Kitchamakin, Nahanton, & Broken Hills (Blue Hills Reservation)

Kitchamakin, Nahanton, & Broken Hills (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 4.55 miles

Elevation: 538 feet

Time: 1 hours, 54 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid, Trail Trace the Blue Hills

The Hike

I was having a lazy Monday - I planned to get up early to hike some of the Friends of the Wapack Trails, but I needed more sleep, so then I thought I'd go to the Blue Hills, but storms were rolling in later (over 5 hours later), so mentally I said "there's no way!" That was, until Sarah texted me asking if I wanted to go for a hike in the Blue Hills... if that wasn't a sign to get off my butt I don't know what is!

We went back and forth planning and landed on hitting the Skyline Trail around the Chickatawbut area. We met up around 10:00am and soon were off! Our hike started on the Braintree Pass Path, with intentions of getting to the Skyline Trail junction, but right before 3022 we saw a MASSIVE wasp nest dangling directly over the trail... PIVOT. We turned around and headed up the backside on the Thayer Path.

The Thayer Path feel less-traveled than most, especially as it rounds the top. I meant to take us down to the Chickatawbut Tower, but I missed the turn and we ended up just taking a longer route to the Skyline Trail. After, we hit Kitchamakin Hill and then went up to the nice views from Nahanton. 

After Nahanton we climbed up and over the Broken Hills, enjoying their unique views as well. The burned areas around here have recovered exceptionally over the past few years. Sarah was wearing a Zion National Park shirt, so she and a passerby talked for a bit about Angel's Landing (I think they're insane for doing that hike, I would cry). 

We followed the unmapped Pocapawmet Path to Wampatuck Path, and then we took the long, flat route back along Curve, Bouncing Brook, and Braintree Pass Paths. When we got to the wasp nest I IMMEDIATELY ducked off-trail into the woods (apparently through the land of 1,000 Ghost Pipe flowers), and made it by safely!

I did make the mistake(?) of mentioning to Sarah that I was flirting with hiking Mt. Jefferson tomorrow before marching band rehearsal at 5:30pm... she IMMEDIATELY hopped on! I told her my plan of parking at Ammo, following a trail to Jefferson Notch Road and doing the road walk in the dark, and then following Caps Ridge - Gulfside - Jewell for a big loop. Thankfully, she proposed we do a point-to-point. We had a plan, and it was time to get home to pack!

Step-By-Step

- Start hike at Braintree Pass Path trailhead.

- Hike along Braintree Pass Path (red).

- At junction before 3022, turn left onto Thayer Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Sassaman Notch Path (yellow).

- At 3094, turn right onto Slide Notch Path (red).

- At second junction, turn left onto Skyline Trail (blue).

- Just before Nahanton Hill, turn left to follow bypass loop.

- Rejoin Skyline Trail on Nahanton Hill.

- Follow Skyline Trail to Chickatawbut Road.

- At Chickatawbut Road, turn right onto Pocapawmet Path (unmapped).

- At terminus, turn left onto Wampatuck Path (hike spur to road if necessary).

- At 3153, turn right onto Curve Path.

- At 3130, turn right onto Bouncing Brook Path (red).

- At 3042, turn right onto Braintree Pass Path (red).

- Continue back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album