Blue Hills Reservation

Had a great hiking experience at Blue Hills Reservation today. There are multiple trails to choose from, ranging from easy to moderate - perfect for beginners and casual hikers. The paths are scenic. Some trails can get quite rocky, so wearing proper hiking shoes is highly recommended. Free parking is available. There’s also a clean restroom facility, picnic tables and a playground area that’s great for kids. The trails could be better marked as it's easy to get lost.

Wonderful hiking area with easy and moderate trails. Easy to get lost in the beauty. Plenty of rocks so prepare accordingly. Plenty of parking is available next to the lake. Walk around the lake is a nice easy loop.

Lots of trails here, all well maintained, big parking areas, though it gets busy in the weekend. Clean bathrooms with heat and hot water. Made it to the top to the observation tower. Then you can walk back down using the road if you want. Great place for families to spend a few hours.

Incredible views, enjoyable hikes even in winter. A little confusing to navigate maybe through the entrance that I entered. Recommend 100% and will definitely go back again and again!

One of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been to! Just be careful because during winter the path can be slippery

Love hiking here. Trails are well marked and several have great views. Pretty clean and well respected by hikers. The bathrooms are big and pretty clean, arguably the best I’ve ever seen at a trail site. Cute wildlife habitat too, love seeing that otter.

Great place for a nice peaceful hike. And the tower at the top offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city!

This was a fun hiking area with a ton of different trails for beginners to advanced hikers. A lot of the trails are heavy with rock structures that you have to climb, so it's important to wear appropriate shoes. There are multiple free parking lots with a plethora of spots available for use. For some parts of the trails, we had to cross a main street, and even though there's a pedestrian crossing sign, barely anyone stopped.

Definitely a great area to hike around. Unfortunately after a heavy rain, the skyline trail gets flooded out!. There are lots of trails and we decided to go on another one due to the floods. There are some nice rolling hills and lake areas that offer a serene and peaceful place to explore. Certain parking lots of ample and make it easy to come. I wish it was closer to public transportation because I was only able to come because I borrowed a car from a friend. This is a great resource for Bostonians and the surrounding areas. What a beautiful green space for all to enjoy.

I did the 5 mile skyline trail loop starting near the Shea Memorial Skating Rink in late November and it was beautiful! Great views of the Boston skyline and a moderate hike given some scrambling and many off-shoots from the main path making it somewhat easy to end up on a different route. A little icy this time of year but overall an amazing and easy way to find some nature just outside of Boston! Link to trail map: https://www.mass.gov/doc/blue-hills-trail-map-guide/download

If you're in Boston and looking for some local hiking, this is the place! It's not quite the White Mountains, but there are plenty of trails, so you can reach a solid total elevation gain and hit a bunch of miles. I really enjoyed some of the rocky areas, but it can be a little tough to navigate if the ground is wet or slushy. I'd recommend coming in the Fall, so you can take in some foliage. It's pretty cool to look out into the distance and see the Boston skyline, as well as the harbor and the ocean just beyond it. The overall experience was seamless. Parking was pretty easy - there were a few lots right by the trailheads, so if the first one is full, just proceeed to the next one. There were also a few maps by the entrances and the trails were well marked. Pro tip: Don't miss the animal exhibits, they're worth visiting!

Fun to hike with the family, although be prepared for many rocks along the way. Or you can see the rescued animals like deer, fox, eagle at the animal area up the hill! Free parking

Great hike. Easy to moderate. Open year round. Plenty of parking. Great for family fun. Awesome!

Came here during Fall and I LOVED it. Trails were not too hard, great views for seeing fall foliage, stunning trees, ponds and would def come back. However, like most hiking places this place isn't the most public transport accessible.

