Hancocok & Hemenway Hills (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: Lollipop Figure-8 Loop
Distance: 3.75 miles
Elevation: 761 feet
Time: 1 hours, 24 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, Trail Trace the Blue Hills
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, Trail Trace the Blue Hills
The Hike
A rare weekend hike in the Blue Hills! It was the day of the Eurovision Finals, which I was hosting a watch party for. I initially wanted to head slightly north to finish the Wapack Trail, but decided to stay local so I would have time to shower, clean, and set everything up (and as per tradition, question if I actually enjoy hosting events, turns out I do, but I will in fact question it every time). I didn't have much of a plan besides see at least one view and avoid the Skyline Trail. I parked at 1214, and off I went!
I was initally greeted by a delightfully dry Border Path - I think every other time I had hiked this strethc it had been absolutely inundated with water. Chestnut Run Path was a little wet, but non-problematic. My sweatshirt came off at 10 minutes in the 48-degree heat. In Blue Hills Terms, the Chestnut Run Path is a longer stretch of uninterrupted trail, which was a nice way to get started.
Soon enough I turned onto the Hancock Trail which got my calves BURNING. Definitely one of the steeper sections of trail in the park that doesn't have stone steps built-in. The Hancock Trail after it's crossing with the Hancock Hill Path has gotten quite grassier in the past few weeks (I would also later learn that I, yet again, more or less, followed an informal bushwhack up Hancock instead of following the actual trail... blazes, please!). The view from up top was stunning as always, and I remained obsesssed with the springtime greens.
I continued on, definitely not on the real trail (again, blazes please!!), but enjoyed the views. I did find a small deer tick crawling on my sock, but I flicked it off and did NOT cry, which is actually huge for me!! I passed some blueberry bushes and catepillar tents and eventually made it onto the actual trail.
Once on the Skyline Trail I immediately passed ~8 people, which was my quota for the day. I turned onto the Breakneck Ledge Path and then onto the Hancock Hill Path, which was chewed up either by a vehicle or an attempt at improving drainage? Not sure. I crossed the Skyline Trail again just as the sun was beginning to pop out, passed the actual continuation of the Hancock Trail that I missed earlier, and worked my way down to Jeffries Trail.
The weather was now absolutely lovely as I ascended Hemeneway Hill via Jeffries, which is also covered in Blueberry Bushes higher up. I descended via Hemenway Hill Path, and started my return trip on Eustis Trail, which was dry and desolate - just the way I like it! My hike ended up being less than four miles, but a lovely way to start my day!
Step-By-Step
- Start hike at 1214 on Border Path.
- At 1175, turn left onto Chestnut Run Path.
- At 1217, turn right onto Hancock Trail.
- At terminus, continue straight/left onto Skyline Trail.
- At 1162, turn left onto Breakneck Ledge Path.
- At 1160, turn sharply left onto Hancock Hill Path.
- At 1204, turn left onto Hemenway Hill Path.
- At 1180, turn right onto Breakneck Ledge Path.
- At 1185, turn left onto Base Path.
- At 1182, turn left onto Jeffries Trail.
- At 1154, turn right onto Hemenway Hill Path.
- At 1140, turn sharply right onto Eustis Trail.
- At terminus, turn left onto Chestnut Run Path.
- At 1175, turn right onto Border Path to return to car.
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