Five Corners, Carberry, Great Blue Hill (Blue Hills Reservation)

Five Corners, Carberry, Great Blue Hill (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop w/ Spurs

Distance: 5.60 miles

Elevation: 797 feet

Time: 2 hours, 4 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills Winter Trace; Blue Hills Grid; Great Blue Hill Summits; Sunset Six

The Hike

I wasn't sure what my goal was for this day beside get moving outside. It was a lovely afternoon in the high 40s with occasional wind gusts. I made my way to the parking area where the Five Corners and Wildcat Notch Paths start, got suited up in clothes that were probably too warm for the day, and got started! 

There's three trails that branch off of this parking area - a spur to the Wildcat Notch Path on the left, the Five Corners Path on the right, and an additional spur to the Five Corners Path straight in the middle. I needed the middle path, which was steep at first, so I took that up to the Five Corners Path, and then followed the Path all the way to its terminus on the other side of the area! The trail was bone dry from the trailhead to "Times Square" at 1141, where it was a slushy mess between 2-5". The rest of the Five Corners Path alternated between dry, soaked, leafy, muddy, slushy, and icy. A little bit of everything!

The path terminates at 1135, where the Bartol Path starts. I love this little dead-end trail. It's very scenic, and I'm a sucker for a good "dead end trail" sign. The beautiful angle of the sunlight also helped here! I retraced my steps and made my way to the Carberry Path, which was aggressively overgrown last time I tried it - thankfully everything was dead now so I was able to wiggle my way through. The sound of new homes being built was LOUD, and rather irrtating. I wish they just turned it into more trails, or at least reserved a house for me for free! I realized I had never actually made it to the end of the Carberry Path before (whoops) but it was actually very pretty!

I made my way back and then did some wiggle trail tracing - Samoset to Puddle to Chickadee to Puddle. These trail were very slushy and made me work for my miles. It was lovely to be completely alone, though. The puddle path from 1085 to 1103 was especially beautiful. No features in particular, I just felt very good hiking through this section. Next I turned onto Wildcat Notch Path, and then I had to decide to go up Big Blue for the sunset or make my way back to my car... sunset it is!

I took Racoon Hollow Path up Great Blue Hill in an attempt to save my lungs, and I was medium successful. The ridiculous springtime trail conditions continued, and suddenly I made it up! About 20 minues to sunset, so I hopped up the Eliot Tower to see Boston at golden hour and see the shadow of Big Blue cast over the land below. I would have stayed for longer, but it was chilly up there. I wiggled my way over to the summit of Great Blue Hill, and then continued wiggling over to the view from the Skyline Trail where I parked for a few minutes to go blind/watch the beautiful sunset. I hiked past a couple arguing about their route - the woman said "we could have taken the easy trail but NO we had to go through the snow!" - thankfully they made up once the sunset endorphins hit. 

Once the sun was set (and I waited for it to all be down - god I love sunsets) I turned around and began my POWER hike down to my car. I was simply too lazy to find my headlamp, and I was too determined to take short cuts. The return trip involved the Racoon Hollow Path to Five Corners to Half Way to Wildcat Notch. Thankfully uneventful, but the slight incline on Half Way Path was brutal and I had some choice words for it, but I made it down in one piece with just enough light to see my feet! My favorite part about the return trip was the owls waking up and starting to hoot - just magical.

Step-By-Step

    - Park at Five Corners Path Trailhead.

    - Start hike from middle of parking area.

    - Merge left onto Five Corners Path.

    - Follow Five Corners Path all the way to its terminus at 1135.

    - At 1135, continue straight onto Bartol Path.

    - At terminus, turn around and retrace steps to 1135.

    - At 1135, turn right onto Border Path.

    - At 1100, turn right to hike Carberry Path.

    - At terminus, turn around and retrace steps to 1100.

    - At 1100, continue straight/right onto Samoset Path.

    - At 1105, turn right onto Puddle Path.

    - At 1085, turn left onto Chickadee Path.

    - At 1072, turn around and retrace steps to 1105.

    - At 1105, continue on Puddle Path.

    - At 1103, turn right onto Wildcat Notch Path.

    - At 1092, turn right onto Racoon Hollow Path and follow to Eliot Tower.

    - From Eliot Tower, hike to summit of Great Blue Hill, and then watch sunset over Skyline Trail.

    - After sunset, power hike to the Skyline North Trail and descend.

    - At 1092, turn right to follow Raccoon Hollow Path.

    - At 1120, turn right onto Five Corners Path.

    - At 1110, turn right onto Half Way Path.

    - At 1093, turn left onto Wildcat Notch Path, and follow to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

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