More trailheads than most hiking reservations largely because its largely larger. To an inexperienced Blue Hill trekker, this may offer more variety but for the love of Pete know what you're signing up for as many of the trails are not very well-marked so getting turned around and in a place "to explore" as you find your way out is very possible. So, it's less blazed than others, but there are way more natural features: reservoirs, trickling streams, lichens on long dead trees, I think I saw a chupacabra so that was pretty cool, and other pastoral vistas. You also have the ability to feel like you're deeper in the rough, easily removing yourself from road noise and other people. Except if you decide to hang shebang around the very heavily utilized public facilities near the parking lots. Cool if you wanna bbq with literally everyone, but it's not my scene so I hit the off-beaten paths.

Woot woot--gotta take advantage of all this warm weather, so I have been hitting up greater Boston trails whenever possible! Blue Hills has been on my list for awhile, and I finally was able to make the trek down there. It is definitely a large tract of land, and honestly, thank God I brought my phone which has the allTrails app on it, because unless I went straight in and back--I think I would have certainly gotten lost. As others have noted, I also found the trails to be confusingly marked--even from the offset in the parking lot. There are lots of lil shortcuts and side trails, making for endless hike options, but unless you have a map with you, oh man. The thought definitely crossed my mind that I could be wicked lost. But if you have a map, you're good. The trails are very well cleared and it is just such a lovely area. I feel like I only explored just a sampling of what this area has to offer. Looking forward to coming back.

So many miles of trails, and great vuews of the mountains and even Boston. It's really beautiful in the fall when the leaves change color. There aren't a lot of signs, so I recommend bringing a map or an extra battery charger for your phone if you use an app. The only downside to getting here is that there isn't a lot of parking in peak season. If you're a rock climber, there's a cool spot to hang out with a bunch of graffiti and climb.

Blue hills are the gargantuan hills they are. The motherly mountain is so breathtakingly beautiful you can ski on it in the winter. If you are passing by please post a popping picture and share it with your pediatric pals. A Tribute To Dr. Seuss

Great hike. Did the Skyline Trail 2.7 mile loop. There were many people and Dogs on the trail but didn't get backed up anywhere. There are some steep areas but not hard. Views of Boston from the Eliot Tower was awesome. There are many trails and easy to get lost. Carry a map.

Probably the closest hiking trail from Boston! Recently started hiking here pretty often. There are multiple trails that run through the forest. Make sure to always keep a lookout of the color markings on the trees. We tend to do the blue and red trails. I believe it's the skyline trail. Pretty steep and narrow. Definitely got me huffing and puffing. "We travel not to escape life... but for life not to escape us"

There is nothing better than having a little piece of paradise in your backyard Boston! Coexisting in the blue hills with hikers, off road bikers, families, and dog walkers might be the greatest challenge. I have lived in Milton for 30 years and I am amazed by the fact that the blue Hills Reservation is not utilized as much as I believe it should by the people. It is also true that the reservation is in dire need of maintenance work to be more accessible by people who are not in great shape or just young. The area around Houghton's pond is very well maintained for the families that are looking for a little beach time, of family gathering with barbecues and open spaces near the city, but other than that the rest of the reservation is falling apart. When I moved to Milton 30 years ago I would go into the blue hills and see crews of young people fixing and restoring the paths that have since Disintegrated and are no longer accessible sometimes (as the roads that are supposed to be maintained by DCR in MILTON and elsewhere are). I have been running, biking, and skiing in the trails or taking walks with my family very frequently and I have to admit that sometimes I love the fact that it is not very crowded (pre Covid-19) Now with COVID-19 and the fact that this is the only venue that is available to urbanites that have discovered the reservation, it gets a little busier than I would like it, but still I do want people to enjoy this hidden gem. I believe the biggest problem today in the blue Hills is the fact that the state is not maintaining the reservation (DCR) at all, and there are no rangers to enforce the rules (There used to be park rangers patrolling the reservation on horseback but not anymore), and the issue is that mainly off road bikers, and dog walkers are Not adhering to the laws and regulations, (dog walkers leave hundreds of little "poop bags" everywhere!!!! - how rude and uncivilized). I understand the desire for off-road biking (believe me I have biked in the Bluehills for the last 20 years) to have their playground, and I know how families are bothered by their presence, or the fact that families don't pay attention to bikers or runners and spread out on the paths without leaving any room for others. At the end of the day we all need to get along but also DCR needs to maintain the reservation, and people need to do their part. We need to keep the reservation healthy and accessible for future generations.

