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

A Grasshopper's Feast
More of the prickly pear tunas have ripened or soon will. This grasshopper found one and is enjoying the fruit inside.
User: MikeHikes - 8/12/2023

Location: San Angelo State Park

Rating: 4stars
Difficulty: halfstar  Solitude: 3stars
Miles Hiked: 7.50 Miles  Elapsed Time: 4 hours

Comments:

Leg 1 -  Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Rocky Creek > Lower Big Hill > North Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > lower Ghost Camp (S) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook       3.5 miles

Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail > service road (W) > River Bend (N) > Badlands > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead      4.0 miles

Temp started at 83, ended at 96.  Sunny, slightly humid with 10-20mph southerly wind.

Easy hike along dry trails.  Not much animal activity although I saw a beaver at Shady Trail and a little later, saw three multi-point bucks on the opposite side of the river and quite far away.  A few birds were spotted as well.  More and more of the prickly pear tunas have turned red and some of the ripe fruit has fallen to the ground (photo attached).

Nothing else of interest happened.

NOTES -

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

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

Info kiosk, shade and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.



Log Photos
A Grasshopper's Feast
Area around San Angelo State Park