North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Figure 8

Leg 1 -  Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur (S) > Lower Big Hill > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > service road (W) > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook   6.0 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail > River Bend (NW) > service road (NE) > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp (N) > North SLick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead     4.1 miles

Temp started at 66, ended at 84.  STRONG and steady SW wind 15-20mph w/gusts even stronger.  Sunny with a few clouds.

Trails looked good and were easy to traverse.  Today was another leisurely hike but there were only a few deer spotted at the beginning of the hike and few birds (photo attached) were spotted once the winds picked up.  Branches had fallen and were cleared, trash had blown in and was picked up so it was an uneventful hike with one exception - when I first, started I checked out the watering hole on Shady Trail and saw a male Axis Deer on the other side of the river hiding in the trees.  No chance for a picture but I could tell it was an Axis buck by the shape and size of his antlers - LARGE!

NOTES -

Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Bell's Trailhead.  Water and shade available in teh nearby campground.

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

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

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