Chickatawbut Skyline Trail, Fox Hill, Little & Great Domes (Blue Hills Reservation)

Chickatawbut Skyline Trail, Fox Hill, Little & Great Domes (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: o-o Loop

Distance: 6.71 miles

Elevation: 758 feet

Time: 2 hours, 23 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid; Trail Trace the Blue Hills

The Hike 

Time for ANOTHER hike in the Blue Hills on ANOTHER beautiful day! It was my first day of April break and I was set on making my way over the Little and Great Domes (plus Fox Hill for some gridding). Temperatures were in the mid-50s when I started hiking in the morning and were set to climb. Originally, I had hoped to hike somewhere up north, but I NEEDED some sleep (and thank goodness I got it!). 

From the Braintree Pass Path trailhead, I started my hike along the Pipe Line just after 10:00am. I wore my waterproof boots for good measure, which paid off at the classically wet and muddy stretch. I passed a small bird's nest, scared the life out of some poor ducks, and admired the skunk cabbage that was growing in strongly. The mud started at the incline, which also featured some deer tracks. 

I made my way to the Hemlock Bound Foot Path, hiked to MA-28, and followed MA-28 for ~15 feet to the Skyline Trail, which had a normal blue but also an orange/brown blaze, which confused me. Maybe an old Great Dome Trail blaze? Not sure. 

Anyway, I followed the Skyline up the three distinct climbs up Chickatawbut Hill, which are steep and fun (and have herd paths around the steeps which I do NOT agree with). The temperature felt HOT now that I was climbing, but it was still delightful. I also included a note that I am, in fact, still mad about the fence around Chickatawbut Hill. 

I followed a faint herd path at the height-of-land to get to the true summit of Fenno Hill and continued down the well-crafted stairs up and over Kitchamakin and Nahanton Hills, the ladder of which features just beautiful views. I did notice a dad and child basically free-climbing up the rocky ledges of Nahanton which seemed wildly dangerous? To each their own, I guess... 

I was enjoying the beautiful walk across the Broken Hills when I got my first bug bite of the season followed by being charged at by a giant spider! Horrible. I also crossed paths with another large back snake - smaller than the one on Kitchamakin - but this one shook its tail to pretend it was a rattlesnake, which I did NOT like. 

Eventually, I escaped the cursed Broken Hills, crossed Wampatuck Hill, and made my way to Fox Hill. There was a vulture circling overhead, and with my luck, I was stressed, but thankfully I escaped unharmed. I descended via Fox Hill Path and began my drip to Sawcut Notch Path, where I turned onto a herd path at the height-of-land to summit Little Dome, which was LOVELY! There was a tree view of Hancock Hill and some daffodils (I think) next to a fire ring.

I retraced my steps back to Sawcut Notch Path, hiked alongside some spooky orange mud, and started on the herd path/old Great Dome Foot Path to the summit of Great Dome. The foot path was just discernable enough to follow it mostly without question, and the summit is just beautiful! It features a very unique view with Fox Hill's open forest, the Broken Hills behind it, and Hancock to the right. This summit also had daffodils and some purple flowers that I did not identify. 

I wandered around the summit for a bit, hoping to find an old blaze or foot path to continue along the old Great Dome Foot Path (Great Dome Trail?), but eventually fell short and gave up. I did see a goldfinch, though! I retraced my steps, noticed some golfers through the trees, and continued along Satcut Notch and then Short Path past a comical amount of robins.

I looked hard for any evidence of the old Great Dome Foot Path/Trail, but did see anything clear in my return... oh well. I followed the appropriately named Pleasant Trail to the Pipe Line, which started my long walk back to the car! It was wetter one near Chickatawbut Road, but overall not too bad. This was a seriously fun, unique loop!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Braintree Pass Path trailhead.

- Start hike on Braintree Pass Path.

- At 3022, continue right on Pipe Line.

- At 3013, turn right onto Hemlock Bound Foot Path.

- At terminus, turn right onto MA-28.

- At jct., turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- Cross Chickatawbut Road.

- At 4134, turn left onto path, staying left.

- At Pipe Line turn left.

- At terminus, turn right onto Fox Hill Path.

- At 4102, turn left onto Indian Camp Path.

- At 4091, turn left.

- At 4083, turn right onto Sawcut Notch Path.

- At height-of-land, hike herd path on left to Little dome, then continue on Sawcut Notch Path.

- Beofre height-of-land, hike on former Great Dome Foot Path to Great Dome on right, then continue on Sawcut Notch Path.

- At 4133, turn right onto Short Path.

- At 4124, turn right onto Crags Foot Path.

- At 4091, turn left onto Indian Camp Path.

- At 4086, turn right onto path.

- At 4082, turn right onto Pleasant Trail.

- At 4046, turn left onto Pipe Line/Headquarters Path.

- Follow Pipe Line/Headquarters Path to Chickatawbut Road.

- Cross Chickatawbut Road, follow Pipe Line/Headquarters Path back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

Overlook to Little & Great Dome Loop (Blue Hills Reservation)

Overlook to Little & Great Domes Loop (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Spaghetti Figure-8 Loop

Distance: 6.32  miles

Elevation: 459 feet
Time: 2 hours, 16 minutes

Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills Winter Trace, Blue Hills Grid

The Hike

The past few days have been a comical deep freeze (when I left the bar on Friday night, the wind chill was -32!), so I waited into more survivable temperatures to venture out. Since I knew everything would be well frozen, I decided to tackle the section near Little Dome that has been routinely swamped every time I’ve hiked it. I was admittedly a little hungover on this Sunday morning, so I slowly made my way out of my house (after having to use the bathroom four different times… bar pizza has never sit well with me… and eventually started my hike around 10am with temperatures shockingly in the upper 30s. I parked at the Chickatawbut Overlook and got my day started!

