Eliot, Dalton, Samoset, Wolcott, Jeffries, Eustis Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Eliot, Dalton, Samoset, Wolcott, Jeffries, Eustis Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Tracing loop

Distance: 5.31 miles

Elevation: 846 feet

Time: 1 hour, 49 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x); Great Blue Hill Summits

The Hike

Back to normal temperatures! I wanted to get a hike in yesterday, but my body NEEDED a nap instead. Today, I made my way down to the Blue Hills after work, either planning for a Skyline Loop or some tracing. I opted for some tracing when I got to the trailhead and saw a dozen other cars. It was 44 degrees out with a chilly breeze. I was wearing a long-sleeve merino/hybrid shirt and running shorts, which was perfect for the ascents but chilly on the flats. I put on my buff and off I went!

I started by launching myself up the Eliot Path, noticing a relatively new "no trespassing" sign near the bunny hill of the ski area, and dipping into the woods for a quick bathroom break. I immediately warmed up once climbing, and was delighted to see the remaining glaciers  before and after the summit road were melting! There were some wildly annoying teens screaming ahead of and then behind me, but hike your own hike I guess?

I summited Great Blue Hill and started my descent down Skyline South, which is rough on the knees. I was delighted to hear the wood frogs loudly quacking from before the main scramble, though, which was super fun! I continued on past the vernal pond, up Wolcott Hill on the Skyline Trail, and then followed Dalton Path to Puddle Path, both of which were in excellent shape. 

From Puddle Path, I turned onto Samoset Path, which was covered in twigs, sticks, and off-trail blowdowns. Really pretty! Next up was Wolcott plus a few spurs. Wolcott was medium-muddy, with some deep tire ruts of either an ATV or a DCR ranger truck. I followed Wolcott up to Downtown Crossing and then climbed up Hemenway via Skyline before jumping onto Jeffries - one of my favorite trails! I got some nice tree-views to Boston and the ocean before hiking past the caged well and onto Base Path Connector, which has a very wild feel to it, and I saw a deer who stopped for a photo!

I wiggled over to Eustis Trail, which was leafy and wet to begin but turned to just leafy after crossing with Base Path Connector. The later half of Eustis was beatiful, with wide-open forests. I eventually made my way onto Rotch Path, where I heard a few actual spring peepers (not wood frogs) and an owl! Soon enough I was back on Wolcott heading to the car. I feel like the trails were much more wet last spring? Not sure, but today was a treat, especially now that we're finishing up this BRUTAL week!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Trailside Museum Parking

- Start hike on Eliot Path.

- At terminus, turn right onto Eliot Circle.

- At Summit Road, turn left onto Summit Road.

- At next jct., turn right onto spur path to summit.

- From summit, descend on gravel path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Eliot Circle/Skyline Trail. 

- At 1066, turn right onto Skyline Trail South.

- At 1083, turn left onto Wildcat Notch Path.

- At 1092, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- At 1117, turn left onto Dalton Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Wildcat Notch Path.

- At 1103, turn right onto Puddle Path.

- At 1105, turn right onto Samoset Path.

- At 1100, turn right onto Wolcott Path.

- Hike up and down spur at 1115, then continue on Wolcott Path.

- At 1122, hike out and back on Rotch Path to 1121, then continue on Wolcott Path.

- At 1141, turn left onto Skyline Trail.

- At 1150, turn left onto Jeffries Trail (hike triangle near height of land in woods).

- At 1182, turn left onto Base Path.

- At 1183, turn left onto Base Path Connector.

- At 1165, turn right onto Border Path.

- At 1175, turn right onto Chestnut Run Path.

- At next jct. turn right onto Eustis Trail.

- At 1140, continue onto path.

- At 1121, turn right onto Rotch Path.

- At 1114, turn left onto Border Path.

- At 1100, veer right onto Wolcott Path.

- Follow Wolcott Path to Trailside Museum Parking North.

- Follow sidewalk to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album