Rock Circuit Figure 8 Loop (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Rock Circuit Figure 8 Loop (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Hike Type: Figure 8 Loop
Distance: 6.39 miles
Elevation: 735 feet
Time: 2 hours, 50 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge

View from Boojum Rock.

The Hike

Another day exploring the Fells! My heart still belongs with the Blue Hills, but the convenience of the Fells is definitely alluring. I've watched Adam Hoyt's video on YouTube about the Rock Circuit Trail forever ago, and I was excited to dive in today! The plan was to make a figure 8 loop with the Rock Circuit Connector trail, and I was happily successful with only a few scratches (that I'm not entirely sure where they came from). I parked at the Flynn Rink, carefully crossed Woodland Road, and started my hike on the Cross-Fells Trail for a short moment until I turned right onto the Rock Circuit Trail.

The first thing I noticed wasn't any views, it wasn't the blazes or any possible scrambles... it was the pollen. EVERYWHERE. I've never seen everything so yellow. It was so yellow that when I tried to take a photo, my phone auto-adjusted the white balance. The leaves were dusted, the rocks covered, and my eyes FULL. Thankfully, the trail started rewarding right away with open rocky areas that were fun to hike up and down (for now). The first leg of this hike led to the site of an old MIT Observatory, which wasn't more than an informational kiosk and a pile of rocks at the site of the former tower, but still cool nonetheless.

Soon after, I turned onto the orange-blazed Rock Circuit Connector trail to start the figure-8 part of the hike. The trail itself was relatively featureless. It skirted the restricted area around the reservoir and paralleled a swampy area with interesting mud/orange algae/pollution(????). The bugs started to get feisty here, but thankfully it didn't last long. This trail terminates just before the Rock Circuit Trail crosses the Fellsway East, which was another careful road crossing. After crossing the road, I officially rejoined the Rock Circuit Trail, now traveling clockwise.

The views really start to pick up on the Eastern side of the trail, starting with the appropriately named Melrose Rock (and tons of Blueberry bushes on the way!), that primarily gives views of Melrose down below, but also a slight view of Boston. I took a surprise trip to see The Cascade, which is marked as a landmark on the map, but the yellow-blazed trail leading to it was not. I took a side trail to see the upper reaches and then followed the yellow trail down to see the basin where it lands. We're in a moderate drought right now so there was nothing more than a trickle, but I imagine it's incredible after a heavy rain!

Back on the Rock Circuit Trail, I continued hiking towards Black Rock and ultimately Pinnacle Rock, both offering great views of the neighboring communities and Boston. Somebody spray painted a series of messages, ultimately resulting in a proposal on the trail in this area. I hope Jessica, the subject of these graffitis, said yes but called the fiance a butt for spray painting that much. The view from Pinnacle Rock was by far the best and most expansive, which proves the appropriateness of the name. 

After Pinnacle Rock, there was another crossing of the Fellsway East, a very steep scramble up a massive rock, and another view from Boojum Rock before reuniting with the Rock Circuit Connector Trail. The second trip on this trail was the same as before, and the final leg of the Rock Circuit Trail was relatively featureless, which I was grateful for at this point as my legs were tired from the endless ups and downs. Before I knew it, I was back at the Cross-Fells Trail, crossing Woodland Road, and back at the car! I will definitely repeat this hike in the future. 

Step-By-Step

• Park at Flynn Rink, carefully cross Woodland Road.
• Enter woods at blue-blazed Cross-Fells Trail/Woodland Path.
• At E4-8 intersection, turn right to start the white-blazed Rock Circuit counter-clockwise.
• Carefully follow white blazes.
• After the MIT Observatory Site, at intersection F5-8, turn left to the orange-blazed Rock Circuit Connector trail, follow to it's terminus.
• At terminus, carefully cross Fellsway East and rejoin the white-blazed Rock Circuit trail, this time traveling clockwise. 
• Near intersection G4-4, turn left onto the yellow-blazed trail that leads to the cascade. Explore and return.
• Back at the intersection, turn left to continue on the white-balzed Rock Circuit Trail clockwise. 
• Enjoy the views throughout, after Boojum Rock watch for the familiar intersection F5-8.
• Back at F5-8, turn right onto the orange-blazed Rock Circuit Connector Trail and hike to it's terminus, again.
• This time, at the terminus, turn left onto the white-blazed Rock Circuit Trail to continue the loop. 
• Continue to follow blazes carefully.
• Back at intersection E4-8, turn right onto the blue-blazed Cross-Fells Trail, carefully cross Woodland Road, and scrape the dead bugs off at the car.

Map of Middlesex Fells Reservation

Photo Album