Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (w/ Sonya) (Blue Hills Reservation)

Skyline Loop via Trailside Museum (w/ Sonya) (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 4.18 miles

Elevation: 1,175 feet

Time: 1 hours, 33 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Great Blue Hill Summits

The Hike 

Happy Wednesday! I had a brutal drive down to the Blue Hills after my department meeting (3 seperate accidents!). The original plan was to Skyline Loop again with Sarah, but she got there a half hour ahead of me so I gave her my blessing to go on without me. She counter-challenged me to try to catch up to her, and I do love a challenge... To my dismay, the parking lot had at least 20 cars in it (thankfully the trail was fine). Temps were in the mid-70s and I was hiking by 4:11!

Starting up Eliot Path, I was still in awe with how green everything has recently become. There was a wonderful breeze accompanying me while I gunned it up the hill. I didn't think I would catch up, but I did want to give it a try! I hiked through a sea of gnats at the road crossing as I continued to blast off - this was a zone 4/5 hike. 

Near the summit, Sarah texted me that the owl was still there in the Wolcott col! She was about 15 minutes ahead of me at that point. Just after summiting, I realized I left my car unlocked and left my keys IN my car... ugh. I thought about aborting mission, but the thought of seeing the owl again and catching up to Sarah weighed too heavily to give up - onward!

I flew down Great Blue Hill and found the owl in the Wolcott col, now on a different limb right up on a tree trunk. I got nervous when he wasn't in the exact same spot, but it does make sense that he moved at some point in the past 24 hours. I got passed by a trail runner who I always see who runs while on the phone (and with the phone on speaker phone...) and fought muscle fatigue as I shot up Hemenway and Hancock. Legs were JIGGLY. 

There were lots of chirping bugs in Hancock Hill and the Skyline South entrance at Houghton smelled like flowers. I was yet again humbled by Houghton (I got my 2nd fastest time on Strava), but then a miracle happened! I caught up to Sarah on the Houghton descent! I gave a loud ca-caw and then we chatted up and over Great Blue Hill and down Sonya yet again. What a fun way to end the hike!

Step-by-Step

- 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.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album