Old Route 128, Burnt Hill, Monatiquot Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Old Route 128, Burnt Hill, Monatiquot Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Distance: 6.44 miles
Elevation: 472 feet

Time: 2 hours, 4 minutes
Hike Type: Spaghetti Loop
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Winter Trace; Blue Hills Grid

The Hike

Now that I'm officially complete with the 125-Mile Challenge, I'm back working on the Winter Trace full-time. I had a quick drive from one trailhead to the other - landing at the main parking area for Houghton's Pond. It was in the upper 30s now, the parking area was decently busy, I swapped my shoes from my winter ones to my normal trail shoes, I didn't have much of a plan, but off I headed!

I decided I would keep on-theme and focus with the Old Route 128 area without much more of a plan than that! I skirted past all of the people going on leisurely walks around the pond, and made my way toward the Andover Path/128 area. The ice that was left on the pond looked beautifully soft. Trails were in great shape! 99% dry with very VERY slight traces of snow left. 

I meandered my way onto the Burnt Hill Path, where there were a couple decent blowdowns, and at one point the sun was fully shining. I had to stop hiking and just sprawl my arms out Titanic-style to absorb as much Vitamin D as possible! The only complaint I had was that I forgot my buff and inhaler, but I would survive.

I followed the horrifically faint deer path to the summit of Burnt Hill, and then continued on toward 2111, where there were a few larger patches of light snow. I continued my wiggle onto the Bugbee, Doe Hollow, and Beech Hollow Paths. I noticed the further away I went into the park, the fewer people I saw, which was lovely. Also the classic irony that the more "remote" you are in this park, the closer you are to a highway. Almost counter-intuitive, but I'll take it!

I was getting tired by the time I hit the far corner of the area, but I knew I would be proud of myself and relieved if I sucked it up and got all these trails done. It was a very low-brain hike at this point - I just had my map open and kept moving until I hit them all! There was an impressive recent blowdown on  Monatiquot Path, but everything else was smooth sailing. Soon enough I was on my return trip down the Pipe Line and back onto Old Route 128.

I did take one detour on my return trip. At intersection 2085, there's an old trail on the left (highway side) that is unmapped. I decided I might as well check it out! It led to a culver over the Blue Hill River and terminated at a large boulder. Pretty unexciting, but fun to explore something new! It seemed decently traveled up until the very end, even without being on a map.

My last bit of excitement was on my final return to the car - I group of 8ish teenage girls, who I assume were out on their first hike, were engaging in a wildly loud footrace across the field. They were shocked at how winded they were, and noted that they had to ration their one water bottle. I hope they had a lovely day! Once back at my car I zoomed home, had lunch, showered, and submitted my 125-Miler form to get my patch!

Step-By-Step

- Park at Houghton's Pond main parking area.

- Start hike by walking past Houghton's Pond Visitor Center, Bathhouse, and then to trail between Andover Path and Old Route 128.

- Hike trails between Andover Path and Old Route 128, landing on Andover Path.

- Turn right onto Andover Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Burnt Hill Path.

- Summit Burnt Hill, continue on Burnt Hill Path.

- At 2111, turn right onto Bugbee Path.

- At 2129, turn right onto Doe Hollow Path.

- At 2132, turn right onto Beech Hollow Path.

- At junction, hike out-and-back to 2123.

- Back at junction, turn right to hike to 2146.

- At 2146, continue onto Oblique Path.

- At 2163, turn right onto Sullivan Trail.

- At 2176, turn left onto Pipe Line.

- At 2189, turn left onto trail.

- At 2190, turn left onto Bugbee Path.

- At Fern Spring Foot Path (jct. after 2155), turn around.

- At next junction (2155), turn right onto Oblique Path.

- At 2150, turn left onto Old Route 128.

- At terminus, continue onto Monatiquot Path.

- Hike spur to MA-28, then continue on Monatiquot Path.

- At next junction, turn right hike Pipe Line spur to MA-28, then turn around.

- At same junction, turn right to hike last bit of Monatiquot Path, then turn around.

- At same junction, turn right onto Pipe Line.

- At terminus, turn right onto Old Route 128.

- At 2085, turn left to hike unnammed, unmapped path to Blue Hill River, then turn around.

- Turn left back onto Old Route 128, then hike back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album