From collection Place List - History Trust
A difficult, moderately used, summit and woodland path from Hadlock Brook Trail, that goes under the Hemlock carriage road bridge, passes Maple Spring, then ascends to Sargent Mtn South Ridge Trail. Tread is sometimes steep and along stream and gorge, then climbs open ledge. Constructed features include step stones, rubble retaining walls, open culvert at intersection with Giant Slide, old steps, collapsed patio stone paving, and bogwalks. Evidence remains from an old bridge. Some of the walls, steps, and tread have eroded from use and stream overflow. When originally built, a staircase hugged the cliffs on the east side of the gorge, then ascended southwest to Hadlock Brook. These steps had iron pins to hold cedar rails, extant in the 1970s but now rotted and completely collapsed. "Pulpit Rock" is at the junction with Giant Slide and a few short steps still lead to the rock. NPS restored parts of wall above carriage road and reset step stones in 2002. The trail offers a diversity of natural and built features, such as open summit views, cascades from the Maple Spring, and a spectacular view of a carriage road bridge. The McDuffie Trail used to connect Maple Spring to Grandgent, and will be reopened in 2003. Maple Spring has extensive added carriage road connections including steps, coping, and step stones. DK, KJ, SB, DG, MB, GJS
