Skyline Trail to Green Hill Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Skyline Trail to Green Hill Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Distance: 3.96 miles
Elevation: 338 feet

Time: 1 hour, 19 minutes 
Hike Type: Out-and-Back with Spurs
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Winter Trace

The Hike

...now this was an interesting hike! After school, I made my way down to the park and ride off MA-138 in Canton, and my main goal was to hike on the Skyline Trail over to the Green Hill Path, and hit as much of Little Blue on the way back as possible. I've noticed there's always a bunch of people sitting in their cars here, which has always been a little skeevy, but if its on the map, I need to hike it! The hike started by walking to MA-138 and hitting the Skyline Trail.

There was a dusting to an inch of snow on the ground on this side of Little Blue Hill. I climbed the steep but short path up to the ridge and then turned left onto the no-name barely-existing path down to the icky pond on the map. I knew there were other trails down there that aren't on the map, and I knew there were signs calling it a rehabilitation area, but clearly it was well traveled. At the bottom of this trail, I noticed there was a guy fineagling with his gloves kind of staring into the void? Whatever. Then 15 feet away there was another guy starting into the void... interesting. Further down it looked like a guy was... tying another guy's shoes. As he was... tying the other guy's shoes, it appeared they didn't notice me, so I had my head down in my phone and tried to walk as loud as possible, which got their attention. We exchanged nods... This was definitely my most unique wildlife encounter in the Blue Hills, and possibly on any of my hikes!

From here, I went back up the Skyline Trail and hiked to the terminus, only making one wrong turn onto the Cosmos Path. The woods back here were open, dark, mysterious, and beautiful. I crossed Green Street, hit the spur path to Royall Street, and continued on through the nasty part of the trail, riddled with litter and mud. I also noticed you can really see the highway exit ramp in stick season!

I hiked along the abandoned roadway, past the pile of plywood and linoleum, and heard... something in the woods. I swear... I was NOT ready for another "wildlife encounter." Thankfully, it was only a big family of MASSIVE turkeys. I never thought I'd be so happy to see turkeys!

I continued on and hit my third and final wildlife... encounter of the day? A severed coyote tail right at the trail junction off of the pavement... This is a weird day. I made my hike to 6103 and turned around, finally. The woods back here always give me the heebee-jeebees. I swear I heard something scream in the distance... I'm all done!

I also realized this hike was longer than I thought, so I would likely not be hitting all the trails around Little Blue, which is fine, but it was a bummer I would have to come back. Maybe on a weekend morning! The return trip was super easy, and I hit the lower loop of Costmos/K Paths on the return. There was no more "wildlife" in the woods near the park and ride, minus one cat-calling red squirrel. I did pass one man who was smoking a smelly joint walking the biggest German Shepard I've ever seen, but that's nothing compared to my bizarre hike. What a day!

Step-By-Step

- Park at Park & Ride in Canton off of MA-138.

- Walk to road.

- Turn right onto MA-138.

- Turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- Just after 6896, on the Little Blue Hill Ridge, turn left and follow orange flagging tape down obscure path.

- At terminus, turn left onto unmapped path.

- At Skyline Trail, hike back up to the ridge and continue on Skyline Trail.

- Accidentally turn left onto Cosmos Path, turn around, and continue on Skyline Trail.

- Cross Green Street at 6600.

- At stone wall, hike unnamed path to Royall Street (orange flagging tape).

- At Royall Street, turn around.

- Turn left to continue on Skyline Trail.

- At terminus, hike NNE on road.

- At 6101, continue onto Green Hill Path.

- At 6104, turn around.

- Retrace steps to 6700.

- At 6700, turn right onto Cosmos Path.

- At 6850, turn right onto K Path.

- At Royall Street, turn around.

- At 6800, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- Climb and descend Little Blue Hill's ridge.

- At second path jct. after descent, turn left onto path to return to Park and Ride.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album