Ponkapoag Loop & AMC Camp via Maple Road (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Distance: 5.23 miles
Elevation: 266 feet
Time: 1 hours, 45 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Trail Trace the Blue Hills, 52 Hike Challenge
Hiking Challenges: Trail Trace the Blue Hills, 52 Hike Challenge
The Hike
Back to the Blue Hills! I had a decent after-school drive and made it to the Ponkapoag Golf Course around 4:10pm - I planned to drive to Fisherman's Beach, but an accident on Washington Street/MA-138 backed up right to the golf course entrance, so I altered my plans. It felt a little like I didn't belong, but there was a clear "Blue Hills Reservation" sign right at the parking lot! I hiked in via the beautiful, paved Maple Avenue, as many folks, young and old, golfed around me. The snack shack smelled absolutely delicious!
I forgot to pack shorts but thankfully wore sweatpants to work (I am hands-down the most professionally dressed, he said with extreme sarcasm). It was a breezy 65 degrees out, so the sweatpants and T-Shirt actually felt nice! It was fun to be somewhere new in the park. Soon enough, I turned onto Redman Farm Path to start my loop.
I saw a sign indicating that archery hunting would be starting up soon and continued through the woods.
My legs were, yet again, a little sore from "leg day," which always feels silly. I emerged from the woods and went right back in to cross the Dorchester Path, Boardwalk entrance, and YMCA area. This stretch had some recently fill-ed gravel potholes, yay! I saw the many spur paths on the right to the pond, which I always want to investigate, but yet again, I saved it for a later adventure. An unleashed dog ran up to me and I was dodging falling acorns like it was the fire swamp from my favorite movie, The Princess Bride.
The sun and pond were trying to BLIND me as I approached near the AMC Camp, but from the viewpoint it looked stunning. I always love the views of the pond from here! I wiggled a bit around the camps, eventually hitting most of the shoreline path. At the south-western corner of the path, there was a dock I had never seen before. Either new or temporary - it was probably used for the canoes. I was thinking how much fun it would be to get a bunch of people together and rent a bunch of the cabins for a weekend! What could go wrong...
Continuing along the loop on the Acton Path, falling pine needles blanked the ground (and my head). I noticed right at the corner (5355) there was a very old, rusted, something attached to a tree. Maybe an old trail sign?
I spent a little bit of time playing Pokemon Go - with a short phone break at Fisherman's Beach to take some photos of Great Blue Hill in the golden hour light.
I skipped the two golf course spurs on the south side of the loop because I was excited to be home and have my bat and pumpkin-shaped ravioli. The sun was shining bright as I approached the dam and I was stunned by how beautiful Great Blue Hill looked in the low lighting. There was also a bird who I had never seen (or heard) before, and boy, it was loud! [UPDATE: It was a Belted Kingfisher]
"Belted Kingfisher"
from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/overview
Belted Kingfishers are common along streams and shorelines across North America. You’ll probably hear a loud, rattling call before you see the kingfisher. Its large head and hefty bill give it a distinctive profile as it patrols its territory, using the open space above the water as a flyway. They also perch on riverside branches and telephone wires. Belted Kingfishers also make long commuting flights over fields and forests, far from water, so be prepared for the occasional surprise flyover wherever you are birding.
The final return on Maple Road was easy and beautiful during the sunset. A few people were heading toward the pond and others were just finishing up their game of golf. This was a lovely afternoon (and the raviolis were DELICIOUS!).
Step-By-Step
- Park at Ponkapoag Golf Course parking area.
- Start hike on Maple Road.
- At 5175, turn right onto Redman Farm Path, hiking short spur onto golf course (green dot).
- At 5241, continue right onto Ponkapoag Trail (green dot).
- At 5343, continue right onto Acton Path (green dot).
- At 5364, turn right onto unnamed path.
- Enjoy view, turn sharply left to ascend hill to AMC Camp main area.
- Turn right back onto Acton Path (green dot).
- At 5361, turn right onto unnamed path.
- At terminus/pond, turn left onto unnamed path along pond.
- At 5332, turn right onto Acton Path (green dot).
- Hike spurs to AMC Camp Entrance and Fisherman's Beach, continue on Acton Path (green dot).
- At 5175, follow Maple Road back to car.
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