Rattlesnake & Wampatuck Hills via St. Moritz Ponds (Blue Hills Reservation)

Rattlesnake & Wampatuck Hills via St. Moritz Ponds (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: -o-o-o Loop

Distance: 3.18 miles

Elevation: 384 feet

Time: 1 hour, 7 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Blue Hills Grid; Trail Trace the Blue Hills

The Hike 

Happy Thursday! This might be the first, if not definitely one of the first, times that I've hiked in the Blue Hills for four days in a row! What was extra great was that this was also my Friday - since it's officially April vacation! I was going to see HONK! Jr. at a middle school my friend works at that evening, so I had a little over an hour to kill in the Quincy area of the Blue Hills. It was a stunning 60 degree day (another beautiful day!) and it was fun to be back in the quarries area, where I hadn't been in at least six months.

My hike started at the eastern terminus of the Skyline Trail, hiking past some rotting pumpkins and a pile of random toys(?). I continued onto Minichiello Path on the boardwalk, which was in great condition (it was flooded last spring). Geese were honking me along from the pond as I turned onto the Firepit Path, which is a lovely path through the woods along the pond. From there, I hopped back on the Skyline Trail.

I crossed Wampatuck Road and made my way up Rattlesnake Hill, past the Sullivan Quarry. I always wonder how deep the quarry actually is, and I was surprised to see so many fish inside swimming about!

From the height-of-land on the Skyline Trail on Rattlesnake Hill, I followed a herd path on the left to the actual summit area, which looked like the former summit cairn had been partially dismantled.

I worked my way back to the Skyline Trail and ran into a person from the Crags viewpoint, where I found a person that spooked the life out of me. The descent from Crags is always horrible, rugged, and steep, but at least its short!

Continuing on, I passed a shallow pond after the Skyline Trail crosses the Pipe Line and ascended Wampatuck Hill, where I always look around for a former USGS Disc. I think I need to accept that it is no longer there... I caught a glimpse of Mt. Wachusett from the descent, and when I opened up Pokemon Go, I caught ANOTHER shiny Fuecoco! Right after, I caught a shiny event Pikachu! I guess the Blue Hills are my lucky spot for shiny Pokemon...

I started my way back along Crag Trail, the Pipe Line, and then the Quarry Trail - following green blazes for the ladder. The green blazes brought me back across Wampatuck Road and past some delightfully old trees - one of which was 200 years old! I noticed that somebody fixed the "4220" trail junciton sign (it used to read 4 20, which was objectively funny), and saw some small needle-shaped fish in the St. Moritz Ponds. The usually wet spot where the Skyline Trail traverses between the two ponds was significantly more dry than I had ever experienced - I wonder if they did work on the dam to help lower the levels? Or maybe we're just in a draught that I was unaware of? No idea, but I was soon back at the car and enjoyed some lovely tween artistry at HONK! Jr.

Step-by-Step

- Park at Shea Memorial Rink

- Start hike on Skyline Trail at 4234.

- At split, continue left on Minichiello Path.

- At jct., turn right onto Firepit Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Skyline Trail.

- At 4134, turn right onto path.

- At 4131, turn right onto Crag Trail.

- At terminus, merge onto Water Pipe Line.

- At 4135, continue off of Pipe Line and onto path (still Crag Trail)

- At 4151, turn right onto Quarry Trail (green blazes).

- At terminus, turn right onto Skyline Trail. 

- At 4220, turn left onto path.

- At Wampatuck Road, turn around.

- At 4220, turn left onto Skyline Trial.

- Follow Skyline Trail back to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

Sawcut Notch, Rattlesnake Hill, Fox Hill (Blue Hills Reservation)

Sawcut Notch, Rattlesnake Hill, Fox Hill (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Loop 
Distance: 4.59 miles
Elevation: 456 feet
Time: 1 hour, 47 minutes

Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; 125-Mile Challenge (2x); Blue Hills Grid

The Hike

My first through steeping into the woods for this hike was "its good to be back." It's been almost two months since I was last in the Blue Hills and it was an absolutely beautiful day outside. I have plans to hike Mts. Whiteface & Passaconaway tomorrow, so the goal is to take it easy on this one. I also am finally breaking in my new shoes that I bought two months ago!

A few steps into my hike on the Pine Tree Brook Path I realized that I'm slightly chafing from my Monadnock ramble yesterday... whoops. Soon after, on the Ridge Path, I passed 3 people with 7-8 large dogs? Thankfully one of them asked where I was headed so they could get out of my way... but I can only imagine their story. I hiked to the Pleasant Trail and then started my long walk along the Sawcut Notch Path, where I passed what looked like two seperate piles of bear cub poop? I've never seen a bear in MA, so I'm curious if I'm right or not in my guess.

I planned to summit Little and Great Domes on this hike, but they were both pretty grown in (I guess that happens in summer...), so I decided to keep it easy and stick to Sawcut Notch. The area nearet the landfill smelled like stale cigarettes, which was wildly paired with beautiful wildflowers in an open area near the actual notch. All in all, I was delighted to be back somewhere I knew well where my brain could just go "into the void" for a bit. I didn't need to think about where I was or each individual steps, just existing in the woods, and it was lovely!

I made my way onto the Skyline Trail which brought me to Sullivan's Quarry. I realized I have no idea how deep it is, but I was not about to find out. The water was a thick brown/green. I continued along the Skyline Trail, realized I forgot to put on deodorant (whoops), and carefully looked for a former trail/herd path to Rattlesnake Hill - the second to last hill I've never been on. I was able to find it behind a few small trees just past the height-of-land on the Skyline Trail. A narrow footbed that dissipates just before a clearing, which was the summit! To my surprise, there was a fire ring and a tall/skinny cairn right where the woods opens up, apparently I'm not the only genius to come up here!

I took some photos and continued onto the crags which has a lovely view toward Chickatawbut Hill, and then scrambled steeply down. There is about 10 feet of overgrown trail just before the Pipeline/Indian Camp Path, and then I began to follow a dad, infant, and dog. I let them decide where I was going to go, and when they continued on the Pipe Line, I turned to stay on Indian Camp Path and decided to climb Fox Hill from the northeast side (aka the trail I can never figure out). 

The trail up Fox Hill climbs steeply and unclearly, but somehow I followed the trail right to the summit! All of Fox Hill was decently grown-in at this point in the summer, and I was delighted to escape without any ticks. The White Tail Path was also tough to follow, but with some guessing and checking, turned out fine. Soon enough I was back at the car and headed to Costco to get some pizza for my summit snack tomorrow!

Step-By-Step

- Park near Blue Hills Reservoir/Pine Tree Brook Path.

- Enter woods at unmarked spur to Pine Tree Brook Path.

- Turn left onto Pine Tree Brook Path.

- At terminus, turn right onto Ridge Path.

- At 4047, continue straight on Ridge Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Sassaman Path.

- At terminus, turn right onto Pipe Line.

- At 4046, turn right onto Pleasant Trail.

- At 4086, turn left onto Indian Camp Path.

- At 4091, hike toward 4083.

- At 4083, turn right onto Sawcut Notch Path.

- Follow Sawcut Notch Path to Wampatuck Road.

- At Wampatuck Road, turn around.

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

- After quarry, follow unmarked unmapped spur to Rattlesnake Hill Summit, turn around.

- Continue to follow Skyline Trail.

- At 4155, turn right onto Indian Camp Path.

- Just after 4120, turn left onto trail that ascends northeast side of Fox Hill.

- At terminus, turn right onto Fox Hill Path.

- At 4096, turn left onto White Tail Path.

- At 4084, turn left onto Pine Tree Brook Path.

- Return to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album