Rattlesnake & Wampatuck Hills via St. Moritz Ponds (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: -o-o-o Loop
Distance: 3.18 miles
Elevation: 384 feet
Time: 1 hour, 7 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid; Trail Trace the Blue Hills
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid; Trail Trace the Blue Hills
The Hike
Happy Thursday! This might be the first, if not definitely one of the first, times that I've hiked in the Blue Hills for four days in a row! What was extra great was that this was also my Friday - since it's officially April vacation! I was going to see HONK! Jr. at a middle school my friend works at that evening, so I had a little over an hour to kill in the Quincy area of the Blue Hills. It was a stunning 60 degree day (another beautiful day!) and it was fun to be back in the quarries area, where I hadn't been in at least six months.
My hike started at the eastern terminus of the Skyline Trail, hiking past some rotting pumpkins and a pile of random toys(?). I continued onto Minichiello Path on the boardwalk, which was in great condition (it was flooded last spring). Geese were honking me along from the pond as I turned onto the Firepit Path, which is a lovely path through the woods along the pond. From there, I hopped back on the Skyline Trail.
I crossed Wampatuck Road and made my way up Rattlesnake Hill, past the Sullivan Quarry. I always wonder how deep the quarry actually is, and I was surprised to see so many fish inside swimming about!
From the height-of-land on the Skyline Trail on Rattlesnake Hill, I followed a herd path on the left to the actual summit area, which looked like the former summit cairn had been partially dismantled.
I worked my way back to the Skyline Trail and ran into a person from the Crags viewpoint, where I found a person that spooked the life out of me. The descent from Crags is always horrible, rugged, and steep, but at least its short!
Continuing on, I passed a shallow pond after the Skyline Trail crosses the Pipe Line and ascended Wampatuck Hill, where I always look around for a former USGS Disc. I think I need to accept that it is no longer there... I caught a glimpse of Mt. Wachusett from the descent, and when I opened up Pokemon Go, I caught ANOTHER shiny Fuecoco! Right after, I caught a shiny event Pikachu! I guess the Blue Hills are my lucky spot for shiny Pokemon...
I started my way back along Crag Trail, the Pipe Line, and then the Quarry Trail - following green blazes for the ladder. The green blazes brought me back across Wampatuck Road and past some delightfully old trees - one of which was 200 years old! I noticed that somebody fixed the "4220" trail junciton sign (it used to read 4 20, which was objectively funny), and saw some small needle-shaped fish in the St. Moritz Ponds. The usually wet spot where the Skyline Trail traverses between the two ponds was significantly more dry than I had ever experienced - I wonder if they did work on the dam to help lower the levels? Or maybe we're just in a draught that I was unaware of? No idea, but I was soon back at the car and enjoyed some lovely tween artistry at HONK! Jr.
Step-by-Step
- Park at Shea Memorial Rink
- Start hike on Skyline Trail at 4234.
- At split, continue left on Minichiello Path.
- At jct., turn right onto Firepit Path.
- At terminus, turn left onto Skyline Trail.
- At 4134, turn right onto path.
- At 4131, turn right onto Crag Trail.
- At terminus, merge onto Water Pipe Line.
- At 4135, continue off of Pipe Line and onto path (still Crag Trail)
- At 4151, turn right onto Quarry Trail (green blazes).
- At terminus, turn right onto Skyline Trail.
- At 4220, turn left onto path.
- At Wampatuck Road, turn around.
- At 4220, turn left onto Skyline Trial.
- Follow Skyline Trail back to car.
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