S. Boyce, Pig Rock, Buck Hill Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

S. Boyce, Pig Rock, Buck Hill Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 3.83 miles

Elevation: 423 feet

Time: 1 hour, 23 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills Winter Trace; Blue Hills Grid

The Hike

A breezy Monday after school hike! I parked near the Barre Trail on Chickatawbut Road, did my quick change, and got right to hiking! Since spring is coming, I tried to up my pack weight just to get a bit stronger (with the idea I'll be able to remove weight when I do some more intense hikes - two pairs of spikes, 5L of liquids). The trail condiditons ranged from bone dry to deep mud to 4" of snow, which was interesting to say the least! The Quincy Path had a fun, long boardwalk which looks like it was made by both NEMBA and the Friends of Blue Hills, which is cool. I did a quick out-and-back here before fully starting my loop on the Barre and Boyce Hill Trails. There was an annoying amount of dense, sloppy snow at 2131, but completely dry no more than 10 feet away. 

The Boyce Hill Trail is a nice, scenic trail that winds between both Boyces, especially pretty neart South Boyce. I used this opportunity to find the summit of South Boyce, which has been the trickiest one yet. Lots of dense vegetation and no discernable herd path. I was lucky to have found someone's recent footprints. Not sure if they were just going to use the bathroom or was on the same mission as me, but it was nice! I was able to follow the prints for most of the way, and then I meandered into a large summit plateau area. This will be a disaster in the warmer months, I bet. 

I was only passed by one hiker and her dog, which was off leash and "friendly," which is always so incredibly annoying to me. Just leash your dogs if they can't recall. But I digress... After leaving the Boyce Hill Trail I meandered my way over to 2149 to join the Pig Rock Path - I've never figured out which rock is Pig Rock, though! I'll need to ask Facebook. From there I followed the Bugbee and then Forest Paths toward the Skyline Trail, and then took the Buck Hill trail to 2210, 2183, and then the Buck Hill Path for a long while, which is another very pretty trail, all wooded, but still pretty. There were very, VERY seasonal obstructed views of Boston through the trees. 

2153 started the final leg of my hike, first on the Headquarters Path and then back on the Quincy Path, which is definitely an area less traveled. There's one small hill on the Quincy Path were I truly felt like I was choosing my own adventure. Nonetheless, it was a lovely day out in the woods!

Step-By-Step

    - Park on side of Chickatawbut Road near the Barre Trail.

    - Enter woods via Barre Trail, immediately turn right to out-and-back hike Quincy Path.

    - Back at original intersection, turn left to continue on Barre Trail. 

    - At 2130, turn left onto Boyce Hill Trail toward 2151, then turn around and hike to terminus at red-dot. (Just below height-of-land, bushwhack to summit of South Boyce).

    - At terminus, turn left onto Massachuseuck Trail (red dots).

    - At 2137, turn right onto Doe Hollow Path.

    - At 2129, turn left onto Bugbee Path.

    - At 2140, turn left onto Fells Path.

    - At 2149, turn right onto Pig Rock Path.

    - At 2172, continue onto Bugbee Path. 

    - At 2190, turn left onto Forest Path.

    - At junction after Skyline, turn sharply left onto Buck Hill Trail.

    - At 2183, turn right onto Buck Hill Path.

    - At 2164, turn left onto Doe Hollow Path.

    - At 2153, turn right onto Headquarters Path.

    - Where Headquarters Path crosses Chickatawbut Road, continue in woods onto Quincy Path.

    - Follow Quincy Path back to car. 

Blue Hills Reservation Map

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