Eliot Path, Skyline & Hancock Trails, Border & Wolcott Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Eliot Path, Skyline & Hancock Trails, Border & Wolcott Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop w/ Spur

Distance: 4.62 miles

Elevation: 879 feet

Time: 1 hours, 39 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid, Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x), Great Blue Hill Summits

The Hike

Another spring hike in shorts and a t-shirt! It was even a little warmer. My drive was brutal and I had to PEE, but we made it unscathed. The hike started at the Trailside Museum/Ski Area parking. I took a moment to lament at how many people were around (I understood, though), and tragically, I was following a couple with a dog who hyperfixated on me so I couldn't hop off-trail to relieve myself until I got WAY ahead of them.

The spur to the ski slope view was completely flooded, which made sense, but I'd never seen it like that before, and further up just past the summit, I noticed that the sketchy chairs at the viewpoint were gone! My original plan was to hike the usual Skyline Loop, but the people quickly dissuaded me. I pivoted my plan to following skyline from Wildcat Notch to Hancock Hill, but then following the Hancock Trail and eventually green dots back to the car, which turned out to be lovely. I was even greeted with more peepers in Wildcat Notch!

The warm air and the sun felt absolutely amazing, but my hip was in a bad mood. I contemplated which hill was my favorite, Hancock or Buck - leaning towards Hancock just becuase it's always less crowded. I also found myself missing mountain hikes (versus hill hikes). 

I zoned out for most of the return trip, but only "blacked in" while on the Wolcott Path and I saw the massive new townhomes that were built just through the trees. If they're going to ruin the illusion of wilderness, at least make the homes affordable for people who hike regularly! 

Step-By-Step

- Park at Trailside Museum/Ski Area parking lot.

- Start hike on Eliot Path (red dots).

- Just before Summit Road, turn right onto spur paths to ski area.

- Turn around when you realize they're flooded and continue on Eliot Path.

- At 1055, turn right onto Eliot Circle.

- At 1030, continue on Eliot Circle/Skyline Trail.

- At next jct., follow path to summit of Great Blue Hill.

- From summit, follow trail leaning NEE.

- At terminus, turn left onto Eliot Circle/Skyline Trail.

- After 1063, turn right onto Raccoon Hollow Path.

- At 1092, turn left onto Skyline Trail, followed by immediate right to continue on Skyline Trail.

- After 1170, turn left onto Hancock Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto Hancock Hill Path.

- At 1204, turn left onto Breakneck Ledge Path.

- At 1178, turn right onto Hemenway Hill Path.

- At 1140, turn right onto Five Corners Path (green dots).

- At 1135, turn left onto Border Path (green dots).

- At 1110, turn right onto Wolcott Path (green dots). 

- Cross Summit Road, follow Wolcott Path (green dots) to Trailside Museum/Summit Road parking lot.

- Walk around Trailside Museum to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album