Located only minutes from the bustle of downtown Boston, the DCR Blue Hills Reservation stretches over 7,000 acres from Quincy to Dedham, Milton to Randolph, providing a green oasis in an urban environment. Rising above the horizon, Great Blue Hill reaches a height of 635 feet, the highest of the 22 hills in the Blue Hills chain. From the rocky summit visitors can see over the entire metropolitan area. With its scenic views, varied terrain and 125 miles of trails, the Blue Hills Reservation offers year-round enjoyment for the outdoor enthusiast.
The Blue Hills
The Blue Hills were so named by early European explorers who, while
sailing along the coastline, noticed the bluish hue on the slopes when
viewed from a distance. More than ten thousand years before those
Europeans arrived, Native Americans made their home in the hills. The
Natives referred to themselves as Massachusett, or “people of the great
hills”. Eventually the Europeans began settling in this region. The
colonists built houses and barns, cleared fields for crops and livestock
and logged the hillsides for lumber.
In 1893, the Metropolitan Parks Commission purchased the lands of Blue Hills Reservation as one of the first areas set aside for public recreation. Today, the reservation is rich in both archaeological and historic resources. Sixteen historic structures listed on the National Register tell the fascinating tales of Native Americans, explorers, farmers, quarry workers and inventors. Additionally the Blue Hills Weather Observatory, a National Historic Landmark, sits atop Great Blue Hill, as a crowning feature.
The living treasures of the Blue Hills include flora, fauna and natural phenomena – from coyotes to copperheads, dogwoods to lady’s slippers, and turkey vultures to dragonflies. Trails traverse upland and bottomland forests, marsh, swamp and pond edges, meadows and an Atlantic white cedar bog. A great variety of plant and animal life thrive in the diverse habitats, including several rare and endangered species in Massachusetts, such as the timber rattlesnake.
Trail Map
Download printable version (pdf)
class=”subhead”>Things to know before you go
The reservation is open dawn to dusk. Swimming only at Houghton’s Pond in designated areas. Permits required for groups of 25 or more.
Blue Hills Reservation Headquarters
Is located at 695 Hillside St. in Milton, 1/4 mile north of Houghton’s
Pond, beside the State Police Station. Please stop by or call (617)
698-1802 for park information.Blue Hills Trailside Museum,
Managed by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, features cultural and
natural history exhibits including a display of live animals of the Blue
Hills. For more information, call (617) 333-0690.
Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center
Offers weather related educational programs for school groups and
weather enthusiasts. The Observatory is located at the summit of Great
Blue Hill. Call 617-696-0389 for access information.
Boat
on Ponkapoag Pond and on the Neponset River. Non-motorized boats only.
Camp
at the Appalachian Mountain Club cabins on Ponkapoag Pond. Call (781) 961-7007 for reservations.
Educational Programs
are offered by DCR Rangers on weekends throughout the year. Look for
program schedules posted on park bulletin boards or call (617) 698-1802
for program details.
Fish
in the reservation’s ponds. A state fishing license is required. Houghton’s Pond and Pine Tree Brook are stocked with trout.
Golf
at the 36-hole DCR Ponkapoag Golf Course located in Canton on Route 138, 1/2 mile south of Route 93. Call (781) 828-4242.
Hike
on 125 miles of scenic trails. Purchase a trail map at the Reservation Headquarters or the Blue Hills Trailside Museum.
Ice Skate
at an DCR skating rink in the Blue Hills. For the William Shea Rink in
Quincy, call (617) 472-9325. For the Max Ulin Rink in Milton, call (617)
696-9869.
Mountain Bike
in designated areas of the reservation. Stop by park headquarters to
pick up a mountain bike map. Please respect “No Mountain Bicycling”
signs in restricted areas.
Download PDF Blue Hills Mountain Bike Map and Brochure
Picnic
tables and charcoal grills are available at Houghton’s Pond. Call (617)
698-1802 to reserve a site. Groups of 25 or more must have a permit.
Rock Climb
at the Quincy Quarries Historic Site in Quincy and in the Rattlesnake Hill area in the eastern section of the Reservation.
Ski, cross-country
on trails throughout the reservation with sufficient snow cover. A free
Cross-Country Ski Routes brochure is available at the Reservation
Headquarters.
