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

Leg 1 -  Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > service road (W) > Badlands > River Bend Trail > service road (N) > Cougar Overlook     4.2 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Javelina > River Bend (N) > Lower Ghost Camp > River Bend Campground > Lower Ghost Camp (N) > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Lower Big Hill > service road (dirt) (N) > Dinosaur Trail (N) > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead    3.6 miles

Temp started at 34, ended at 52.  Sunny then overcast with a steady 5mph Northerly wind.

Easy hike along dry and familiar trails.  It's been a few months since I've hiked at the North Shore.  What surprised me the most is that the North Concho River has water in it and it is flowing - albeit a V-E-R-Y S-L-O-O-O-W flow but a little flow is better than no flow.  Because of the cold, there was minimal animal activity except for a few deer and a Great Horned Owl sitting at the top of a bare tree.

As the day lightened, more birds were seen including Cardinals and ducks (photo attached) but not in great numbers. 

This was the first hike for the year -

Starting mileage - 4636.7

Avg hike distance - 8.05

NOTES -

Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are availabvle at Bell's Trailhead.  Water and shade are available at nearby campsites.

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

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