North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Loop

I've seen the larger, dark cicadas at the park in the recent past, this smaller and "golden" colored cicada was the first one I've seen - I'll look for them again in 17 years ..... if I remember.

User: MikeHikes - 8/9/2021

Location: San Angelo State Park

Rating: 4stars

Difficulty: 1star

Solitude:

Miles Hiked: 9.70 Miles Elapsed Time: 4 hours, 15 minutes

Comments:

Leg 1 - Bell's trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead > North Slick Rock > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp > service road (W) > River Bend (100 yds) > Javelina Trail > Cougar Overlook 3.7 miles

Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > service road (W) > River Bend Trail (N) > Badlands > Service road (N) > Upper Big Hill > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 6.0 miles

Temp started at 76, ended at 91. South wind started at 5mph, increased and held steady at 10-15mph. Sunny, slightly humid.

Easy hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. Water is still in the North Concho River but it is not flowing; rather, it is held in pools which have definitely decreased in size from my last visit a month ago. Not much was happening today - I saw whitetail deer, a "blind in one eye" rattler curled up on Javelina Trail near Cougar Overlook and saw my first small 17 year cicada (photo attached). One biker and two hikers were seen as well. Quiet but enjoyable hike.

NOTES

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

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

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

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

Log Photos

Small cicada

Area around San Angelo State Park

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