Buck Hill via Bugbee, Dark Hollow, HQ, Buck Hill, Fells, Beech Hollow Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Buck Hill via Bugbee, Dark Hollow, HQ, Buck Hill, Fells, Beech Hollow Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Tracing Loop

Distance: 4.72 miles

Elevation: 525 feet

Time: 1 hour, 42 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Trail Trace the Blue Hills

The Hike 

I had a slow, Wednesday drive to the Blue Hills and hardly a plan. I ended up in Houghton's Pond Parking Lot C, where I'd never been before! I figured I'd just trace some needed trails and see where that led me. It was a wonderful 70 degrees out with partly cloudy skies and a glorius breeze - really a beautiful afternoon! I did a quick pee in the porta potty and then suited up for my adventure. 

I started by following the path the edges the forest past the picnic area, enjoying the view of Great Blue Hill from the pond, and then made my way over to the pavement for an unpleaseant climb. Things improved once on Bugbee Path, and the trail smelled like summer! Only issue with that was that the pollen was also out and proud, and I was SNEEZING up a storm.

I ducked under an easy blowdown on Dark Hollow Path and did a little loop at 2112 to hit a couple spurs I needed. It was a little buggy on the Quincy Path, but not muddy! I continued past the old Buck Hill summit trail, which is clearly still in use, and then worked my way over to the Buck Hill Path.

The upper stretch of Buck Hill Path has burn evidence on the right, which was both pretty and eerie. Once at the Skyline junction, I braved the steepness and climbed up to beautiful Buck Hill! The climb really wasn't that bad. Steep, sure, but short. The view to Great Blue Hill and Hancock Hill were excellent, and Wachusett wasn't looking too shabby either. There was also a stunning breeze.

Some springtime observations I found: plenty of tent catepillars, black chokeberries had white flowers, black huckleberries had red buds, and Wooly Catkin Gall Wasps created these cotton-like puffs on some bushes, which I had never noticed before. I spent a decent amount of time on the Seek app while on Buck, which was super fun.

On my descent, I planned to just get needed trails that were roughly on the way back, which was primarily Fells Path and Beech Hollow Path, with a few spurs on either side. I was reflecting on my spring so far (and winter) and felt really proud of myself for making Wednesday hikes a semi-regular thing. I used to easily talk my self out of hiking on Wednesdays since I get out at 3:00pm, therefor get hiking later, but this year I've just... done it!

The bugs were getting more... friendly at this point in the day, and the clouds were rolling in. I felt like Old Route 128 was narrower than the last time I was there, which was definitely possible - it's a cool walk. I continued to sneeze up a storm as I hit a few final spurs, the last of which had a downed pine limb that smelled AMAZING. Soon enough I was back at the car and on my way home.

Step-by-Step

- Park at Houghton Pond Parking Lot C.

- Start hike on path that borders the woods along the picnic area.

- At halfway point, continue straight, veering right to 2053.

- At 2053, turn right to follow green blazes.

- At 2070, turn right onto Bugbee Path.

- At 2095, turn left onto Dark Hollow Path.

- At 2112, turn left onto Quincy Path.

- At jct., turn right onto Headquarters Path.

- At jct., turn right onto Dark Hollow Path and then immediately left onto Quincy Path.

- At terminus, continue onto Headquarters Path.

- At 2164, turn right onto Buck Hill Path.

- At 2181, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- At 2141, turn left onto Doe Hollow Path.

- At jct., turn left onto Massachuseuck Trail.

- At 2152, turn right onto Fells Path.

- At 2149, turn left onto Pig Rock Path.

- At 2154, turn around.

- At 2149, turn left onto Fells Path.

- At 2140, turn right onto Bugbee Path.

- At 2135, turn left onto Beech Hollow Path.

- At 2132 , turn right onto Doe Holow Path.

- At jct., turn around.

- At 2132, turn right onto Beech Hollow Path.

- At jct., continue right. 

- At terminus, turn right onto Old Route 128.

- At 2100, turn right onto Angle Path.

- At 2092, turn left onto Burnt Hill Path.

- At 2085, turn right onto Old Route 128.

- Hike two spurs on right along Old Route 128, continue on Old Route 128.