Nice local park and good for some weekend day walk. We did blue dot trail about 8 miles. From some hills you can see nice view including Boston in the distance. I will come back in spring again.

The skyline trail was a very refreshing start to the morning! Who doesn't love the feeling of reaching the top during a hike to a great view? Wish they had more challenging trails to try and more signs directing us where to go! But I'd have to say, nothing beats the sweet company of other hikers you meet along the way during the journey. Everyone is extremely friendly and warm, striking up conversations as you walk past one another! ... And did I mention the adorable dogs you get to meet on the way? Yes. If you are a dog lover, you and your dogs will love it here!

Peaceful easy nature hike, where have you been all my life? Just about 20-30 minutes outside the city, you have this gem of a quick day getaway that allows you to breathe a little better, appreciate a little solitude, and take in some gorgeous scenic views. There are a dozen or so different trails that range from easy to moderate around the reservation, with lakes and ponds scattered about. My friend and I hiked for a few hours around a massive pond, easily something you can do in sneakers, no hiking boots necessary. Watch out for the horse poop though--apparently a lot of people own horses around here, or maybe there's a stable nearby--but half the hiking trails feel like 100m hurdles over 2 ft piles of horse poo. It's not bad as long as you look where you're going, but I could do without the little horse momentos... We ended up checking out a Husky Race around here too...really random, but the DCR apparently hosts cool stuff like this every once in awhile (next one is happening in February, apparently!), so we got to hang out with 40 adorable huskies for part of the afternoon. If you don't want to make a trip to NH or Maine for a taste of nature, this is your best bet. So glad we discovered it on a whim.

Blue Hills Reservation is a peaceful yet adventurous land reservation in Canton, MA. Close to the hustle and bustle of city life in Boston, it is the perfect place to escape. Though I have not explored nearly the extent of the entire grounds, I have climbed the Great Blue Hill on several occasions. Using the parking lot on Rt. 138 and following the blue trail up the hill, I have enjoyed some particularly fantastic views of the surrounding area. Eliot Tower and a weather observatory stand on the summit of this hill. Summiting a hill or mountain is always exciting, no matter the location. I have reached the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and granted I could see two states at one time from the top. . . reaching the top of the Great Blue Hill had equally of great views (minus the snow and freezing temperatures like Pikes Peak). The paths are well marked with rock stairs and blue dots indicating the way. The area surrounding Eliot Tower reminds me of something from a Medieval period. A stone archway bridge leads the way to the stonework tower. Picnic benches and stone fireplaces litter the grounds. Few people milling around the last time I climbed. Watch out for the wild animals that stalk the grounds and loose/slippery rocks along the paths. Be mindful of your surroundings and you can have a great time as well at this reservation!

Awesome place for hiking or nature walks. I went up one of the trails (started at the Trailside Museum to the observatory, trail is marked with red dots) with friends and we had a great time. The hike is not too difficult but is a little rocky. It led us to the weather observatory for a nice view. And there are some benches once you get to the top if you need a rest. I've also gone on the trails around Houghton Pond, which had super beautiful scenery with the fall foliage. I would definitely come back and visit for more hiking or to check out other trails.

Blue Hills never disappoints for a short or long hike in the Boston area. Great views of the city, great views of natural wooded scenery, challenging hills/rocks to climb, and easy trails for those with dogs or looking for a relaxing stroll. There are plenty of places to start a hike, I typically find a spot on the side of the road by the State Police station. Across from the station, an entrance to the trails leads you inward to several trail choices. I always go for the Skyline Trail given the challenging ups and downs throughout as well as the great views mentioned above. In the summertime, be prepared for lots of foot traffic and few places to find good parking. Like many places in the Boston area, nice days and outdoor activities always lead to crowds at the popular spots. That said - go early or stay later and you'll avoid the mid-day peaks.