Ski, downhill
at the William F. Rogers Ski Slopes on Great Blue Hill. Call (781) 828-5070 for information.
Softball
fields are available at Houghton’s Pond. Reservations are required, call (617) 698-1802.
Swim
at Houghton’s Pond beach with DCR lifeguard supervision. Seasonal restrooms provided.
Blue Hills TrailWatch is an all-volunteer organization of concerned recreational trail users whose goal is to promote safe and cooperative trail use. For more information, call (617) 698-1802.
FOR EMERGENCIES:
Dial 911 or telephone the State Police at 1-800-525-5555
For 24-hour contact/response call the DCR Park Ranger dispatch at 617-722-1188
Directions
By Car:
Take Route 93 to Exit 3, Houghton’s Pond. Turn right at the stop sign
onto Hillside Street. Houghton’s Pond is located approximately 1/4 miles
on the right; Continue 1/4 miles to the reservation headquarters on the
left.
Public Transportation:
Blue Hills Reservation
Several different public transportation routes lead to different sections of the Blue Hills Reservation.
West Area: (location of Trailside Museum, Blue Hills Ski Area and Houghton’s Pond)
MBTA: Red Line (Ashmont Line) to Ashmont Station. Connect with Mattapan High Speed Line to Mattapan Square. Take the Mattapan to Canton Center bus route #716. (JBL Busline 781-843-4505)
For Houghton’s Pond, follow the directions above, but stay on the bus past the Trailside Museum. Exit the bus at Blue Hill River Road in front of the Dunkin Donuts. Cross at the light and walk 1 mile to the left (east) on Blue Hill River Road to Houghton’s Pond.
Bus runs Monday – Friday every hour, Saturday every 2 hours until 12pm only,
No service on Sundays or Holidays. Call MBTA for details.
Central Area: (location of Chickatawbut Overlook)
MBTA: Red Line (Ashmont Line) to Ashmont Station. Take Bus # 240 outbound. Exit at the intersection
of Randolph Avenue and Chickatawbut Road. Chickatawbut Overlook is 1 mile to the left (east) of this intersection on Chickatawbut Road. Houghton’s Pond is 2 miles to the right (west) on Chickatawbut Road.
Bus runs hourly 7 days/week. Call MBTA for details.
East Area: (Location of St. Moritz Pond and Shea Rink)
MBTA: Red Line to (Braintree Line) Quincy Center. Take the Bus #238 outbound. Exit at West Street and Willard Street, across from the Shea Skating Rink. Cross the skating rink parking lot to St. Moritz Pond
Nature Trail.
Bus runs hourly 7 days/week. Call MBTA for details.
Quincy Quarries Historic Site
MBTA: Red Line to (Braintree Line) Quincy Center. Take Bus #215 to Copeland Street and Willard Street. Exit the bus, cross under the expressway and take the first right onto Ricciuti Drive (at Men’s Warehouse).
The Quarries are on the right, ¼ mile up Ricciuti Drive. Total walking time: 10 Minutes
Bus runs hourly 7 days/week. Call MBTA for details.
Fowl Meadow Reservation
MBTA: Orange Line to Forest hills or Green Line to Copley and connect with Bus #39 Arborway to Forest hills. At Forest Hills connect with Bus #32 to Wolcot Square. Exit at Wolcot Square and walk ½ mile to the right (east) on Neponset Valley Parkway (also shown as Milton Street on some maps), past intersection with Truman highway and across the river. Trailside Museum is on the right (south) just across the river at the intersection of the Neponset Valley Parkway and Brush Hill Road.
To walk from here to the Trailside museum: At trailhead turn right (southeast) on Brush Hill Road.
Continue on Brush Hill Road until it intersects with Blue Hill Avenue. Turn right (south) on Blue Hills Avenue. Trailside museum is a few hundred yards down Blue Hill Avenue. Total walk: about 20 minutes
(just over 1 mile).
Bus runs every 20 minutes 7days/week. Call MBTA for details.
Commuter Rail: Attleboro/Stoughton line from Back Bay. Get off the train at the Route 128 station.
Cross under Route 128 into the Meadow.
Train runs Monday – Friday every ½ hour, Saturday every 2 hours, Sunday starts at noon every 2 hours.
Call MBTA for details.