Great Blue Hill via Elliot, Accord, Brookwood Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: Figure-8-ish Loop
Distance: 4.62 miles
Elevation: 951 feet
Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x); Great Blue Hill Summits
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x); Great Blue Hill Summits
The Hike
I originally wrote "first skyline loop of 2025!" in my notes, but that turned out to be a LIE! I had just finished my first dentist vist in an embarassignly long time (never wait too long, kids, because it'll HURT). I also have a new car! I still need to detail that saga, likely in one of my ski posts from this upcoming weekend. It was a cold, windy afternoon at 29 degrees and cloudy. As mentioned, the original plan was a traditional skyline loop, but once I rounded the Trailside Museum and started up Eliot Path, I realized I didn't have my buff and I didn't want to absolutely murder my lungs, so I decided I'd do a great blue hill wander.
Eliot Path had some avoidable stretches of ice and the middle section of the ski area view spur just before the summit road was a thin ice skating rink - exciting! Once at the Eliot Tower, I was wheezing a bit, which validated my decision to not do the full loop.
I'm so glad the tower is open - Boston looked beautiful with a thin cloud cover, both ponds looked frozen, and I could see the patch of burned trees over by Houghton Hill. Plus, no one else was around! I did have a slight headache from the dentist (or so I thought... turns out I was about to be VERY sick), but other than that, life was great!
I came across a mouse hiding under some leaves on Eliot Circle (I don't mind them when they're in their natural habitat), I hit the summit, and then followed the gravel road down to the Eliot Circle and Skyline Trail. The sun felt amazing on the Skyline Trail going down towards MA-138, and there was now a beautiful, golden light on the Accord Path.
Heading back up for my second summit, I followed the delightfully quiet Brookwood Path up, past a deer and many little poops on rocks, maneuvered the ice flow at the crux of the climb up Skyline South, and made it back to the top yet again. The clouds were now painted in a beautiful pastel, and if I stuck around I probably would have seen a great sunset, but I had a longer-than-usual route down and I was cold, so another day!
Step-by-Step
- Park at Trailside Museum north parking lot.
- Start hike on Wolcott Path (green blazes).
- At jct., turn right onto path around Trailside Museum.
- At terminus, turn left onto Eliot Path (red blazes).
- At terminus, turn left onto Eliot Circle.
- After 1066, turn right to summit Great Blue Hill.
- From summit, follow gravel road.
- At terminus, turn right onto Eliot Cirlce/Skyline Trail.
- At 1030, continue left on Skyline Trail.
- At MA-138, turn around.
- At 1003, turn left onto Accord path.
- At 1050, turn left onto spur to MA-138.
- At MA-138, turn around.
- Follow Accord Path.
- At 1062, turn right onto Brookwood Path.
- At Blue Hill River Road, turn around.
- Follow Brookwood Path to terminus.
- At terminus, turn left onto Skyline Trail/Wildcat Notch Path.
- At 1083, turn left onto Skyline Trail.
- At 1066, turn left onto Skyline Trail/Eliot Circle.
- Just after, turn right on spur to summit.
- At summit, follow spur trail eastward to Summit Road.
- At terminus, turn left onto Summit Road.
- At jct., turn right onto Eliot Circle.
- At sign, turn left onto Raccoon Hollow Path (red blazes).
- At 1082, turn left onto Cliff Trail (red blazes).
- After road crossing, turn right on short spur to Summit Road.
- Turn left to descend Summit Road.
- At jct., turn left to hike to water tower.
- Turn around at water tower.
- At jct., turn left and descend to parking lot.
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