Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (w/ Spurs) (Blue Hills Reservation)

Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (w/ Spurs) (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop-ish Loop

Distance: 4.65 miles

Elevation: 1,224 feet

Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Great Blue Hill Summits; Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x)

The Hike

Another warm day in the Blue Hills! I was riding solo today, since Sarah had her last day of PT! My drive was a little more trafficky than usual, in part becuase I was a few minutes late in getting out the building and there was apparently a fight on the after-school playground between a 2nd and 5th grader (wild), but eventually I made my way down! I was looking forward to this hike truly just to blow off some steam - it had been a tough week, and it was only Tuesday!

I changed into my shorts and got right to it on the Eliot Path, immediately going a little faster than normal to get past a few groups of hikers. I'd say the fair weather hikers are officially back! It was breezy and cool air was coming off of the leftover snow on the ski slopes, which closed for the season this past weekend. I also found myself wishing the Eliot Path was a Strava segment... 

There were very small traces of ice left on either side of the Summit Road crossing, but none that required traction or even avoiding. On the Eliot Circle, I really had to pee, but with how many people were out and about, I was going to try to wait until the porta potties at the headquarters. I passed a guy skateboarding down the Summit Road, took a sip of my first warm Nalgene of the year, and made it up top for summit #1 of the day!

I followed the gravel road down to connect a segment of the Skyline/Circle that I still needed, and then worked my way to the Skyline Trail North. By the time I reached the Eliot Tower, I think I had seen more people than I had seen the entire cumulative winter - it was wild.

Descending Skyline Trail North, I heard a sound I wasn't expecting with still-partially-frozen swamps... FROGS!!! I always thought the sound was made by Spring Peepers, but I recently learned that they're Wood Frogs. I turned left in the Great Blue/Wolcott col to get closer and enjoy before continuing up and over Wolcott's burned summit and down into Downtown Crossing.

The Downtown Crossing junction was covered in craters from people and horses going over the melting frost heaves, which was kind of cool to see. I made my way up Hemenway and around a new blowdown just after the view, and continued up to Hancock, still having to pee desperately. I wiggled down Hancock Hill, now with my sweat-soaked shorts falling down, and basically stumbled into the bathroom for sweet relief.

Continuing on, I hiked into the headwind on Hillside Street and then climbed up the burnt-smelling Houghton Hill (apparently quickly, I made a new PR on Strava!), which only left me slightly fighting for my life. At this point in the hike, the only thing on my mind was the Kirby Dreamland Theme, which was very silly to hike to. The streams were flowing gently and I saw the first budding tree of the season before starting to climb again!

The final climb was also ice-free and I apparently zoomed up, because I hit another Strava PR! It felt super good and validating to PR the two toughest climbs of this hike, and I'm proud of it! I made my way back to the top, checked out the ski area from the spur path, lamented about the rotting snow, and then made my way down. Throughout this hike, I had crossed paths/passed at least two dozen people, many of which were younger folks like 15-21 years old who definitely said "wow its so nice out lets go for a hike!" - which isn't said unfavorably, just an observation! I do miss the quiet of midweek winter hikes though...

Step-by-Step

- Start hike from Trailside Museum parking on Eliot Path (red dots).

- At terminus, turn right onto Eliot Circle.

- After crossing Summit Road, turn left onto Summit Spur.

- At summit, descend summit on gravel road toward Skyline Trail South.

- Turn left onto Skyline Trail, and then right onto Skyline Trail North.

- Follow Skyline Trail North to Hillside St.

- At Hillside St., turn right onto Hillside St.

- After stables, turn right onto Skyline Trail South.

- Follow Skyline Trail South to Eliot Circle.

- At jct., turn right to summit Great Blue Hill.

- Follow spur to top of ski area from summit.

- At ski area, turn around.

- At jct., turn left onto Eliot Circle.

- At jct., turn left onto Eliot Path.

- Return to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album