Cross Path, Whip Hill, Crystal Spring Path/Road (Middlesex Fells Reservation)
Hike Type: Spaghetti Loop
Distance: 3.71 miles
Elevation: 427 feet
Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Parking: Ample parking at Greenwood Park in Stoneham.
Hiking Challenges: Middlesex Fells Reservation
Hiking Challenges: Middlesex Fells Reservation
The Hike
I take back every complaint I've made about heat in 2026 (that's a lie), because it was officially HOT. I was getting an after-school hike in at the Fells on a STEAMY 94-degree day. Ouch. To make things worse, the porta potty at Greenwood Park was gone! My goal was to connect the final dots in this area of the Fells, but acknowledged that it was miserable out and wasn't going to push myself too hard. I got suited up and off I went!
I was sweating 50 feet away from my car, and then passed a massive group of hikers (looked like a guided hike) before turning onto Whip Hill Road, which donned a bunch of wonderful flowers! The humidity cranked up whenever the trails paralleled wetlands, which felt... unpleasant.
I continued onto Cross Path, hiked the triangle at F2-8, and then worked my way onto the other Whip Hill trails that don't go over the top. I heard a barred owl through the trees, but sadly didn't see it. There was an interesting man (or alien)-made fence made of fallen limbs going up Whip Hill, and once I was over the other side I had a sip of hot Nuun, which is never pleasant. I meandered around, eventually landing back on the giant split rock at F2-15 before hitting some more new trails.
Whip Hill Park was FULL of blooming mountain laurel, which was just a delight to see. There were also a couple turkeys on the trail that descends to Gate 47 - one was gobbling up a storm and was HUGE. The trail passed a few back yards before hitting the gate, where I turned around to continue my wander.
I passed some robins baithing in a little drainage stream and worked my way on the littles uphill on the Crystal Spring Path, where my nose started to bleed! Yikes. I did a little loop, went uphill again, and then descended to Crystal Spring Road, which was mostly paved and lined with flowers - kind of lovely!
After bouncing around at the parking area off the Lynn Fells Parkway, I landed at Gate 41 and walked along Pond Street to hit my final stretch of trail, which was blazed for the Crystal Spring Trail, which didn't match the map (annoying). I also noticed a wooden rectangular post that said Saddleback Path on it at the road - I wonder if there's more of these throughout the park like at the Blue Hills?
I hiked uphill to the green blazes and to my delight was just about done! I was COOKED. I'm so not ready for summer summer (I AM ready for summer vacation, though). I made it to Christien's and immedaitely took my first cold shower of the season!
Step-by-Step
- Park at Greenwood Park
- Start hike on red-blazed Crystal Springs Trail northbound.
- At E2-1, turn right onto Whip Hill Road (green).
- At F2-3, continue onto Cross Path.
- At F2-8, hike triangle, and then turn left onto Crystal Spring Path.
- At F2-9, turn left onto path.
- At F2-10, hike triangle and then turn right (green).
- At F2-14, turn left.
- At F2-13, turn left.
- At F2-1, continue straight.
- At E2-9, turn left onto Whip Hill Path (green).
- At F2-2, turn left.
- At F2-10, turn left (green).
- At F2-14, turn left.
- At F2-15, turn right (green).
- At F2-16, turn left.
- At F2-17, stay straight (do not enter Whip Hill Path, follow path along homes).
- At Gate 47, turn around.
- At jct., turn left onto Crystal Spring Path.
- Hike spur between F2-20 and F2-19, then continue on Crystal Spring Path.
- At F2-18, turn right.
- At F2-17, turn right.
- At jct., veer right.
- At F2-19, turn right onto Crystal Spring Path.
- At F2-6, turn left onto Crystal Spring Road.
- At Lynn Fells Parkway, turn around.
- At Gate 41, turn right onto Pond Street.
- At jct., turn right onto Saddleback Path.
- At E2-6, turn left (green).
- Follow green blazes back to car.
Photo Album
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