- Return to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

Buck Hill via AMC, Fells, Beech Hollow, Monatiquot, & Forest Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Buck Hill via AMC, Fells, Beech Hollow, Monatiquot, & Forest Paths (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: ooO loop

Distance: 4.20 miles

Elevation: 469 feet

Time: 1 hour, 27 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x)

The Hike

Happy Monday! I had a super easy drive after work on a beautiful, 60 degree day. I made a plan to do some tracing around Great Blue Hill, but I left the map I doodled on at school, so I pivoted over to Buck Hill, where I had more open trails (and therefore a smaller chance of accidentally repeating). I was SUPER sleepy (blame daylight savings time), but I was parked around 3:25, so no complaints there! I suited up in my t-shirt and shorts, and was off!

I parked at the Forest Path trailhead but walked on Chickatawbut Road to the Buck Hill Path trailhead to officially get started. I noticed a "no atv" sign posted by the MDC I hadn't seen before (or saw and forgot about...) and dodged my first horse poop of the year on the Headquarters Path. There was an occasional breeze that felt cool in the shade but the sun felt AMAZING. 

I made my way over to the old school house on MA-128 and then hiked up the AMC Footpath to Buck Hill, which was a little hard to follow down low, easy in the middle, and tricky up top again because of criss-crossing mountain bike trails, and a few old orange blazes throughout (circles, not the rectangles seen elsewhere). Buck Hill was magical as always, even with the guy loudly talking on his phone. I could see Mt. Wachusett prominently, followed by the round Mt. Watatic with Mt. Monadnock behind (Watatic looked huge compared to Monadnock from this angle which was fun), and then the Pack Monadnocks further on the right. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I just love that I did the Wapack Trail - I have such a new, deeper appreciation for that range now.

I continued past a blue arrow painted on a rock that I had never seen before and started my trip down to Old Route 128, down the Doe Hollow, Fells, Bugbee, and Beech Hollow Paths. All were a little muddy, but never were any a problem. I saw a bunch of deer tracks on Fells Path and I was just enjoying the warmth. I made my way onto Old Route 128 and giggled at how they basically just baried the rest of the road underneath the new one.

After Old 128 went under the current highway, I continued onto Monatiquot Path, which had plenty of highway litter on the right side. Nearer to Bugbee Path, I heard some commotion off into the woods followed by heavy breathing. I'm assuming it was just a few deer, but it was spooky! It could have been a sasquatch, though...

Once I saw the time, I decided to not do a second summit of Buck and follow the Forest Path all the way back - I had my Monday rotisserie chicken on the mind. There were some large mounts of horse poop on Forest Path that I had to creatively dodge, and I did see a final remnany of ice in a rut. Soon enough I was back at the car and off to Costco!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Forest Path trailhead.

- Walk westbound on Chickatawbut Road.

- Turn left into woods at Buck Hill Path. 

- At 2164, turn left onto Headquarters Path.

- At MA-28, turn around.

- At jct., turn left onto AMC Footpath.

- At 2165, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- At 2141, turn left onto Doe Hollow Path.

- At next jct., turn left onto Fells Path.

- At 2140, turn right onto Bugbee Path.

- At 2135, turn left onto Beech Hollow Path.

- At second jct., continue straight to Old Route 128.

- At terminus, turn left onto Old Route 128.

- At terminus, continue onto Monatiquot Path.

- At 2190, turn left onto Bugbee Path.

- At terminus, continue onto Forest Path.

- Follow Forest Path back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

Breeze, Boyce, & Buck Hills via Houghton Pond (Blue Hills Reservation)

Breeze, Boyce, & Buck Hills via Houghton Pond (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Ooo Loop

Distance: 5.41 miles

Elevation: 600 feet

Time: 1 hour, 53 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x); Blue Hills Grid

The Hike

It's a snow day! I finished my 4:45am yoga by checking WCVB.com and saw my district closed for the day! I was already up, so I finished my morning work out and decided to stay up until I could get a morning hike in - hopefully before the snow! I made it to the Houghton's Pond main parking area at 7:15am, which was incredibly empty. It was a cold 24 degrees and cloudy and my goal was to wiggle around the Boyce/Buck Hill area. I used my uninsulated boots to see how warm my feet would be in 24 degrees/no sun/normal socks (spoiler alert, they were completely fine!). 

I started my hike by following the path from the mid-parking lot to the picnic area and then willing around the Paddock/Prescott area towards Breeze Hill. It smelled like snow was going to fall (which was on my mind as Ray is rewatching Gilmore Girls) and my puffy came off 10ish minutes in. I did go to the true top of Breeze Hill only to find out that I had already done it for February - oh well. I did appreciate how the Prescott Foot Path to Breeze Hill used to absolutely gas me out a few years ago, and now I made it up with only a mildly pounding heart beat!

