Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (Blue Hills Reservation)

Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 4.38 miles

Elevation: 1,168 feet

Time: 1 hours, 42 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, Great Blue Hill Summits, Blue Hills Grid

The Hike

Another after school hike on my favorite loop! It was 55 degrees with a chilly breeze and cloudy skies. I quickly made my way up Eliot Path (with baited breath, of course), hit the summit of Great Blue Hill, and then on a whim due to slow walkers on Eliot Circle, decided to do the loop in reverse for the first time! I was immediately displeased with my decision as it was a pain getting down the steepest part of the Skyline Trail South, but it was neat to see these trails I've hiked MANY times in reverse. The ascent up Houghton was longer than I had thought it would be but not too bad, and the descent was slow and annoying. The bottom of the trail had some impressive mud-season-quality mud. 

Apparently DCR is having eclipse events at a few different state parks - including Blue Hills!

"DCR invites you to enjoy this experience at any state park, reservation, or forest. Several parks - listed below - are hosting special programs and offering free eclipse viewing glasses (while supplies last). All programs are no cost. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Some areas charge a parking fee.

I turned the corner and started my ascent up Hancock Hill where I smelled something smoky? Weird. There were also bugs starting to come out, but thankfully none were biting... yet... It wasn't until I crossed the Circle Trail that I realized what the smoky smell was - apparently there was a brush fire around the Circle/Skyline Trail junction(s) sometime within the past week. I couldn't find any news reporting on it, so I'm unsure of when or how it happened. [UPDATE: Accoridng to hikers on Facebook, it happened sometime between Saturday and Sunday].

Continuing on, I concluded going this way, counterclockwise, leads to steeper descents, while going clockwise leads to steeper ascents. I will (almost) always prefer steeper ascents due to my dramatic knees, but this was a fun experiment. I passed a few squirrels of both grey and red colorings, and I willed myself to climb up Great Blue Hill via Skyline North, something I've been avoiding for years (it was truly, madly, and deeply absolutely fine and I am just a drama queen). Once up top, I hit the summit for a second time, and started my quick descent to the car becuase it was COSTCO TIME!!

Step-By-Step

- Start hike from Trailside Museum parking on Eliot Path (red dots).

- At terminus, turn right onto Eliot Circle. 

- At next jct., turn left onto Summit Road.

- At next jct., turn right onto spur trail to Summit.

- Descend summit towards Skyline Trail South.

- Turn left onto Skyline Trail, and then right onto Skyline Trail South.

- Follow Skyline Trail South to Hillside St.

- At Hillside St., turn left onto Hillside St.

- After stables, turn left onto Skyline Trail North.

- Follow Skyline Trail North to Eliot Tower.

- At Eliot Tower, turn left onto Eliot Circle.

- At second jct., turn right to summit Great Blue Hill.

- Retract steps back to parking lot.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album