When you get overwhelmed with the busyness of city life, it's nice to get out and enjoy a hike outside of all the chaos! Blue Hills is perfect since it's only about 30 minutes from Boston, which makes taking a hike there convenient, yet refreshing :) There are literally trails EVERYWHERE, so drive around and take your pick :) The skyline trail will take you to a nice breathtaking 360 degree view of everything in the area, but wish Boston had a nice skyline to actually look it lol. Come and bring your dog, your friend, your friend's dog and just enjoy a nice outdoor adventure that will be sure to refresh your mind and body :) The trails aren't too intense, but that's okay because intensity can be saved for other things (like skydiving or bear wrestling). This place is just a convenient and relaxing getaway from the city! Hope to see you here :)

This is a little gem right outside of the city. If you want to get away from the city and want to do something healthy and fun, you should check this place out. I came here with my friends to hike here. There were some parts that are rocky and challenging, but overall, it is a fun hike. There are a few paths you can choose based on the difficulty. There's one part of this trail that I like. It is the tower where you can see the Boston skyline. If you go during the summer, make sure to bring at least 2 bottles of water to stay hydrated! They also have a food stand near the lake, if you want to get food before the hike, you can check that place out!

The weather was above average; therefore, I went on a solo foliage trip. The Blue Hills was a perfect choice. I arrived at Houghton's Pond just as families were departing to put on their Halloween costumes. Timing really does matter in life. Experiencing the perfect New England foliage with no one around was breathtaking. You can see the colors in my attached pictures below. During much of the walk, I encountered very few people. It was lovely. The solitude was a precious gift because there are usually hordes of people parking, hiking, and eating. It's hard to find alone time in modern life even when communing with nature. New England visitors should know that the Blue Hills offers everything from stroller friendly trails to semi-rocky terrain. It's no Acadia National Park. It does, however, offer Massachusetts residents a nature filled experience in close proximity to Boston.

Houghton pond area - free parking(!), sandy beaches (no lifeguard), free grilling/BBQ areas, friendly visiting center, nice options of trails with varying difficulty, very peaceful Also really close to Boston. The skyline trail gives you a great view and does not disappoint!

I took my dog, Jetty, for a hike here today. He is a very special boy, so he has exceptionally high standards. Needless to say, Jetty very much enjoyed this park. He walked along the pond and made many friends! We'll be back soon!

My family loves hiking here! Gorgeous year round. Make sure to bring a map -- the trail markers are good, but it can be easy to take a wrong turn if you're not careful. Dogs and mountain bikes are welcome.

Great hiking just 1 hr. south of Boston. Well-marked trails with blue blazes on trees, good range of trail difficulty. If you're here to hike, the Skyline Trail boasts many rolling hills - Hancock Hill, Hemingway Hill, and Wolcott Hill, which offer varying views along the way. Hikers reward is Blue Hills Weather Observatory at the top of Great Blue Hill, where you can take in unobstructed vistas of the entire reservation. Bonus: Houghton's Pond nearby is beautiful and offers waterfront access for family-friendly swimming.

Just moved to Boston from out of state and this place was recommended to me multiple times right away! It did not disappoint! Only a 25 minute drive from Boston! I took Ranger Tom's suggestion and did the skyline loop. It started from reservation headquarters near the state police, and was a nice 3-ish mile loop. The structure at the top was closed for roof repairs, but I wandered around a bit at the top and found an awesome ski area with great views! Trail was very well marked with blue rectangles, easy to follow! I'll definitely be back to see what else this reservation has to offer!

