Houghton's Pond, Bugbee, Fern Spring, Buck Hill Loop (Blue Hills Reservation)

Houghton's Pond, Bugbee, Fern Spring, Buck Hill Loop (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop w/ Mini Figure-8 Loop

Distance: 6.37 miles

Elevation: 863 feet

My Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Book Time: 3 hours, 36 minutes

Parking: Seemingly endless parking at Houghton's Pond
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid, Trail Trace the Blue Hills (2)

The Hike 

Aside from my car being a PROBLEM (I brought it to Parkway Honda yesterday and they told me there was an engine issue and the quote was for $6500 - I RAN out of there), I was slowly getting my life back to normal! I had a nice sleep-in and got to the Houghton Pond area in the late morning. My only goal was to hike to Buck Hill and enjoy the beautiful day! It was 70 degrees out with no clouds and low humidity - I wanted to go to the Whites but my car did not agree. 

I started my hike following the yellow-blazed path around Houghton's Pond counter clockwise. The water was low, there was a cormorant on a buoy, there was a bee pollinating purple flowers, a couple of naughty off-leash dogs, and a wonderful breeze. I loved the tall trees and open forest on the far side of the pond, and then I followed the pavement uphillmand turned into the woods along Andover Path.

It was naturally less windy and more humid in the woods, but it was still lovely. I meandered about along the Andover and Angle paths, and then I started following the white triangles at 2075. There was a step-over blowdown on Bugbee Path, and I later made a side trip to Burnt Hill for my "grid," which was scratchier than usual. 

The stream (I believe called "Beech Run") just before 2132 was fully dried up, and I played some Pokemon Go on the flatter stretches of trail.

I turned onto my beloved Fern Spring Foot Path and actually followed the correct path, not the closed one. The new one is much steeper and brings you right up to the viewpoint - I'm not sure how I missed it last time - maybe they were in the process of rerouting and not yet done? It was SO nice out, I enjoyed the breeze at the viewpoint.

Working my way towards Buck Hill, I noticed the blueberry bushes beginning to turn red (and holding to just a few more berries). The scrub oak on the cap of Buck Hill was living a healthy life, and a few had acorns! It was such a wonderfully clear day - from the top of Buck I could see Monadnock and the whole Wapack Range. 

To mix things up and enjoy the day, I descend via the old Buck Hill Summit Trail, which seems like they stopped trying to block it off? The blueberries were still thriving along this trail, which was growing in, slowly. There was a great view of Hancock Hill from here. The trail widened up once I was back in the woods, and there was comically a pile of bear poop on top of a pile of horse poop. Since I saw that, I naturally was on the lookout for a bear for the rest of the hike. I did not see any, just the root systems of many blowdowns.

I crossed the current Summit Trail and continued to descend the old trail, which was just a straight shot down. There were some more eroded spots further down, but really the trail was in fine shape. Any sticks that were blocking the trail had been cleared - I wonder if they plan to put it back on the next map? 

[UPDATE FROM THE FUTURE: They've released a 2026 Version of the Blue Hills Map! Very few changes, and you'd only notice them if you've hiked all the trails multiple times. They did not add the old Buck Hill Summit Trail. Linked below.]

I followed the new Buck Hill Summit Trail back on up and it was an absolute treat! There were some birch leaves starting to yellow and fall to the grown, and the heavenly breeze reappeared up top - what a wonderful day, and what a wonderful trail! 

Back up top, I planned to follow the Skyline Trail all the way to Tucker Hill, and then I'd do one final trip up Breeze Hill for the grid. I passed a family suffering up Buck as I descended. I passed the graffiti on the boulder on North Boyce (and tagged the high point), and ran into a HUGE black snack crossing the trail as I descended North boyce - at least 4-5 feet!

The swamp between North Boyce and Tucker Hills was bone dry - I didn't even realize I was hiking directly on it! The climb up Tucker Hill humbled me, and I scrambled past two older women, one of which said "oh so you DID hear me moaning?!"

There were two guys in front of me right by the dumpsters before Breeze, I slowed down to let them get ahead, and then I hit Breeze Hill off-trail before following the delightful unmapped footpath back to the Houghton's Pond Area. I passed the stinky dumpsters and enjoyed the breeze some more near the pond. I ended my hike with walk along the boardwalk, and saw a Great Blue Heron!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Houghton's Pond Parking Lot A.

- Start hike past the playground and towards the yellow loop.

- Hike the yellow loop counter-clockwise.

- On the east side of the pond, hike towards 2053. 

- At 2053, continue east.

- At turn, continue straight into woods on Andover Path.

- At 2092, turn left onto Angle Path.

- At 2075, turn right onto Bugbee Path.

- At 2111, turn right onto Burnt Hill Path.

- At height of land, turn left into woods to summit Burnt Hill.

- Return and turn righ tonto Burnt Hill Path.

- At 2111, turn right onto Bugbee Path.

- At 2129, turn right onto Doe Hollow Path.

- At 2132, turn left onto Beech Hollow Path.

- At 2135, turn right onot Bugbee Path.

- At second jct., turn left onto Fern Spring Foot Path.

- At Skyline Trail, turn left then right onto old Buck Hill Summit Trail.

- At terminus, turn left onto Headquarters Path.

- At 2153, turn left onto new(er) Buck Hill Summit Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- On the west side of Tucker Hill, turn left onto Tucker Hill Path.

- At 2071, hike towards Breeze Hill, then follow unmapped path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Paddock Trail.

- Continue to follow pavement to the yellow loop.

- At jct., turn right onto the boardwalk.

- At end of boardwalk, return to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map (2026)

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

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