North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Loop

Leg 1 -  Bell's trailhead > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracking Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Lower Big Hill > North Scenic Loop > Badlands > River Bend > service road (NE) > Cougar Overlook      6.7 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Camping Area > Lower Ghost Camp Trail (N) > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead   3.0 miles

Temp started at 77, ended at 93.  Sunny, hot with a light SSW breeze of 5-10mph.

What a difference a few weeks makes!  The park had a significant wind event and the majority of all the trails had numerous tree branches of various sizes across them - I was constantly clearing sections of the trails of the debris I could remove and reported the ones I couldn't move, to the rangers.  The vegetation is growing and there were a few places that, unless you knew where you were going, you wouldn't see the trail.

There were hardly any animals out and about and the birds were pretty quiet as well.  Not an especially good hike and at this point in time I would recommend that unless you are familiar with the trails, avoid the North Shore for a little while until they can get the debris off the trails.

NOTES -

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

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

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

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