I continued my wiggle toward the Boyces, both of which I needed for February still. I crossed paths with my first human, a trail runner near the Peeper Swamp, passed a lost designer glove, and worked my up the Boyce Hill Trail and to the summit (or summit area) of South Boyce, which the only hill in this reservation that makes me go "do I really want to persue this "grid" thing?" (answer is: yes, but I maintain it's going to be many many years before I finish it). 

Now on my way to North Boyce, I crossed paths with a couple who asked about a lost white glove - I was ELATED to let them know I saw it and knew exactly where it was! Hopefully they were able to find it. I ended up hiking North Boyce two times to get a couple more trails traced for my second winter map. I saw the first snowflake of the day fall on lap 1, and it was flurrying by lap 2. I continued on the Skyline Trail up the icy rock steps to Buck Hill, where it was officially snowing. I loved hearing the soft pitter-patter of the flakes falling on the earth below. The views were cool, as I'd never been up while it was snowing! The ground was beginning to get covered in a dusting, so I kept it moving.

I hit my first patch of dicey ice coming down the Buck Hill Summit Trail, and paired with the new and falling snow, I decided I'd put my spikes on. The trail conditions were super variable, which is why I had been avoiding it, but I reminded myself that I have a pair of rock spikes for a reason, and it helped me and my pacing immensely (even though they were fitting a bit looser than usual, which was confusing). 

Turns out spikes were the correct call as the ice didn't let up until the end of the trail, and I kept them on for the bulk of the rest of the hike, too. I continued along the Barre Trail, Quincy Path, and Tucker Hill Path, slowly becoming a snow man. I took my spikes off for Headquarters Path, but it was still nice and slippery (I stuck to the grassy spots). I made it back soon after with a frozen snowball of a head! 

Step-by-Step

- Park Houghton Pond parking lot A.

- Start hike by hiking spur from mid-parking lot.

- At terminus, turn left onto gravel road.

- At next jct., turn right onto Paddock Trail.

- At terminus, turn left.

- At next jct., turn left onto red-blazed Prescott Foot Path.

- At 2071, turn right onto Bugbee Path.

- At 2070, continue left on Bugbee Path.

- At 2096, turn right and hike to next jct., and then turn around on Dark Hollow Path.

- At 2095, turn right and follow red blazes.

- At jct., turn left onto Boyce Hill Trail.

- At 2117, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- At 2141, turn left onto Doe Hollow Path.

- At 2151, turn left onto Boyce Hill Trail.

- At 2117, turn left onto Skyline Trail.

- Before 2165, turn left onto Buck Hill Summit Trail.

- At 2153, turn left onto Doe Hollow Path.

- At 2151, turn right onto Boyce Hill Trail.

- At 2130, turn right onto Barre Trial.

- At jct., turn left onto Quincy Path.

- At terminus, continue to follow green blazes.

- At jct., turn left onto Tucker Hill Path.

- After 2072, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- At Hillside St., turn left onto Headquarters Path.

- Return to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

Buck Hill via Houghton's Pond & AMC Footpath (Blue Hills Reservation)

Buck Hill via Houghton's Pond & AMC Footpath (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop-ish Loop

Distance: 5.70 miles

Elevation: 594 feet

Time: 1 hours, 59 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Trail Trace the Blue Hills

The Hike

Happy Halloween! In an attempt to be a Halloween Scrooge and avoid seeing any more children than I am contractually obligated to, I sought refuge in the Blue Hills. I had a shockingly easy drive to the "B" parking lot at Houghton's Pond and got right to work, hitting a few random trails in the northwest corner of the area, ultimately landing at the porta potties to take care of some business. It was unseasonably warm out with an 80 degree high, which was equally lovely and unsettling.

The swamp near the visitor center was almost completely dry and the surrounding trees were shining in their late-fall gold. There was some new drainage work on Bugbee Path right where it becomes a dirt road, and I made my way onto the Skyline Trail. I didn't have a plan besides hitting Buck Hill, so I just let my map guide me, focusing on trails I haven't hiked in a while.

There was a vauge fire smell in the air while I fought spider webs on the path called Ayer (I had fun writing that sentence). The Mattapan Path was fine now that I actually know how to follow it, and then I wound my way over to the Forest Path at 2175. I noticed more "do you know who did this?" posters than usual, which makes sense considering how on-fire the area has been recently. I noticed a metal stake in a rock near 2175 also, which was curious.

