Skyline Trail & East Dam Road (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Skyline Trail & East Dam Road (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop Figure-8

Distance: 3.32 miles

Elevation: 433 feet
Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes

Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge, Sunset Six

The Hike

I feel like my life is turning into a series of breaks and then slow reentries to hiking… Oh well. Still getting over my (maybe) pneumonia (?) but it was a BEAUTIFUL day in mid-January - 50 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze. I was in my winter boots because it had been very wet the past few days, but also in shorts. I took the 20 minute drive from work to the Fells and parked at the Bellevue Pond parking area. I only intended for this to count toward the 52-Hike Challenge and a “reintroduction to elevation” - trying to see how my lungs do with some huffing and puffing - without damaging them further. My hike started on Quarry Road, along Bellevue Pond, and I soon turned onto the Skyline Trail at intersection D6-2 to Wright’s Tower.

The view from Wright’s Tower was beautiful as always - one of the more “urban” views with a major highway at the forefront and a major city in the background, but still takes the breath away. My favorite part of the view is seeing the Blue Hills out in the distance to the left of Boston - they look so big! I was also surprised to stumble upon a USGS marker near the tower on Pine Hill that I had not seen before - exciting! I only need one more for the Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge bronze patch. 

Continuing on, my lungs were doing okay, but I was moving much slower than usual. I did notice a tightness when I took an exceptionally deep breath, but that’s more or less expected right now. The Skyline trail was as I remembered it, up-and-down-y, and it was also quite muddy. I do appreciate how well marked these trails are, though. I always joke about the Blue Hills being right next to a highway, but you can literally see the cars from the Fells. Not that it’s a particularly bad thing, but something of note.

I continued following the Skyline Trail up and over Silver Mine Hill, and then I missed my turn for the All Trail track, but still moved a little further north for funsies. I had to pee around this time, and I quickly remembered how hard it is to find a secluded spot to use the bathroom in this reservation - trails everywhere and no foliage this time of year to hide behind! Thankfully I survived. I went from C4-12 to C4-9 and then to C4-8, where I started following the Reservoir Trail. I realized I might be able to make it back to Wright’s Tower for the sunset, so I started to pick up my pace.

At this point I completely bailed on the All Trails route and was working my way back as fast as I could without breaking my broken lungs. I made my way ro C5-3, pondered the legality of hiking the reservoir roads again (there’s a few signs that say no trespassing but do they mean the roads or the water???), and then followed East Dam Road back toward Wright Tower. East Dam Road was a great choice, the grade was easy and the trail was wide. I did pass one person and his dog that reminded me of how dreadfully unfriendly afternoon Fells hikers are, and kept on my way. East Dam Road turned into Red Cross Path, and then at C6-4 I turned onto Mud Road. 

I realized I was definitely not going to make it to Wright Tower in time for sunset, but I saw an unmarked unmapped side trail that went up the notch in Little Pine Hill, so I decided to do some exploring. I think the trail connected Mud Road with Quarry Road, but then I saw the south knob of Little Pine Hill and thought that would be my best chance for a sunset view (I had decided I needed to see the sun actually set for it to count for the patch). The sun was a glowing orange orb through the dense pine trees, and it was beautiful. I was taking some photos, and then saw a backpack with no human? How strange… Then I heard someone say “I don’t usually see people up here sorry!” and the backpack’s owner was enjoying the sunset literally in a tree. We made short small talk as the sun went behind the hills. I wished him a good day, found a small vista in the south-ish direction, and then worked my way to Quarry Road. I should have backtracked, but I didn’t want to socialize anymore, so I slip and slided down the leafy hillside, found what felt like ALL of the deer pop in the reservation, and made it back to Quarry Road, finishing my hike back to the car! 

Step-By-Step

• Park at Bellevue Pond parking area.

• Start hike on Quarry Road.

• At D6-2, turn right onto Skyline Trail. 

• Follow Skyline Trail to C4-13, over Silver Mine Hill.

• Follow green Mountain Bike Loop to C4-12.

• Turn right at C4-12 to C4-9 on Mountain Bike Loop and blue Cross-Fells Trail.

• At C4-9, turn left onto trail.

• At C4-8, turn left onto orange Reservoir Trail.

• At C5-3, turn left onto East Dam Road.

• At C5-20, continue on Red Cross Path.

• At C6-4, very left onto Mud Road. 

• At bend in Mud Road, turn left onto unmapped unmarked path up notch in Little Pine Hill.

• At col, turn right to small vistas.

• Bushwhack down to Quarry Road.

• Follow Quarry Road back to car. 

Map of Middlesex Fells Reservation

Photo Album