Great Blue Hill Area Loop (Blue Hills Reservation)

Great Blue Hill Area Loop (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop

Distance: 4.76 miles

Elevation: 820 feet

Time: 2 hours, 24 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills Winter Trace

The Hike

The plan to was to ski for our first time without our esteemed personal guide, but we chickened out (aka life tickets at Wachusett were sold out due to the snow we just got) - so instead Gen and I decided to take it easy and go for a hike in the Blue Hills. We parked at the north side of the Trailside Museum to avoid the skiing crowds, and then followed the Eliot Trail up Big Blue, of course with a stop at the spur to the view of the ski area halfway up. 

Once up top we were delighted to slop our way through about 6" of snow to an empty Eliot Tower with its classic lovely views. Our original plan was to do the classic Skyline Trail loop, with a possible extension to Buck Hill, but the sloppy wetness of of descending the North Skyline Trail was enough to change our plans to just a big loop instead (I also left my spikes in the car... whoops). I said to Gen "since we're changing our plans I'm now just using you to pick up some trails I still need for my winter trace" - thankfully she was happy to follow along! We ended up going up the Dalton Path to Wolcott Hill, and then followed the Wolcott Path down to Park HQ so Gen could use the porta potty, where I made friends with a lovely woman who must have been in her 70s.

Next step was to head up the Skyline Trail halfway up Hancock Hill, and then we followed the Hancock Hill path around the contour and eventually wiggled our way to the Chestnut Run Path, which is a delightful footpath. That led us to the Border Path, which led to the Wolcott Path, and eventually back to the car! Overall, it was fairly uneventful, just nice time in the woods with a friend. We did pass one large group of hikers, but that was it. Now time for a shower and a nap!

Step-By-Step

    - Park at North Trailside Museum Parking Area.

    - Walk to South Parking Area.

    - Start hike on Eliot Path, following it all the way to the top with a side-trip to the Ski Area Overlook.

    - Follow Eliot Circle to Eliot Tower.

    - Follow signs to Skyline Trail North, descend to Wildcat Notch.

    - At 1092, turn left onto Wildcat Notch Path.

    - At the junction after 1103, turn right onto Dalton Path up Wolcott Hill.

    - At terminus, continue left onto Skyline Trail.

    - At 1141, turn right to follow Wolcott Path down to Park HQ (and porta potties).

    - At Park HQ, retrace steps and turn right onto the Skyline Trail up Hancock Hill.

    - At 1172, turn right onto Hancock Hill Path.

    - At terminus, turn right onto Base Path.

    - At 1203, turn left onto Chestnut Run Path.

    - At 1175, turn left onto Border Path.

    - At 1100, veer right onto Wolcott Path.

    - Follow Wolcott Path back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album