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

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

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

Distance: 3.65 miles
Elevation: 518 feet

Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes
Hike Type: Loop
Hiking Challenges: 125-Mile Club (2x) 

The Hike

This hike is brought to you by the impending doom that is Daylight Savings Time - I was truly NOT feeling a long drive to a hike after work on this day, but I knew it would likely be my last chance for an after school hike in the Blue Hills for a while, so I suffered through. It was a chilly afternoon at 47 degrees and to my dismay I forgot my hiking socks, so my stinky normal socks were in! I started my hike on the Buck Hill Path and then began to wiggle my way to the Boyces via Headquarters Path, Doe Hollow Path, and Skyline Trail.

The summit of North Boyce is super easy to get to - a clear high point just off trail in easy, open woods. The summit of South Boyce is dreadful to get to - there is kind of maybe a treadway just north of the height of land along the Boyce Hill Trail that you can kind of follow for a bit sometimes? I think I found the summit at a tree and rock and then followed a different treadway... away from it. I could stop thinking about how awful this would be in tick season. The treadway begins to dissolve near a steep drop off, so I went fully rogue and made my way back to the trail.

Something that I do love about this time of the year is the extended golden hour, or at least what feels like one. I'm also happy and proud of myself for being more active in this early fall - this one hike already puts me over last November's stats.

I continued my wiggle along the Winthrop Path, past what I have called the "peeper swamp" due to how loud it gets in springtime, and then made my way to the height of land along the Burnt Hill Path and kind of found a similar treadway to the summit area - another tough one, but nowhere near as bad as South Boyce. I also realized as of now I have summited all of the Blue Hills! South Boyce is definitely the worst in my opinion - at least Great Dome has an old trail to follow.

I then made my way onto one of my favorite trails in the reservation - the Fern Spring Foot Path. I spent some time enjoying the setting sun at the first ledgy view and actually passed my first person in over an hour. The approach to Buck Hill is just stunning, and the view towards the sun and Big Blue were an absolute joy to see. I was too early for sunset, but that was truly okay, as I've been fighting to get a good amount of sleep recently. 

My descent was via the AMC Footpath, which was a little confusing to get to and follow with the unmapped mountain biking trails. I then landed on the Buck Hill Path and eventually back to my car. Unfortunately, the traffic from the light at Chickatawbut/MA-28 was backed up all the way to my car, which made for a slow drive home. 

Step-By-Step

- Park at Buck Hill Path trailhead off of Chickatawbut Road.

- Start hike on Buck Hill Path.

- At 2164, turn right onto Headquarters Path.

- At 2153, continue straight onto Doe Hollow Path.

- At 2141, turn right onto Skyline Trail.

- At height-of-land, hike off trail to the summit of North Boyce Hill.

- Continue on Skyline Trail.

- At 2117, turn left onto Boyce Hill Trail. 

- Just below height-of-land, turn right into the thick underbrush and do your best to find the summit of South Boyce Hill.

- Return to trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Massachuseuck Trail.

- At next junction, turn left onto Wintrop Path.

- At terminus, turn left onto Bugbee Path.

- At 2111, turn right onto Burnt Hill Path.

- At height-of-land, hike off-trail on left to high point of Burnt Hill.

- Return to trail, contineu along Burnt Hill Path.

- At 2092, turn left onto Angle Path.

- At next junction, turn left onto Bolton Foot Path.

- At terminus, turn right onto Doe Hollow Path.

- At 2132, turn left onto Beech Hollow Path.

- At 2135, turn right onto Bugbee Path.

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

- Follow Fern Spring Foot Path to summit of Buck Hill.

- From summit, travel East on Skyline Trail.

- Near 2165, turn left onto AMC Footpath.

- At 2182, turn left onto Buck Hill Path, return to car.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album

S. Boyce, Pig Rock, Buck Hill Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

S. Boyce, Pig Rock, Buck Hill Path (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 3.83 miles

Elevation: 423 feet

Time: 1 hour, 23 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge; Blue Hills Winter Trace; Blue Hills Grid

The Hike

A breezy Monday after school hike! I parked near the Barre Trail on Chickatawbut Road, did my quick change, and got right to hiking! Since spring is coming, I tried to up my pack weight just to get a bit stronger (with the idea I'll be able to remove weight when I do some more intense hikes - two pairs of spikes, 5L of liquids). The trail condiditons ranged from bone dry to deep mud to 4" of snow, which was interesting to say the least! The Quincy Path had a fun, long boardwalk which looks like it was made by both NEMBA and the Friends of Blue Hills, which is cool. I did a quick out-and-back here before fully starting my loop on the Barre and Boyce Hill Trails. There was an annoying amount of dense, sloppy snow at 2131, but completely dry no more than 10 feet away. 

The Boyce Hill Trail is a nice, scenic trail that winds between both Boyces, especially pretty neart South Boyce. I used this opportunity to find the summit of South Boyce, which has been the trickiest one yet. Lots of dense vegetation and no discernable herd path. I was lucky to have found someone's recent footprints. Not sure if they were just going to use the bathroom or was on the same mission as me, but it was nice! I was able to follow the prints for most of the way, and then I meandered into a large summit plateau area. This will be a disaster in the warmer months, I bet. 

I was only passed by one hiker and her dog, which was off leash and "friendly," which is always so incredibly annoying to me. Just leash your dogs if they can't recall. But I digress... After leaving the Boyce Hill Trail I meandered my way over to 2149 to join the Pig Rock Path - I've never figured out which rock is Pig Rock, though! I'll need to ask Facebook. From there I followed the Bugbee and then Forest Paths toward the Skyline Trail, and then took the Buck Hill trail to 2210, 2183, and then the Buck Hill Path for a long while, which is another very pretty trail, all wooded, but still pretty. There were very, VERY seasonal obstructed views of Boston through the trees. 

2153 started the final leg of my hike, first on the Headquarters Path and then back on the Quincy Path, which is definitely an area less traveled. There's one small hill on the Quincy Path were I truly felt like I was choosing my own adventure. Nonetheless, it was a lovely day out in the woods!

Step-By-Step

    - Park on side of Chickatawbut Road near the Barre Trail.

    - Enter woods via Barre Trail, immediately turn right to out-and-back hike Quincy Path.

    - Back at original intersection, turn left to continue on Barre Trail. 

    - At 2130, turn left onto Boyce Hill Trail toward 2151, then turn around and hike to terminus at red-dot. (Just below height-of-land, bushwhack to summit of South Boyce).

    - At terminus, turn left onto Massachuseuck Trail (red dots).

    - At 2137, turn right onto Doe Hollow Path.

    - At 2129, turn left onto Bugbee Path.

    - At 2140, turn left onto Fells Path.

    - At 2149, turn right onto Pig Rock Path.

    - At 2172, continue onto Bugbee Path. 

    - At 2190, turn left onto Forest Path.

    - At junction after Skyline, turn sharply left onto Buck Hill Trail.

    - At 2183, turn right onto Buck Hill Path.

    - At 2164, turn left onto Doe Hollow Path.

    - At 2153, turn right onto Headquarters Path.

    - Where Headquarters Path crosses Chickatawbut Road, continue in woods onto Quincy Path.

    - Follow Quincy Path back to car. 

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album