North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Loop

Leg 1 -  Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail > Upper Big Hill > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Badlands > River Bend > service road (WNW) > Cougar Overlook     6.1 miles

Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javalina > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead     3.5 miles

Temp started at 68, ended at 78.  Overcast and humid for Leg 1, then mostly sunny.  Light breeze.

An easy hike this morning.  Not much activity besides a few deer for the first leg of the hike then when the Sun came out and the temperature rose, numerous grasshoppers were out as well as a few birds. Of note, I saw a Plains Leopard Frog for the first time along Dinosaur Trail, a little far from the creek but healthy.  Also worth noting - the Monarch have arrived!  The park is on their flyway and this morning I saw quite a few of them near the pecan trees on Shady Trail and the North Scenic Loop.

NOTES

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

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

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

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