Out - Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > South Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > Ghost Camp > service road (W) 2.5 miles
Return - Service road (W) > River Bend Trail (N) > Badlands > Upper Big Hill > service road connector (NW) > Rocky Creek > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 3.2 miles
Temps started at 63, ended at 75. Mostly cloudy, light and intermittent wind.
Slower paced hike along damp to wet/muddy trails. Trails were still wet from last Wednesday and Thursday's 5-7 inches of rain - rain that is always welcome! The North Concho River actually looks like a river now; there were no dry patches present as there were before the rains. Vegetation has green'ed up as well.
Deer were spotted as was a raccoon who trapped himself inside a dumpster. We gathered fallen branches and made an escape ladder for him. A short minute later, he used the branches to climb out and scampered into the brush. I hope he learned a lesson and will avoid the dumpster but ......
Some birds were out but not as many as I'd hoped for; we saw one large raptor as we were getting ready to leave.
Muddy shoes and feet but a good hike!
NOTES
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available at the nearby campground.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Campground.
