Fox Hill, Short, Old Furnace Brook Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)
Distance: 4.18 miles
Elevation: 358 feet
Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Elevation: 358 feet
Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Hike Type: Loopty Loop
Hiking Challenges: 125-Mile Club (2x); Blue Hills Grid
The Hike
This Wednesday afternoon hike was brought to you by annoyingly slow roads and a generalized crankiness. It took be over an hour to get from Arlington to the Skyline Trail crossing on Chickatawbut Road, and then I had to sit and wait for a bit to change since a mother and her child were arguing on opposite sides of the road (each with a dog in hand) right in front of my car. I forgot to bring shorts so I had to hike in my sweatpants on an obsurdly hot day (78 degrees in late October!), but eventually I snapped out of my rage and got moving.
I had to shorten my goals for the day since I was starting about 45 minutes later than anticipated, so my new goal was to finish up the trails on the western half of the Quarries section. My brain was able to turn off for much of this hike, which was more than appreciated, and honestly, quite needed. I made my way to the Pipe Line and then to the Fox Hill Path (the connection was comically overgrown, but the footbed was still clear), and made my way up and over Fox Hill, which was truly covered in crickets!
Once back down, my next goal was to head toward Little Dome and hike the trails around it (for time, I decided I could summit another day), which thankfully were all open this time! There were a good amount of leaves on the ground which made for some satisfying walking as I wiggled to the Short and Old Furnace Brook paths, quickly, I might add, since the head had also woken up the mosquitos.
From there I made my way to the Furnace Brook Trail, which was longer than I had mentally expected, but very lovely. From there, I continued my oblong wiggle back to my car, and then sped home. Not my finest day in the woods, but I do maintain that any day spent in the Blue Hills is better than sitting at home!
Step-By-Step
- Park where the Skyline Trail crosses Chickatawbut Road.
- Enter woos along Skyline Trail and veer left onto unnamed path.
- At 4131, turn left onto Crag Trail.
- At turn, continue straight onto Pipe Line.
- Turn left onto Pipe Line.
- At second junction, turn left onto unnamed path and hike toward 4131.
- At 4131, turn around.
- Back at Pipe Line, turn left.
- Continue to follow path to the Fox Hill Path.
- At 4102, turn left onto Indian Camp Path (green dot).
- At 4091, turn left onto Crags Foot Path.
- At 4066, turn right onto Pipe Line.
- At gas plant, walk in between the fenced-in pipes, turning right, and reenter woods.
- Follow unnamed path.
- At terminus, turn right to Sawcut Notch Path.
- At 4083, turn left onto Crags Foot Path.
- At 4124, turn left onto Short Path.
- At 4133, turn right onto Sawcut Notch Path.
- At 4180, turn right onto Old Furnace Brook Path.
- At 4145, turn right onto Crags Foot Path.
- At 4142, turn left onto Furnace Brook Trail.
- At 4120, turn left onto Indian Camp Path.
- At 4135, turn right onto Pipe Line.
- At next junction, veer left onto Crag Trail.
- Return to car.
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