Hawk Hill, Streamside, Braintree Pass Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hawk Hill, Streamside, Braintree Pass Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loopty Loop
Distance: 6.00 miles
Elevation: 679 feet
Time: 2 hours, 14 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills 125-Mile Challenge (2x); Blue Hills Grid

The Hike

I started this hike on a mission: to pee. My usual porta-potty across from the Hillside St. State Police Barracks was occupied and I had to GO. I truly have never gotten ready for a hike so fast. Up and out! A little ways down Braintree Pass Path I found the perfect tree and was finally able to think again. My goal for this hike was the dreaded Pipe Line, and then some joyful wiggling around Hawk Hill. I ripped the band-aid off right away with the Pipe Line, which overall was in decent condition, albeit grassy, until it neared the Skyline Trail, where it was a wet, tall grassy mess. Apparently there was a deer before me having just as hard of a time based on its tracks in the mud. I was high stepping like a Big-10 marching band until I escaped with (thankfully) no hitchhikers (ticks). The only saving grace was the cool weather keeping the flying bugs at bay. 

I did a bit of wiggling to hit some spurs and then found my way to the Hemlock Bound Foot Path, where I found my first lady  slipper of the season! Truly my favorite wild flower (second place is probably the red trillium) for reasons of absolute immaturity. There was a new mysterious yellow blaze at the Bouncing Brook Path junction, and then the scrambles began.

This is a fun section of trail with the steep, rugged scrambles. Definitely off-the-beaten-path for a park so close to Boston. There is a lovely view of Buck Hill that hosted a miraculous breeze. Continuing on, I noticed that there were mysterious yellow blazes for both the scrambles I took and a bypass trail around them. I also noticed an old orange blaze nearer the top.

I couldn’t help but admire the distance between trail junctions in this section of the park - it makes me feel like I’m more in the wilderness, which I’m incredibly grateful to have so close to home. I continued to hike towards the Streamside Edge/Brook Path loop, eagerly and anxiously waiting to see if the deer carcass was still there… to my joy and dismay, it was gone! Curious if a human or animal got to it. Now paralleling I-93, I scared a poor bunny possibly into oncoming traffic, and also noticed a granite block in the ground. I originally thought it could have been a town marker, but it doesn’t look like the town line goes past the Blue Hill River on the other side of 93… another mystery! Maybe an old property border. 

I almost accidentally wandered my way to Pakomet Springs because I missed the turn back into the woods, marked by a pile of fallen branches, that I fully stepped over. Whoops. Now climbing back up to the ridge I remembered on old maps there’s an “obscure box gully” somewhere in these parts - I wish I remembered this sooner so I could have done a little exploring. (Note: at this point my brain went into a panic mode becuase chorus concert week was upon us so I spent the rest of the hike singing our songs instead of taking pictures).

The next stretch of the day’s adventure was the Braintree Pass Path/Laurel Path/Barberry Bush Spring Path loop. I can’t stress how much I love this back section of the Braintree Pass Path - it almost takes you back in time! The highest part is more open to sunlight and makes you feel really isolated, in the positive way, even with the highway being so close. I also love coming to the old gate and imagining the path before they blasted through the bedrock to create I-93… why couldn’t they have gone around the reservation? Rude. 

I wiggled my way down the ridge to the Laurel Path and took the old Hemlock Bound Trail spur near the swamp, which is always such a beautiful and different section (also with some old orange blazes!). I looked up toward the sun down here and noticed the pollen literally floating in the wind - almost like a foggy morning, but yellow. I’m so excited for the pollen in to be done. 

The trip back up Barberry Bush Spring Path was moderate and boring, and I noticed there’s a bypass for the wet section that was thankfully dry this day. My final stretch of adventure was a quick jaunt over the Slide Hills Trail and Skyline Trails, and I was quickly rewarded by a beautiful deer enjoying a snack in the Pipe Line. The birds were out and singing as I made my way back to my car, where I noticed yet again that my black shorts now had a yellow hue on them.

Step-By-Step

- Park at Braintree Pass Path parking area.

- Start hike along Braintree Pass Path.

- At 3022, continue straight along Pipe Line. 

- At 3013, hike nearby spurs to MA-28, and then turn right onto Hemlock Bound Foot Path.

- At 3030, turn left onto Hawk Hill Path. 

- At 3072, turn right onto Streamside Edge Path.

- At 3066, turn left onto Branch Path. 

- At terminus, turn right onto Streamside Edge Path.

- At pile of branches, turn right into woods to continue along Streamside Edge Path.

- At 3072, turn right onto Braintree Pass Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Laurel Path.

- After 3121, turn right onto remaining Hemlock Bound Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Laurel Path.

- At 3121, turn left onto Barberry Bush Spring Trail.

- At 3090, turn right onto Braintree Pass Path. 

- At third junction, turn left onto Slide Hill Trail.

- At 3013, turn right onto Pipe Line. 

- At immediate next junction, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- At 3042, turn left onto Braintree Pass Path and return to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album