Reservoir & Skyline Loop via Long Pond Parking (Middlesex Fells Reservation)
Hike Type: Double Lollipop Loop
Distance: 3.56 miles
Elevation: 308 feet
Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Hiking Challenges: N/A
Hiking Challenges: N/A
The Hike
Picture it! Wednesday, September 25th. Gloomy outside. A mundane department meeting just ended and I have two hours to kill before Back to School Night...
I went for a nice walk in the fells on a gloomy afternoon without much of a plan. I parked at the Long Pond parking area and hiked in along Molly's Spring Road (which was fully dry, paying hommage to my dry Blue Hills hikes of recent), and then turned to follow the Reservoir Trail for an unspecified amount of time. It was 68 degrees with a breeze and light humidity (and heavy cloud cover) - very fall spooky out.
I continued over a few mountain biking bridges and eventually left the reservoir trail momentarily as it turned off the road bed, but it soon rejoined not far away. I came close to the reservoirs, where the water level was looking low, and continued my aimless saunter up and over some low hills.
The Reservoir Trail joined and eventually left a coincidence with the Skyline Trail and Mountain Bike Loop, coming near the reservoir again with very partial views through the trees. West Dam Road and South Dam Road were in view for much of this hike, but I believe they are not legal to walk on? People definitely were walking on them, so its always unclear what the rules are.
The Reservoir Loop followed what felt like a relocation before coming near a reservoir dam, providing one of the only actual views of the water. Middle Road was easy walking and I was officially on the return trip, closing the first of the lollipops of my double lollipop loop adventure!
I reentered the coincidence, completing a lollipop stem, and then followed the Skyline Trail all the way back to Molly's Spring Road (while playing some Pokemon Go), completing the second lollipop pop. The Skyline Trail was more rugged than the Reservoir Trail, but nothing too crazy.
My hike ended by following Molly's Spring Road back to the car, completing the second lollipop stem. I had just a moment to sit and compress, then it was two hours of schmoozing with parents!
Step-By-Step
- Park at Long Pond Parking area.
- Follow footpath to Molly's Spring Road.
- At B4-3, hike along Molly's Spring Road.
- At B4-6, turn right onto Reservoir Trail (orange).
- After B5-3, continue straight onto Mountain Bike Loop (green).
- At B5-4, continue straight onto Reservoir/Skyline/Mountain Bike (orange/white/green).
- At B5-9, turn left onto Reservoir Trail.
- At C5-2, turn right onto Middle Road.
- At C5-7, continue on Middle Road/Mountain Bike Loop.
- At C5-14, turn right onto Mountain Bike Loop/Cross-Fells Trail (green/blue).
- At B5-9, continue onto Reservoir Trail.
- At B5-4, turn left onto Skyline Trail (white).
- At B4-4, turn left onto Molly's Spring Road.
- Return to car.
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