We pulled up to the information center and I was taken aback by it being a picturesque house upon a hill, sitting behind what was once, probably, a carriage house. It's the nicest info center I have ever seen, and probably DCR's way of saying: this is nature and stuff, but it's also Milton, dammit. Parking is plentiful but could be tricky on a nice day. Try the parking lot across the street from the main entrance first, but if that's full, there is a big lot by Houghton's Pond about a half-mile away. You can walk to trailheads from there. Hiking-wise, I can only speak for the 3-mile Skyline Loop, but it was a well-maintained trail that was way better marked than the Fells trails are. The first portion of the northern branch is STEEP! Like, bouldering in the White Mountains steep. My legs felt a little jelly-ish and I had to stop before continuing. Fortunately, after that, things level off, and though there a few more steep sections, most of them are actually downhill. The tower, your reward at the end, is beautiful itself and affords great views of the hills and ponds to the south and, of course, Boston to the North. You can even see the ocean and harbor islands from here, which is cool! The south loop is more level, and in total it took our group a quick 2 hours to complete the whole thing. All in all: it isn't a hike in New Hampshire, Maine, or Vermont. But it's less than an hour from my front door and is hella better cardio than watching more Frasier. Yeah, it'll do. Houghton's Pond, by the way, looks beautiful. It has a small beach I'd love to check out in the summertime.

Went for a long hike here in the winter and absolutely loved it! It's great for dogs, friends or family- so pretty much everyone. The lake is really nice and the trails are very well kept. There are three trails, one 1.5 hours, and the others a bit longer, up to 4 hours. There's also a ton of parking and multiple lots. I'm looking forward to going back here in the summer, but I think it makes for a really nice winter hike.

Just did a great hike here. The trails are so nice. Lots of variation to choose from but there are a lot of hills. In particular I enjoyed the roots rocks and small stream crossings that you come across. I had really been hoping to see some wildlife perhaps a deer or even some hedgehogs. Unfortunately with the hot temperatures I think a lot of the animals were not coming out of their dens. One thing is for sure we were happy not to run into any bears although I imagine there must be some in here at various times of year. If you stop off just above the state police barracks there is a small hut to buy a map. Enjoy!!

Rocks and views I've been hearing about Blue Hills Reservation for years. Some people loving it and others claiming it's not worth the time. So when some friends told me they were going I decided to tag along. It turned out to be pretty much what I expected, a nice place with some interesting geology and nice views from the top. The trails are very rocky and can be slippery in wet weather but nothing really treacherous. Just some relaxing and mellow hiking and with some pretty nice views on top, including one of Boston. An interesting feature are the number and variation of rocks and boulders. Huge ones, medium size ones and little ones, rocks everywhere. The area was heavily glaciated 15,000 years ago and many survivors remain. Everyone we met while hiking was very friendly and the location is convenient and easy to find. A nice place to get outside, see some foliage and examine some rocks. A pleasant and enjoyable place to hike just as long as you don't expect too much.

The 22 Blue Hills : 1) Great Blue Hill - 635' 2) Chickatawbut Hill - 510' 3) Fenno Peak - 501' 4) Hancock Hill - 500' 5) Buck Hill - 496' 6) Hemenway Hill - 470' 7) Nahanton Hill - 470' 8) Wolcott Hill - 460' 9) Tucker Hill - 440' 10) Hawk Hill - 430' 11) Houghton Hill - 420' 12) Kitchamakin Hill - 420' 13) Boyce Hill (N) - 404' 14) Boyce Hill (S) - 400' 15) Wampatuck Hill - 353' 16) Burnt Hill - 330' 17) Fox Hill - 330' 18) Rattlesnake Hill - 310' 19) Breeze Hill - 280' 20) Little Blue Hill - 270' 21) Great Dome - 240' 22) Little Dome - 200' The Skyline Trail consists of 14 hills (listed east to west) including Rattlesnake, Wampatuck, Nahanton, Kitchmakin, Fenno, Chickatawbut, Buck, North Boyce, Tucker, Hancock, Hemenway, Wolcott, Big Blue, then Little Blue. The recommended time required to complete the Skyline Trail is 4 to 7 hours.