The chipmunks, gray squirrels, and red squirrels were out and about as I wiggled up Buck Hill via the AMC Footpath, entering a burned area at 2182, which was mostly covered in leaves and hard to follow. The views from Buck Hill were, of course, lovely, and it looked like the fire on Wolcott Hill was done smoking (or at least for the most part). I enjoyed seeing numerous planes flying in and out of Logal, and then I was brought right back to reality as I approached MA-28, which is more or less a life-sized go-kart/bumber car course. 

Continuing my wiggle, I scooted around a recent blowdown on the Oblique Path and started my long walk back along Old Route 128, where I played some Pokemon Go to pass the time. It was starting to get dark around 5:25, which reminded me how much daylight saving's time was going to hurt.

I made it back to Houghton's Pond, which was very quiet and peaceful, even while surrounded by busy roads. The only other people around were along the shoreline fishing, and soon enough I was back at the car heading home. It was a really nice afternoon hike!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Houghton's Pond parking on Blue Hill River Road.

- Hike to Houghton's Pond yellow-dot loop via unmarked trail.

- Follow yellow dots to the Houghton's Pond Bathhouse.

- Hike towards paved section of Paddock Trail.

- At Bugbee Path, turn left onto Bugbee Path.

- At 2054, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- At next jct., turn left onto Tucker Hill Path.

- At 2072, turn right onto Ayer Trail.

- At second jct., turn right onto Athol Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto red-dot-blazed path.

- Follow red dots past 2094, then turn left onto Mattapan Path.

- At terminus, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- At 2117, turn left onto Boyce Hill Trail.

- At 2151, conitnue onto Doe Hollow Path. 

- At 2153, continue onto Headquarters Path.

- At 2175, turn right onto Forest Path.

- At 2194, turn right onto AMC Footpath.

- At 2165, turn left onto Skyline Trail.

- At 2181, turn right onto Buck Hill Path.

- At 2183, turn left onto red-dot-blazed path.

- At 2210, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- Turn right onto Forest Path.

- At 2189, turn left onto Pipe Line.

- At 2176, turn right onto Sullivan Trail. 

- At 2163, turn left onto Oblique Path.

- At terminus, turn right onto Old Route 128.

- At paved road circle, turn right to hike along Houghton's Pond, joining with the yellow-dot-blazed loop.

- Near snack shack, hike trails nearer pond.

- Follow paths back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

Buck & Tucker Hills via Angle, Doe Hollow, Bugbee (Blue Hills Reservation)

Buck & Tucker Hills via Angle, Doe Hollow, Bugbee (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Figure 8-ish Loop

Distance: 4.63 miles

Elevation: 653 feet

Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Trail Trace the Blue Hills, Blue Hills Grid

The Hike

It was a hot, hazy, humid after school hike that involved suffering through some residual chafing form yesterday's adventure around Great Blue Hill. There was a small breeze, which was nice! The goal for today was to get to Buck Hill, and everything else would be decided in the moment (I think I'm accidentally getting back into tracing... I'm glad the Blue Hills has so many options here for types of hikes (e.g., fitness, peak bagging, tracing, etc.)). 

I got started from my favorite parking lot to the paved Bugbee Path which had yellow and purple flowers in bloom (creeping buttercup and wild geranium). I took a dreadful sip of warm nuun, which is unfortunately a necessary evil this time of year, and then applied bug spray. I was hoping it would be too hot for the bugs (I was wrong). 

I continued onto the Angle Path which was getting very grassy and spotted a new type of frog - the wood frog.

"The Wood Frog looks somewhat like a much larger spring peeper, but with a dark mask and ridges running down the sides and no pattern on the back. True to its name, it lives in forests, breeding in temporary (vernal) pools. It attracts mates with a quacking call, and the female lays large masses of eggs. Find this species across Massachusetts." from Mass Audobon.

The bugs continued to be a nuissance as I continued onto the Doe Hollow Path. I began to smell "wet smoke" when nearing the Skyline Trail junction, and then saw a massive burned patch. The burned area extended who knows far from the northeast corner of the Doe Hollow/Skyline junction. There aren't any news reports on it, but I did find a Reddit thread talking about it from Saturday, April 27th. Wild that the smell is still so strong weeks after the fire happened. I just hope its natural and not vandalism (I fear it's the ladder). 

The burned area continued along Doe Hollow for a bit, gradually fading into "normal" forest. I eventually turned onto the Buck Hill Summit Trail, which is a long, gradual climb of Buck Hill, and slowly led right into the burned area again. It was eerie on the trail, but also creepily beautiful. There was a very unique gradient of black to brown to orange to green.

