The Palatine Trail Photos
Smith Road to Golf Course

After you pass by the library heading east (and north) on the Palatine Trail the trail goes by a park, behind some more houses and along a small stream before it comes to Smith Road. You will need to cross Smith Road and may need to stop for traffic although there is a well marked crosswalk there (technically we would have the right of way on a bike but realistically I watch for traffic and wait if necessary). The photo above is just past Smith Road (going west).

A wash out! This doesn't happen often (it's only happened to me once), but I had to go through about 8 to 10 inches of water here (this is looking back after I made it through). There are some small ponds here and a stream which merged together in the wet weather before this ride. The photo above is just to the south of the Palatine Hills Golf Course.

This is where the path goes between the golf course on the right, with the chain link fence that is covered with vines and the woods on the left.

As you go around the golf course and through a small wooded part of the trail you come up a hill, past some tennis courts on the right and to a small park (Robert “Dutch” Schultz Recreation Area) at the top of the hill.

Just to the left of the trail (and down a hill) is a pavilion by the lake. This can be a nice place for a break (if you need one). Actually I used to stop here on occasion just because it is a pretty peaceful and tranquil place to get away from it all.

There is also a parking lot here (you can get to this by taking the Palatine Hills Golf Course entrance off of Northwest Highway) and a sledding hill to the right of the pavilion in the photo above (but not shown).