At present, the section of trail connecting the Stuart Trail with the parking area by the athletic fields has disappeared from lack of maintenance. Through hikers should instead follow the west shoulder of The Great Rd. north to The Great Rd. West, and the latter to the Stuart Rd. entrance to the PDS campus. Here they can pick up the trail as it originates on the right side of the driveway and parallels the border with Tenacre Foundation property to the north (pretty views). In addition to white blazes, this whole section of the trail has been delineated with tree limbs along the sides, since no clear pathway exists. Just before coming to a small stream crossing (no bridge), the trail enters Pond View open space property. Beyond the stream, it leaves the woods and crosses a large, grassy area (blazes, but no trail), while descending slightly to the uppermost of the four very scenic ponds. At the far side of the clearing a trail can be seen, about 15 feet from the pond, and there are no further blazes. After a short way it joins a wider, wood chip trail coming down the hill from Pond View. (The latter runs through the entire Pond View development, and is intended primarily for residents.) 200 feet further on, a side trail goes to the right across the dam separating the upper two ponds, and very shortly intersects the South Loop trail in Woodfield Reservation. The wood chip trail continues beyond the turnoff, running along the southeast side of the next two ponds. Halfway along, it enters a pine forest, and the wood chips stop. At this point, it crosses into Rush Brook open space for 0.1 mile before coming to Cradle Rock Rd. There is no further trail after this point, although one is shown on various maps. However, a hiking easement exists, and there is a clear area through the woods that begins at the south end of the guard rail on Cradle Rock Rd. and ends after another 0.1 mile at Pretty Brook Rd., just over one mile from the start at The Great Rd.
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