Great Blue Hill via Wildcat Notch (Blue Hills Reservation)

Great Blue Hill via Wildcat Notch (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Figure-8...ish Loop

Distance: 4.16 miles

Elevation: 604 feet

Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes 
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, Blue Hills Winter Trace, Great Blue Hill Summits

The Hike

The COVID Chronicles: Episode 3

Another early weekday morning with COVID. I took a day off yesterday due to rain and feeling like a toe. I was slightly better today, the sun was shining, temperatures were in the mid-30s with a slight breeze, I somehow broke another Nalgene after it feel off my car, and I planned to get the few missing trails I needed between the parking lot and the Summit Road.

On the connecting trail that links the north parking lot with the Summit Road there was some new drainage construction, and overall the trails were a bit wet (the road was a nice stream). I got my wiggling done minus the Cliff & Trailside Paths, but I decided since I was feeling okay I would take the scenic route.

The scenic route involved a good amount of wet trails (I made the right choice wearing my waterproof boots... I still really need to get uninsunated ones. I might have even heard my first frog of the season near the Rotch Path! As per usual, Wildcat Notch Path was a low-grade river. My body didn't start feeling tired until I was on the Raccoon Hollow Path, which made sense. Thankfully, it was a beautiful morning.

There were new steps leading to the Eliot Tower, which I hope opens again soon. I was grateful that I remembered to take my inhaler puffs and wear a buff for this final bit. I did have to dodge a few unleashed dogs, but otherwise I spent most the day alone. The Ski Area looked dismal after the warm weather and rain, which was sad to see, but the sun did feel lovely. 

I "booped" the true summit and followed the lovely Eliot Path all the way around before making my descent on Raccoon Hollow -> Cliff -> Trailside Paths, where I even saw a deer! It also looked like the blazes were recently updated and multiplied. Now, off to bed!

Step-By-Step

- Park at Summit Road parking area.

- From parking area, hike trail to Summit Road.

- Turn right onto Summit Road.

- Turn left onto path to Canton Ave.

- At Canton Ave, turn around.

- Turn right onto Summit Road. 

- Turn left onto trail.

- At junction, continue straight/left onto Summit Trail.

- At Summit Road, turn right onto Water Tower access road.

- At Water Tower, turn around.

- Turn right onto Summit Road.

- At 1072, turn left onto Chickadee Path.

- At 1085, turn right onto Wolcott Path.

- At 1100, turn left onto Border Path.

- At 1135, turn right onto Five Corners Path.

- At 1140, turn right onto unnamed path.

- At 1121, turn left onto Rotch Path.

- At 1122, turn right onto Wolcott Path.

- At 1115, turn left onto Wildcat Notch Path.

- At 1092, turn right onto Raccoon Hollow Path (red dot after 1082).

- At Eliot Tower, hike Eliot Circle counter-clockwise, taking the perpendicular spurs to the top of the ski area and summit area.

- Back at Raccoon Hollow Path, turn right onto Raccoon Hollow Path.

- At 1082, turn left onto Cliff Trail (red dot).

- Cross Summit Road, continue onto Trailisde Path (red dot).

- At terminus, turn left onto Eliot Path.

- At Trailside Museum/Ski Area parking, follow sidewalk back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album