North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Loop

Leg 1 -  Bell's Trailhead > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (N) > Bypass to Big Hill > Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend > park road (NE) > Cougar Overlook     6.6 miles

Leg 2 -  Cougar Overlook > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Upper Ghost Trail > South Slick Rock > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead   3.3 miles

Temps started at 75, ended at 96.  Sunny, light breeze increasing to SW 5-10mph.  Comfortable humidity.

Hiked along dry and for the most part, easy to see trails.  Vegetation obscures some portions of the trails and caution is advised which traversing them.  In the past sighting an Axis deer was rare but lately, I see between 5 - 10 Axis deer as I drive to the parking area.  Today I saw two young bucks (photo attached) and does all within a few minutes of entering the park. Another resident rarely seen was a large porcupine sitting by the road.  White tail deer were spotted  as were numerous cottontail rabbits.  I also saw a hawk flying in the distance.  Raptors have become rare for some reason.

Not much else to report except to say for whatever reason, the water stations are no longer working at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area as well as at the River Bend Campground.  BRING PLENTY OF WATER WITH YOU BEFORE STARTING OUT!

NOTES - 

View the Park's Facebook page and website for current information!  NO WATER AT THE NORTH SHORE IS AVAILABLE!

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. 

Shade and info kiosk are available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.  NO WATER AT THIS TIME.

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

Shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at River Bend Campground.  NO WATER AT THIS TIME.