Want to hike but can't be bothered to go to NH? Well come to Blue Hills and you can have the fake mountain hike experience - all year round! Just park you car or bicycle at a trailhead, start walking and within minutes you've left suburbia and the city behind. There's not really any massive peaks to scale but Great Blue Hill (635ft) and Buck Hill (496ft) both offer splendid views of the Boston skyline, the suburban basin, the bay and Southern Mass in the other direction. I think I even saw Providence. What I definitely did see which was even cooler was a bunch of wild turkeys running along our path and later a family of deer making their way through the forest. I wasn't in NH or the Berkshires but for 30 mins from town I really felt like I'd entered a different land.

Yes, the view from the overlook is fantastic. And yes, there are some pretty decent trails. And, yes, it's really close to Boston... But why isn't any pointing out that this is a pickle park? Don't go alone (especially if you're not a gay man looking for a blow job behind a tree) and don't where white sneakers (it seems to be some sort of signal) and don't just sit in your car by yourself... (I can't tell you how many guys walked over to my car to have a look and walked away disappointed. - Wait... that makes me sound bad... you know what I mean). If you look around, you can find some disgusting things... used condoms... DD cups filled with you don't want to know what... I'm just saying... I've been, I'll go back... it's a neat place and there's no admission but you get what you pay for and buyer beware.

It's not a national park, but it's very convenient and there are some nice areas along with views of Boston. The Blue trail is challenging (no bikes- heed the sign!) and the green loop at Shea Rink is easy enough if you want a 90 minute walk. I've also ridden my mountain bike on the White and Yellow Loops from Houghton Pond. This is a nice 10 mile ride (aprox) if you combine them. There are many trailheads! The Reservation has trailheads in Canton, Milton, Randolph, Dedham and Quincy. My favorite places to park are Houghton Pond, Chickatawbut Overlook, and Shea Rink (I live in Quincy). It pays to get a map at the visitor's center. (next to State Police - just down the street from Houghton's Pond). I cannot stress this enough if you stray from the color coded trails. You likely won't die out here, but it's easy to get turned around. You don't want to be the idiot who gets lost and has to thumb a ride from Rt 24 in Randolph.

I spy something pink....a bag of dog poo. I spy something blue....a pair of men's underwear. I spy something black....another bag of dog poo. I spy something else black....another pair of men's underwear. That was a fun conversation to have with my 8 year old! Inquiring minds want to know: Why do men pull off and leave their drawers in the middle of the forest? As a parent, you learn to get pretty creative with your answers. Anywho, despite the few bulging bags of excrement and the signs of back woods lovin' we really enjoyed hiking through the trails! Some paths made me huff and puff, while others were quite leisurely and a tad uneventful. The skyline views are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

The summit at Blue Hills Reservation is the highest point on the Atlantic coast, believe it or not, and probably the best hiking spot in the Boston area. There are miles and miles of trails, some easy, others more difficult, and just because these are "hills" doesn't mean they aren't challenging. Maps on site have a suggested donation, so print a map from the website and plan ahead. I proposed to my fiancé here! We hiked several hours on the north skyline trail where there are plenty of openings with scenic views. I recommend it. The south skyline trail is probably nice too, but we didn't hike that one. We could easily spend an entire day here, and we probably will again.

This is definitely a great hike with a great view and often on weekends they have events going on for everyone. The day we went up there was a Kite Festival on the top so that you had to walk up the paved trail(HUGE bonus for that) or take a complimentary shuttle from the parking lot. We walked but it really wasn't that steep and the views of the valleys and the whole area is so great to take in. The staff at the top comprised of mostly volunteers were amazing and awesome to the kids and full of good information about the area. There was a kite building and art area to put all that extra energy to good use and so much other fun stuff going on. The walk down was much easier then the walk up but the view is so worth the trip. We didn't know about the Kite Festival until we actually got there but it was a nice addition to an already beautiful trip. This place is wonderful for taken pictures and making memories.

