Mud Road, Red Cross Path, E. Dam Road, Skyline Trail (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Mud Road, Red Cross Path, E. Dam Road, Skyline Trail (Middlesex Fells Reservation)

Distance: 2.95 miles
Elevation: 361 feet

Time: 58 minutes
Hike Type: Figure-8 Loop
Hiking Challenges: Operational Alaska Benchmark Challenge

The Hike

It was a Wednesday afternoon at 3:30pm, the sun was going to set at 4:13pm, it was 35 degrees, and I had just a little amount of time to get a quick hike in before celebrating a friend's birthday. I made my way over to the fells and didn't have much of a plan. My thought was the reverse of the last time I hiked Wright's Tower - hiking away from Bellevue Pond via random trails and then returning via Skyline... let's see!

It was definitely chilly outside but thankfully I am very good about warming up quickly. It cloudy overhead with a few blue bits of sky. I followed Quarry Road to Mud Road, which was annoyingly rocky, then onto Red Cross Path. I realize I didn't bring any water (oops), but I wasn't worried since it was going to be such a short hike. I also realized that these janky Walmart sweatpants I bought a couple winters ago were basically flood pants, but at least they did their job. 

I continued onto East Dam Road and then onto a combination of the Mountain Bike Loop and Cross Fells Path, which were less-traveled than the wider roads I'd been on and much leafier, which made things just a little slippery. I saw my first bits of needle ice for the season, enjoyed the sun peaking through the clouds and illuminating the tops of the trees in a lovely orange.

The trail became much more rugged once on the Skyline Trial... which makes sense. I do enjoy this Skyline Trail, but of course I'm more partial to the one at the Blue Hills. The sun set behind the trees and revealed some beautiful pastel clouds, and the view from Wright's Tower was absolutely stunning as usual. That view, and the view from Prospect Hill are my two favorite views of Boston from hills (that I know of at least!). 

I found two additional USGS markers that I didn't see last time (making the total three from here!), enjoyed the view for a final moment, and then made my swift descent and returned to my car for a quick wardrobe change, a short drive to the wrong house, and a slightly longer drive to the correct house to celebrate my friend's birthday! I'm hoping I can find the motivation to come back to the Fells more this winter... it's just a shame that it is in the wrong direction from home. Time will tell!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Bellevue Pond.

- Start hike on Quarry Road.

- At D6-2, veer left onto Mud Road.

- At C6-4, turn right onto Red Cross Path.

- At C5-20, turn left onto East Dam Road.

- At C5-8, veer right onto Mountain Bike Loop (Green).

- At C5-9, continue straight/left onto Mountain Bike Loop (Green)/Cross Fells Trail (Blue).

- At C5-6, continue onto Mountain Bike Loop (Green).

- At D5-1, turn right onto Skyline Trail (White).

- Follow Skyline Trail to Wright's Tower.

- Follow woods road away from tower.

- At next jct., turn left onto trail.

- At next jct., turn left onto Quarry Road to return to car.

Map of Middlesex Fells Reservation

Photo Album