Great Blue Hill, Circle Trail, Bartol & Carberry Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Great Blue Hill, Circle Trail, Bartol & Carberry Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop w/ Spurs

Distance: 5.27 miles

Elevation: 750 feet

Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025; Trail Trace the Blue Hills, Great Blue Hill Summits

The Hike 

Another warm, grey day in the Blue Hills during another long, stressful week. The plan was roughly to get some cardio in while waiting for an important phone call from a friend - super fun (sarcastic)! I parked at the north Trailside Museum parking area and followed a herd path to the trail that wraps around the Trailside Museum before making my way to and climbing up the Eliot Path, which was wet and slippery from the rain and humidity. I realized a few minutes into my hike that I, yet again, forgot to start my Garmin and AllTrails... ugh. There was a little snow left on Patriots and I swam my way through the humidity to the summit, which thankfully had a heavenly breeze. 

I continued down Skyline North and some spring peepers cheered me on as I climbed up Wolcott. I got the call I was waiting for as I climbed up Hancock (naturally, when I was out of breath), and then I kind of zoned out for a while, slowly meandering down Circle Trail and Chestnut Run Path. The call ended very well and I continued onto Bartol Path, where I lost service. I love the Bartol Path on a cloudy day - it has a really unique, seculded energy to it. There were yellow daffodils just off the trail at the terminus, and then I continued around Rotch Path, passing my first humans of the day (two off-leash dogs and two humans, one of which was barefoot...), and made my way to Carberry Path, which was still delightfully mowed.

I was feeling much better after that phone call, and I played some Pokemon Go as I made my way out of the woods on Wolcott Path. Happy spring!

Step-by-Step

- Park at north Trailside Museum parking.

- Start hike on Wolcott Path.

- Soon after starting, follow herd path on right.

- Join path and hike south around Trailside Museum fence.

- After jct. with Abigail Adams Trail kiosk, turn left onto Eliot Path.

- At 1055, turn right onto Eliot Circle.

- At road, turn left onto Summit Road.

- At jct., turn right onto spur.

- Summit Great Blue Hill.

- From summit, follow path east.

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

- At 1063, turn right onto Skyline Trail North.

- At jct. after 1170, turn right onto Circle Trail.

- At 1180, turn right onto Breakneck Ledge path.

- At 1203, turn right onto Chestnut Run Path.

- At 1175, turn left onto Border Path.

- At 1135, turn right onto Bartol Path.

- At terminus, turn around.

- At 1135, continue straight onto Five Corners Path.

- At 1140, turn right onto unnamed path.

- At 1121, turn right onto Rotch Path.

- At 1114, turn left onto Border Path.

- At 1100, turn right onto Carberry Path.

- At terminus, turn around.

- At 1100, turn right onto Wolcott Path.

- Follow Wolcott Path to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album