Chickatawbut Skyline Trail, Fox Hill, Little & Great Domes (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: o-o Loop
Distance: 6.71 miles
Elevation: 758 feet
Time: 2 hours, 23 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid; Trail Trace the Blue Hills
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid; Trail Trace the Blue Hills
The Hike
Time for ANOTHER hike in the Blue Hills on ANOTHER beautiful day! It was my first day of April break and I was set on making my way over the Little and Great Domes (plus Fox Hill for some gridding). Temperatures were in the mid-50s when I started hiking in the morning and were set to climb. Originally, I had hoped to hike somewhere up north, but I NEEDED some sleep (and thank goodness I got it!).
From the Braintree Pass Path trailhead, I started my hike along the Pipe Line just after 10:00am. I wore my waterproof boots for good measure, which paid off at the classically wet and muddy stretch. I passed a small bird's nest, scared the life out of some poor ducks, and admired the skunk cabbage that was growing in strongly. The mud started at the incline, which also featured some deer tracks.
I made my way to the Hemlock Bound Foot Path, hiked to MA-28, and followed MA-28 for ~15 feet to the Skyline Trail, which had a normal blue but also an orange/brown blaze, which confused me. Maybe an old Great Dome Trail blaze? Not sure.
Anyway, I followed the Skyline up the three distinct climbs up Chickatawbut Hill, which are steep and fun (and have herd paths around the steeps which I do NOT agree with). The temperature felt HOT now that I was climbing, but it was still delightful. I also included a note that I am, in fact, still mad about the fence around Chickatawbut Hill.
I followed a faint herd path at the height-of-land to get to the true summit of Fenno Hill and continued down the well-crafted stairs up and over Kitchamakin and Nahanton Hills, the ladder of which features just beautiful views. I did notice a dad and child basically free-climbing up the rocky ledges of Nahanton which seemed wildly dangerous? To each their own, I guess...
I was enjoying the beautiful walk across the Broken Hills when I got my first bug bite of the season followed by being charged at by a giant spider! Horrible. I also crossed paths with another large back snake - smaller than the one on Kitchamakin - but this one shook its tail to pretend it was a rattlesnake, which I did NOT like.
Eventually, I escaped the cursed Broken Hills, crossed Wampatuck Hill, and made my way to Fox Hill. There was a vulture circling overhead, and with my luck, I was stressed, but thankfully I escaped unharmed. I descended via Fox Hill Path and began my drip to Sawcut Notch Path, where I turned onto a herd path at the height-of-land to summit Little Dome, which was LOVELY! There was a tree view of Hancock Hill and some daffodils (I think) next to a fire ring.
I retraced my steps back to Sawcut Notch Path, hiked alongside some spooky orange mud, and started on the herd path/old Great Dome Foot Path to the summit of Great Dome. The foot path was just discernable enough to follow it mostly without question, and the summit is just beautiful! It features a very unique view with Fox Hill's open forest, the Broken Hills behind it, and Hancock to the right. This summit also had daffodils and some purple flowers that I did not identify.
I wandered around the summit for a bit, hoping to find an old blaze or foot path to continue along the old Great Dome Foot Path (Great Dome Trail?), but eventually fell short and gave up. I did see a goldfinch, though! I retraced my steps, noticed some golfers through the trees, and continued along Satcut Notch and then Short Path past a comical amount of robins.
I looked hard for any evidence of the old Great Dome Foot Path/Trail, but did see anything clear in my return... oh well. I followed the appropriately named Pleasant Trail to the Pipe Line, which started my long walk back to the car! It was wetter one near Chickatawbut Road, but overall not too bad. This was a seriously fun, unique loop!
Step-by-Step
- Park at Braintree Pass Path trailhead.
- Start hike on Braintree Pass Path.
- At 3022, continue right on Pipe Line.
- At 3013, turn right onto Hemlock Bound Foot Path.
- At terminus, turn right onto MA-28.
- At jct., turn right onto Skyline Trail.
- Cross Chickatawbut Road.
- At 4134, turn left onto path, staying left.
- At Pipe Line turn left.
- At terminus, turn right onto Fox Hill Path.
- At 4102, turn left onto Indian Camp Path.
- At 4091, turn left.
- At 4083, turn right onto Sawcut Notch Path.
- At height-of-land, hike herd path on left to Little dome, then continue on Sawcut Notch Path.
- Beofre height-of-land, hike on former Great Dome Foot Path to Great Dome on right, then continue on Sawcut Notch Path.
- At 4133, turn right onto Short Path.
- At 4124, turn right onto Crags Foot Path.
- At 4091, turn left onto Indian Camp Path.
- At 4086, turn right onto path.
- At 4082, turn right onto Pleasant Trail.
- At 4046, turn left onto Pipe Line/Headquarters Path.
- Follow Pipe Line/Headquarters Path to Chickatawbut Road.
- Cross Chickatawbut Road, follow Pipe Line/Headquarters Path back to car.
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