Skyline Trail - Blue Hill Reservation - Milton-Quincy-Canton, MA
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NorStar
N 42° 12.870 W 071° 05.645
19T E 327152 N 4675715
The Skyline Trail is a trail that extends the length of the Blue Hill Reservation and runs along the peaks of the Blue Hill range, providing views of the surrounding area, including Boston and Boston Harbor.
Waymark Code: WM7K86
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 11/03/2009
Views: 8
Starting in the town of Milton, MA, within the Blue Hill Reservation, is the Skyline Trail that traverses the park from end to end along the peaks of the Blue Hills range.
The Skyline Trail has some of the best views of the city of Boston and Boston Harbor obtainable from such a distance, plus great views of the hills and the Neponset River Valley. The terrain varies from rugged to flat as you hike from hilltop to valley and back. There are many places where you can start. On my trip to prepare the post on waymarking.com, I walked a 'bowtie' shaped route that started at the Park Headquarters, which is at about the midpoint of the trail. The whole trip was about 5 miles long and took about three hours.
The best place to park is at Houghtons Pond on Hillside Street. There are three exits off I-93 that will get you there: Route 138 (take your first right at the traffic lights, then pass through the stop sign to Houghtons Pond), Ponkapoag Exit (follow the road to the stop sign, turn right and then to Houghtons Pond), and Route 28 (turn left at the light and stay left at the forks to Houghtons Pond on the left).
From the parking lot, walk east on Hillside Street to the barn on the left side. Cross the street and walk to the park headquarters. There is a map on display, and maps available for $2.00 that show the extensive trail system within the park. I recommend that you get a map - it's very easy to get turned around and the intersection numbers posted along the trails are often easy to miss or missing. The Skyline Trail is the blue line. On the hike, it is marked with light blue blazes.
The Skyline Trail splits back by the barn. On this trip, we went along the northern part to Hancock Hill (John Hancock actually owned land on this hill). The trail climbs quickly up a ledge face and soon arrives at the top. The hill is about 450 feet high. At the top, there are several open areas through the trees where you will see great views of Boston [pic 1 is on the west side of the hill], the Blue Hills [pic 2], and the Neponset River Valley. The blue blazes continue west down a steep rocky ledge to Breakneck Ledge, then to a valley where you can join the Wolcott Trail to return to the Park Headquarters, or continue on to Great Blue Hill.
Great Blue Hill is the tallest hill in the range at 635 feet. At the summit is the Blue Hill Observatory, which gives tours (for about $3). A small diversion from the trail will take you to another observation tower where you can view Boston above the treeline. From Great Blue Hill, you can return to the Park Headquarters along the South branch of the Skyline Trail. You could also continue all the way to the Neponset River several miles more.
Again, from the Park Headquarters, cross Hillside Street and walk east on the Skyline Trail toward Tucker Hill. The trail is flatter for the first few hundred feet, then climbs quickly to the summit of the low hill. There is a nice view of Great Blue Hill from this location [pic 3]. After this hill, you can veer off to travel on a branch to take you back to Houghtons Pond, or continue east on the Skyline Trail to Chickatawbut Hill and beyond for several miles.
There are many ways that you can enjoy the Skyline Trail. Walk a portion and tell about it!
Source:
Local Hikes (Skyline Trail - Portion):
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visit link)
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (Blue Hills Reservation):
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visit link)