Chickatawbut Hill, Braintree Pass Path, Squamaug Notch (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: Figure 8-ish Loop
Distance: 5.53 miles
Elevation: 722 feet
Time: 1 hour, 58 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025; Trail Trace the Blue Hills; Blue Hills Grid
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025; Trail Trace the Blue Hills; Blue Hills Grid
The Hike
Back to work and reality after another fun weekend! I had a rough drive from school, especially for a Monday. It was a warm, summery, 67 degree days. I tweaked my knee over the weekend so decided to stick to the Chickatawbut Area to avoid any hiking that was overly strenuous. There were more cars than usual at the trailhead, and I was officially in the woods at 4:00pm!
I realized I had forgotten to lock my car once I climbed up to Chickatawbut Tower, but thankfully my key worked from that distance! More unfortunately, I forgot to start both my watch and AllTrails until the tower as well, which was a bummer. There were some butterflies out and the trails were a little wet from yesterday's rain, but overall not a problem.
I continued down toward the Great Cedar Swamp and into the little grove on the old Hemlock Bound Foot Path, which had a mixture of brown rectangle and white dot blazes. Back at Laurel Path, I did notice the old footpath that continued up the hill, but wasn't feeling brave enough to explore it (yet...). I ascended via Barberry Bush Spring Trail and continued along Braintree Pass Path, which is one of my favorite trails on this side, especially this "deep" stretch. Near I-93, I could see tree views to Braintree's Great Pond, and then I had to dodge some pricker bushes as I descended back down to Laurel Path.
I crossed the outflow of the Great Cedar Swamp on a creaky, wobbly footbridge, trampled along many fallen red buds from the trees above, scooted along I-93, and then worked my way over to Swuamaug Notch Path at 3163. This stretch began to feel long, as it is pretty flat and featureless, but I was glad to have completed it.
Squamaug Notch Path is nice a long, but in a more interesting way than the previous trails. After climbing up through the notch on the old road, I walked direclty into the sun for a bit before wiggling my way back to Tower Path - a lovely afternoon hike!
Step-by-Step
- Park at Chickatawbut Overlook.
- Start hike on Tower Path.
- At tower, turn left and continue on Tower Path.
- At 3075, turn left onto Sassaman Notch Path.
- At jct., turn right onto Thayer Path.
- At fence, turn left and continue on Thayer Path.
- At Skyline Trail, turn around.
- Turn right onto Stowe Path.
- At jct., continue right on Stowe Path.
- At terminus, turn left onto Slide Notch Path.
- At 3094, turn right onto Sassaman Notch Path.
- At jct., turn left onto path.
- At jct., turn right onto Slide Notch Path.
- At jct., turn right onto path up Nahanton Hill.
- At split, turn right and continue.
- At terminus, continue to descend on Skyline Trail.
- At jct., turn left onto Sassaman Notch Path.
- At 3135, turn right onto Curve Path.
- At 3130, turn right onto Bouncing Brook Path.
- At split, veer left onto Laurel Path.
- Before 3121, turn left onto Hemlock Bound Foot Path.
- At terminus, turn right onto Laurel path.
- At 3132, turn left onto Barberry Bush Spring Trail.
- At 3090, turn left onto Braintree Pass Path.
- At terminus, turn right onto Laurel Path.
- At terminus, turn left onto Cochato Path.
- At terminus, turn left onto Hemlock Path.
- At 3151, turn right onto Bouncing Brook Path.
- At 3163, turn left onto Squamaug Notch Path.
- At terminus, continue onto Slide Notch Path.
- At jct., turn right onto Tower Path.
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