles

Return Cougar Lookout > Javalina > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend campground > South Slick Rock > service road (N) > North Scenic Loop > service road (E then N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead    3.5 miles

Temps 75 to start and 90 at end, sunny, steady SW breeze.

Last time I hiked this route, the trails were muddy and it started to rain which made them even worse.  Well, the once smooth trails have, because of the prior rains, become hard and difficult to traverse!  Humans, bicycles and animals had gouged the muddy dirt and when it dried, it looked and felt, like broken chunks of concrete.  It will be some time before the clods are broken down and the trails are smooth once again.

Saw quite a few Monarch butterflies today in the pecan groves and along the river banks.  A rattler was also encountered and was fairly aggressive but no harm was done to me or the snake.

A good hike overall and this hike brings me to the 1,500 recorded mile mark!!

NOTES

Water available at Bell's Trailhead in the nearby campground area.

Water, info kiosk and shade available at the Dinosaur track viewing area.

Info kiosk and shade available at Cougar Lookout.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Ghost Campground.  CAUTION when using the dry toilets.