I started on the Cedar Rock Path and immediately rejoiced in finally being able to be outside again. There were a few winding cross-paths, one labeled high up on a tree as NOT being the trail, but I was able to use AllTrails to follow the correct path. At the terminus, the first thing I did was hike the spur to Nahanton Ave., something I missed during my 125-Mile Club Challenge. This spur crosses the old continuation of the Sassaman Trail, which connects to the CCC Camp… this might be a trail I explore in the future. I planned to hike on the Pipe Line down to the junction of Chickatawbut Road and MA-28, but there was a big group headed that way and I was feeling extra antisocial this morning, so I’ll save that for another day!

I was beyond happy that the Pipe Line was frozen over, so what would usually have been wet, sloppy mud, was now crunchy ground. The trees were harshly blowing in the wind, but temperatures were quickly rising. The only worrying thing about the weather was hearing branches snapping off trees in the wind, but thankfully I was not mutilated. I made it to the unnecessarily steep section and wondered how a Pipe Line traverse would go… the pipeline does go under I-93 which would create a unique challenge…

I finally made it 4066 and was delighted that my plan had worked - the ever-flooded section of trail was frozen! I quickly made it through and to the gas plant, which was very stinky and ominous (the warning sign for venomous snakes for sure added to the ambiance), and then I made my way over to Little Dome. There is no official trial to the top, and the “summit” mound was clearly visible, so I bushwhacked my way up and was pleasantly surprised with a nice view! Obstructed views of Great Blue Hill and Chickatawbut Hill (I think), but very quiet. I was joyed to find a herd path/abandoned trail heading from the summit of Little Dome down to the Sawcut Notch Path, which was the next leg of my journey.

The Sawcut Notch Path skirts the border of what I believe is the old Quincy landfill and now the Granite Links golf course with a few “fragile ecosystem” signs along a busted chain-link fence. A part of me (most of me) wishes that the landfill was turned into more parkland rather than a golf course, but I digress… Just before the height of land in this area I saw a small footpath heading up Great Dome - is this the old trail? I followed the path and it was really beautiful hiking on soft ground. There is a false summit, a small col, and then (what I believe to be) the main summit area. Right before the col the path fades away and it becomes a “choose your own adventure” moment. I stayed right, made my way through some deep leaves and a small scramble, and came out to a great view of Great Blue and Chickatawbut Hills! I was surprised to find such a nice view on an abandoned trail, but so happy to be there. 

I could not tell where the Great Dome Trail continued from the top, so I backtracked on down back to the Sawcut Notch Path. The hike got less exciting from here, which was a welcomed break considering I was sweating through my fleece (again). I made a figure-8 loop with Short Path, Crags Foot Path, Old Furnace Brook Path, and then back to Sawcut Notch Path, where there was a lovely pond near the height-of land. I was delighted to see the wet sections of Old Furnace Brook were still frozen over!

Finally on my return trip, I made my way to 4091 to 4090 hiking a couple triangles in between, and then I turned onto the existing Great Dome Foot Path at 4090. The trail dips down to cross the Pine Tree Brook, which I accidentally dipped my toe into, and then worked my way steeply back up. I intended to follow the Great Dome Foot Path all the way to Chickatawbut Road, but got spooked by a giant group of hikers. Instead, I joined the Pine Tree Brook Path, followed to the Ridge Path, and then at 4072 rejoined the Great Dome Foot Path to Chickatawbut Road - which featured some mysterious yellow blazes! I hugged the shoulder of Chickatawbut Road to finish my hike back to the car, and told myself that I will be throwing out the Cotopaxi socks I’ve been using for literal years in hommage to my newly forming blisters.  

Step-By-Step

• Park at Chickatawbut Overlook and hike on Cedar Rock Path to its terminus.

• At terminus, hike spur out-and-back to Nahanton Ave. 

• Back at terminus, hike on Headquarters Path/Pipe Line all the way to 4066.

• At 4066, continue straight to gas plant.

• At gas plant, walk through, and continue on trail toward Little Dome. 

• Here, I bushwhacked to the summit of Little Dome.

• From summit of Little Dome, follow herd path/abandoned trail to Sawcut Notch Path and turn left.

• Follow Sawcut Notch Path - just below the height-of-land there is an unmarked intersection for the former Great Dome Trail. Follow trail (as best as you can) to summit of Great Dome, retrace steps.

• Continue on Sawcut Notch Path.

• At 4133, turn right onto Short Path.

• At 4124, turn left onto Crags Foot Path (green dot).

• At 4145, turn left onto Old Furnace Brook Path.

• At 4180, turn left onto Sawcut Notch Path.

• At 4083, turn right.

• At 4091, turn right onto Indian Camp Path (green dot).

• At 4086, hike to 4082, then to 4085, and then turn right onto 4090 (Great Dome Foot Path)

• At 4073, turn left onto Pine Tree Brook Path.

• Follow Pine Tree Brook Path to Ridge Path.

• Follow Ridge Path to 4072.

• At 4072, turn left back onto Great Dome Foot Path.

• Hike Triangle between 4053 and 4052.

• Follow Chickatawbut Road back to car.

Map of Blue Hills Reservation

Photo Album