The burned area continued all the way to the top of Buck Hill. There was a breeze which may have saved my life and the views from this trail were still beautiful, even with the destruction. 

I crossed the Skyline Trail and continued onto the Fern Spring Foot Path which was unaffected by the burn (not including the damage from it's most recent burn a couple years ago), albeit a little grassy for my liking during tick season. I passed a trail runner who I've run into at least three times in the past couplle of months, and soon was back down low in the sea of a million bugs.

I meandered my way back along the Bugbee Path, almost exclusively, until I veered off to climb Tucker Hill. My legs were tired, but there was a breeze so I won't complain. Just over the high point of the Athol Path there was more fire damage - I wonder if this is the same fire as Buck, same fire as Hancock, or a third?

I descended along the Athol Path, through some spider webs, and then turned onto Headquarters Path to return to the car. My hip was definitely in a mood again but feeling better than yesterday - doing a less rigorous hike definitely helped!

[ADDITION FROM THE FUTURE]

Due to busy life, two chorus concerts, a trip down the shore for Nana's 90th birthday, and then getting sick from the previous events, I've taken a bit over a week off of hiking. I'm sad becuase I love hiking and I miss it, but I also think getting sick might have been my body's rude way of telling me to actually rest a bit and let my hip heal. I'm writing this on Thursday, May 30th, I won't be able to get out tomorrow, but I should make my grand re-entrance on Saturday and Sunday! I've been doing some planning and goal setting for June and the summer which I'll add to it's own post. It's almost summer!!

Step-By-Step

- Park at Park HQ/Across from police barracks.

- Turn left onto Hillside Street/Headquarters Path.

- At jct., turn left onto Bugbee Path/Skyline Trail.

- At 2070, continue straight/left to leave pavement and continue on Bugbee Path.

- At 2075, turn right onto Angle Path.

- After 2092, turn left onto Bolton Foot Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Doe Hollow Path.

- At 2153, turn right onto Buck Hill Summit Path/NEMBA Trail.

- At terminus, cross Skyline Trail, and continue onto Fern Spring Foot Path.

- At terminus, turn right onto Bugbee Path. 

- At 2096, turn right onto Dark Hollow Path.

- At 2094, turn slightly left onto Ayer Trail.

- At next jct., turn right onto Athol Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Headquarters Path.

- Follow Headquarters Path back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

Buck Hill via Trailside Museum (Blue Hills Reservation)

Buck Hill via Trailside Museum (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge, Great Blue Hill Summits, Trail Trace the Blue Hills

Hike Type: Lollipop Figure-8 Loop

Distance: 7.35 miles

Elevation: 1,850 feet

Time: 2 hours, 47 minutes

The Hike 

Officially shifting my personality back to hiking from skiing (minus my finale weekend at Jay for the Ski Patrol Banquet)! I was going to do my usual fitness hike but extend it to Buck Hill, since it was a beautiful weekend morning. 49 degrees, sunny with a few clouds, and very wet trails - let's go!

I wanted to start section-hiking the Wapack Trail, but it was going to be raining all day up there. The Eliot Path smelled like spring with the running water from the recent rain. Up on the Eliot Circle there was a construction crew working on the Eliot Tower restoration - the first time I've seen them working on it! I also passed a dog that was off-leash and did not have recall, which blah blah blah annoying. 

I summited Great Blue Hill and realized this was going to be a SWEATY hike. I continued up and over Wolcott and Hemenway Hills, and passed a group of 30+ people as I descended Hancock Hill. I was fighting the urge to cut Buck Hill out of the day, but I pushed on! People were starting to wake up, which was a bummer, but the Houghton Pond side was much quieter. 

Clouds started to roll in which made it chillier, but the rolling Skyline Trail kept my heart pumping. The red squirrels were rattling as I suffered up and down Tucker Hill (I think they were cat-calling me), and I had a lower-GI-tract sensation (thankfully just gas). 

I continued up and over North Boyce and then up to Buck, which I remember feeling much more diffficult in the past (I'm still enjoying being able to do more things easier!). The top of Buck Hill was more flooded than usual, but bypassable. I passed another sizeable group of hikers as I neared MA-28, and then had a long hike back to Hillside St., following the red blazes. 

I spent time emotionally preparing for the Houghton Hill and Skyline South to Eliot Path climbs, suffered through the rock-hard concrete of Bugbee Path, and was soon enough staring at the purple flowers marking the beginning of the end. I successfully made it up Houghton's in one go but I was definitely feeling tired, and as I passed what felt like 1,000 people (probably around 15), I remembered why mornings are always worth it. I made it up to the Great Blue Hill summit yet again, and had a quick descent back to the car for a nice, long nap. 

