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

Leg 1 -  Bell's Trailhead > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Dinosar Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Lower Big Hill Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road (to Ghost Camp ENE) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook       6.2 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail > River Bend Spur (N) > service road to Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp Trail (N) > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) >service road (NW) > Rocky Creek > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead   4.2 miles

Temp started at 79, ended at 95.  Sunny with an inconsistent and slight SW breeze.

Easy but hot, hike along familiar trails in a different pattern.  Not much wildlife was spotted except for seeing two young bucks drinking at the river on Shady Trail.  I also saw a Horned Lizard making this five hikes in a row when one was spotted - a new record!  I also saw my "first for the year large snake" when I startled a greenish coachwhip on the Lower Ghost Camp Trail at the River Bend campground.

I also saw one Queen butterfly (photo attached) during the five hour hike.  The drought is bad (O.C. Fisher is at 4.4% capacity) and all the plants, insects, reptiles and animals in the park, need rain and lots of it. 

NOTES

Water and shade available in the campground near Bell's Trailhead.

Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead.

Water, shade, and an info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracking Viewing Area.

*******  IMPORTANT ****** - as of June 23, 2022, there is a problem with water availability for humans, the horse trough has water and seems fine.

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 Camping Area.