Squamaug Notch, Great Cedar Swamp, Braintree Pass, & Cedar Rock Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 5.30 miles
Elevation: 443 feet
Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025; Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x)
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025; Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x)
The Hike
Hike #2! I was feeling marginally better from the mystery illness so I wanted to go for a longer hike, on a colder, winder day, apparently. The plan was to wander the Chickatawbut area without climbing any of the hills. I was congested, snotty, and frigid, and I was off!
There was some avoidable ice, of the boilerplate and needle variety, on the pathway to the tower. At the tower, somebody was blowing some form of what appeared to be an indigenous horn and praying in between, so I let them have their privacy and continued along toward the Squamaug Notch Path, which I forgot is one of my favorite trails - it's just surprisingly scenic for a wooded trail. There were seasonal tree-views of Boston and the reservoir through the trees, though.
My puffy came off right at the height-of-land, and then I continued my way down to the end of the trail, making my way towards the Great Cedar Swamp via the Hemlock Path. I eventually caught up to a guy walking his dogs, but he would pick up his pace everytime I came within 20 feet, which was... fine. To stall time, I investigated the Hemlock Bound rock, which had a herd path near it leading to a nearby business.
I scooted around I-93 through the broken fence, and then turned uphill to the Braintree Pass Path to break up with the man I had been inadvertently stalking. My heart rate got higher than I had wanted it to, being sick and all, but it was fine. The Braintree Pass Path was beautiful as always, and one of the longer continual paths in the reservation.
Near Chickatawbut Road, I turned onto Headquarters Path, carefully crossed, and continued along the Headquarters Path/Pipe Line. The trail quality alternated between dry, wet, and icy, but all avoidable. My last stop was the Cedar Rock Path back to the car, where I officially crossed paths with the first person of the day!
Step-By-Step
- Park at Chickatawbut Overlook.
- Hike up to tower, turn left onto Tower Path.
- At terminus, turn left onto Slide Notch Path.
- At terminus, turn right onto Squamaug Notch Path.
- At 3163, turn right onto Bouncing Brook Path.
- At 3151, turn left onto Hemlock Path.
- At terminus, continue right onto Laurel Path.
- Soon after, turn left onto Braintree Pass Path.
- At 3024, turn right onto Headquarters Path.
- Cross Chickatawbut Road, continue on Headquarters Path.
- At 4012, turn right onto Cedar Rock Path.
- Return to car.
No comments:
Post a Comment