Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (w/ Sonya) (Blue Hills Reservation)
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Distance: 4.28 miles
Elevation: 1,181 feet
Time: 2 hours, 6 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Great Blue Hill Summits
Hiking Challenges: Great Blue Hill Summits
The Hike
Back with Sarah for a Skyline Loop! We met after a SLEEPY drive after work and got right to it! Eliot Path was straightforward and we passed a few groups of hikers, and a garter snake! We had a wonderful breeze from the top of Great Blue Hill and continued onto the Skyline Trail North. When we made it to the col between the two high points of Wolcott Hill, we crossed paths with two girls who couldn't have been older than 18. We crossed paths, but they quickly turned around and said "do you guys want to see an owl?" Sarah and I obviously said "YES." They led us probably 50 feet down the trail and there it was - a big barred owl just chilling in a tree! It was so cool, and we thanked the girls profusely for showing it to us. They said "yeah we saw your camera and figured you'd like it!" It looked around and scratched its head. We were OBSESSED.
After watching the owl for five-ish minutes, we continued on and over Hemenway and Hancock. The climb up Houghton was humbling as always, and soon enough we were climbing up Great Blue Hill again for round two. We opted to descend on Sonya while the grass was still low. The view to Boston from Patriots was growing in with all the leaves, and we found a tick further down (on the grass, thank goodness). Soon enough we were back at our cars and on the way home!
- Start hike from Trailside Museum parking on Eliot Path (red dots).
- At terminus, turn right onto Eliot Circle.
- At next jct., turn left onto Summit Road.
- At next jct., turn right onto spur trail to Summit.
- Descend summit towards Skyline Trail South.
- Turn left onto Skyline Trail, and then right onto Skyline Trail North.
- 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.
- From summit, descend to ski area.
- Follow Patriots and Sonya down.
- Near bottom turn on Sonya, turn right back onto Eliot Path.
- Retrace steps to car.
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