[BACKLOG] Buck Hill (Blue Hills Reservation)

Buck Hill via Buck Hill Summit Trail & Unnamed Trail

Hike Type: Spaghetti
Distance: 5.4 miles
Elevation: 751feet
Time: 2 hours, 7 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge; Toilet Paper Trio

The Hike

This was one of my favorite hikes in the Blue Hills to date. Beautiful day, warm weather, and views. Started at the pull-over across from Forest Street in Milton and jumped right into the woods at the Forest Path granite marker (I recently learned these trailhead markers were installed around 1985-1986) and turned left onto the Headquarters Path (which was apparently closed due to what I guess is construction on the old school house on 28, but two mountain bikers were blocking the sign so I didn't realize this until my return trip - oops!). After bouncing back from the old school house, I turned left at the fork and stayed on a windy trail that went all the way to the top of Buck Hill. This trail crosses the Forest Path (2194) and the Buck Hill Path (2182) on the way up, and it additionally crosses two unmapped trails towards the summit - one blazed with a plastic white triangle, and one with a plastic white square. I haven't found any details on these trails, but they are listed on AllTrails. 

The top of Buck Hill is always amazing. It's a small taste of the world above treeline. I didn't spend too much time up top since I knew I'd be back - so I pulled a wide U-Turn and went down the north side of the Buck Hill Summit Trail, which was another fun winding footpath. Turned left at 2153, and continued onto the Doe Hollow Path at 2151. From here I had a few trails to hit before I climbed Buck Hill again, which eventually brougth me to the Pig Rock Path, which I have many questions about and no answers (there were a few boulders - was one of them Pig Rock??). Back at 2154, I started climbing back up Buck Hill on a much less used trail. I hit a section that has previously been burned in a fire, but not sure when. The climb up the South Side of Buck Hill is just as fun as the other sides! It really does feel like I'm back in the whites, just... smaller and easer. 

Once back on top of Buck Hill I realized there were a few mountains in the distance. I booted up PeakVisor and found that they were Mt. Wachusett, Mt. Monadnock, and Pack Monadnock, which was very cool to see. From there I followed the Skyline Trail eastbound to descend, hit a few more random trails I needed, and then followed the Buck Hill Path back to the car. Great day!

Photo Album

Originally written March of 2022.