Step-By-Step

- Start hike along Eliot Path.

- At terminus, turn right onto Eliot Circle.

- At spur path after Summit Road, turn left to Summit.

- From summit, continue in same direction to Eliot Circle.

- Turn left onto Eliot Circle.

- At Eliot Tower, turn right onto Skyline Trail North.

- Cross Hillside Street, continue on Skyline Trail/Bugbee Path.

- At first junction, turn left to continue along Skyline Path.

- Follow Skyline Path up and over Buck Hill.

- After descending Buck Hill, turn right and begin to follow red-dot blazes.

- Follow red-dot blazes back to Bugbee Path (paved).

- Turn right onto Bugbee Path (paved).

- Cross and turn left onto Hillside Street.

- Turn right onto Skyline Trail South.

- Follow to terminus, then turn left onto Eliot Circle.

- Make first right to summit Great Blue Hill, retrace steps back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

North Boyce, Burnt, and Buck Hills (Blue Hills Reservation)

North Boyce, Burnt, and Buck Hills (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop w/ Spur

Distance: 4.60 miles

Elevation: 633 feet

Time: 1 hours, 39 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid, Blue Hills Winter Trace (2x)

The Hike

Not gonna lie, I'm writing this 15 days late... better late than never! It's been a very busy fall between school, skiing, the Massachusetts Music Educators Conference, and overall trying to be a person. Also very interesting finding a balance between skiing and hiking... I think it's okay that I've hiked less so I can ski more (it's definitely okay, but I just wish I was partially retired so I could do both!). ANYWAY....

It was a 55-degree summer-like day, I was in shorts and a t-shirt, and my only goals were to hit Boyce and Burnt Hills with no other plans. There were a decent amount of people out due to the aformentioned beautiful day, but thankfully I would only be on the busy Skyline Trial for a short bit from Bugbee to North Boyce. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and apparently ski conditions were fabulous up north, I was still happy to be out in the woods. 

I skirted around Tucker Hill, far too lazy to deal with the steep section, which brought me past the swamp I've dubbed "Peeper Swamp," which lived up to its name today becuase ITS FROG SEASON!!!! I love hiking the Blue Hills in March for one reason and one reason only - to hear the majestic call of hundreds of Peepers. I hit the Mattapan Path (which I proudly know how to correctly follow now), hiked past a confusing, new bird feeder, and landed back on the Skyline Trail to finish the climb up North Boyce Hill, where I followed a man in tight black jeans and Doc Marten boots... to each their own!

Now making my way over towards Burnt Hill, I hurdled over a decently-sized blowdown and hiked on the wet, but not muddy, Doe Hollow Path, and made my way to the illusion of a deer path to the summit of Burnt Hill. As I continued along, I was reflecting on how much I hate Daylight Savings Time, only for the reason of the week-long jet lag, but I LOVE hiking at 4:00pm and not having the sun actively setting. I eventually wiggled my way to one of my favorite trails, the Fern Spring Foot Path, which truly has never disappointed. It's off the beaten path, has a view part-way up, and traverses some unique terrain. Is it redundant to mention how much I also love Buck Hill? Probably, but I do not care, the views were beautiful of the surrounding Blue Hills, Boston, and of course, Mts. Wachusett and Monadnock.

I was starting to admittedly get a little chilly up on Buck, so it was time for the descent and ultimate return trip. I went down AMC Footpath to Buck Hill Path to Headquarters Path. Quincy Path was flooded, as usual, the NEMBA bridge was fun, as usual, and made my way back to the car, just in time to wait in the stop sign line at Hillside Street!

Step-By-Step

- Park across from State Police Barracks/Park HQ

- Turn left onto Headquarters Path.

- At junction, turn left onto Bugbee Path/Skyline Trail. 

- At 2054, turn left on Skyline Trail.

- At second junction, turn right onto Ayer Trail.

- At 2094, veer left toward Mattapan Trail.

- Turn left onto Mattapan Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- After 2165, turn left onto AMC Footpath.

- At 2182, turn left Buck Hill Path.

- At 2164, turn left onto Headquarters Path.

- At 2153, turn left to continue on Headquarters Path. 

- At Chickatawbut Road, continue on Quincy Path.

- At 2112, follow white triangles along Chickatawbut Road.

- Rejoin Headquarters Path.

- Follow Headquarters Path back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album