Fannnnnntastic hiking spot in the Boston Metro area for all skill levels! The wife, the dog and I stopped by Blue Hills for a leisurely hike on a gorgeous spring day and had an awesome time! We opted for the Skyline loop that takes you to the Observation and back to the Reservation HQ. While the loop was a bit more challenging than we had expected (we only brought 2 small bottles of water) we still had a terrific time! To echo a lot of other reviewers, the grounds and trails are very well kept, the views are great and most of the fellow hikers we encountered the day we hiked were friendly and we were lucky enough to come across a former Blue Hills Park Ranger that guided us for part of the loop. Really dog friendly! Along our loop, we ran into countless dogs that all seemed to be having a good of a time as our little pooch! Just remember to bring a bowl and some water for them too!

So many trails to choose from. Easy walks, steep scrambles, biking, running, you name it. The main parking lots can get busy on the nicest days but you can now access the trails from the back of the Eustis Estate in Milton which is never very busy (and is a nice place to visit on its own)

Great dog friendly hiking! I come here with my dogs and it's not a crazy hike up or down, unless you want it to be and take a weird entrance to the park. We hiked up from the parking lot and it was an easy and quick walk. Going down, however, we decided to take a different route. The dogs did not enjoy going down a steeper side with tons of rocks. Sorry babies, but mama loves. It takes you out to the side of the road but it's only like 1/3 mile from where you parked, so no big deal! And a better work out

Went for a sisterhood bonding hike!! I love this place so peaceful and beautiful place to connect with one and nature! ! Looking forward to many more!!

This place is so pretty, and fun for hiking. Unfortunately it feels like the fens. I am a boy, and i like boys...but that doesnt mean i want a bj from an old dirty man. Really, the only reason I want to go there is to walk the trails, relaxx and enjoy the scenery. Its close to Boston and the view of the city is so nice.

Absolutely loved this place as a spot for a nice long hike on a beautiful day on Labor Day weekend. We chose the Blue and Red trails. Will definitely be going back!

I had an amazing time here!! There's a pond, spot to hike, trails, grills, picnic tables, garbage cans. The weather was perfect as well. Definitely bring an insect repellent/sunscreen if you're going to be in the sun all day.

This is a great location for hiking, biking and skiing just a few minutes south of Boston. The trail system is very well kept. As a cycling team will like the various terrain that Blue Hills has to offer.

This is a great place for a mellow afternoon hike near Boston. The trails themselves are reasonably well maintained and you really feel away from the city. The website has hikes of varying length so you can find something to suit your desired commitment/difficulty level. If you're doing anything other than sticking on one of the main marked trails, make sure to bring a trail map and note where you are when you hit the intersections. A lot of the trails are very poorly marked. The map itself does not perfectly reflect the trails' intersection, so using the compass on your phone may also be necessary, especially if you decide to do a bit of orienteering using the number system.

I had NO idea that this type of reservation existed so close to the city! I was doing some research (well, Yelpsearch) on local hiking spots to plan a little spring fever outing. Based on the reviews, and not wanting to spend two+ hours in the car, I opted for Blue Hills. I was determined to find a trail that was an actual hike and not just a glorified walk. Blue Hills did not disappoint. We opted to do a shortened version of the Skyline Trail. Not only did our group break a sweat and dirty their hands while climbing over rocks, we got some great shots on our cameras AND got to see tons of adorable dogs throughout the trails. I will absolutely be back to try another trail and to soak in some much needed sunshine. I definitely recommend Blue Hills for anyone looking for a trails ranging from beginner to moderate.

This reservation is huge, and it's amazing that you can be so close to all these busy highways, shopping areas, and of course Boston, but still quickly get to completely remote feeling places in nature. There are a ton of different paths for easy or challenging hikes. I started at the Shea Rink in Quincy (or is that just over the Braintree line?), and walked a good 2 hours in a nice loop. Then decided to drive Chickatawbut Road, just to see what it's like. I'm from this area and can't believe I never did this before!! Not so far up the road there is a great place to park and either pick up one of a few hiking trails, OR just sit at the tables or on the little stone wall and look out the trees to see Boston. I can't wait to explore more of this area and get some serious nature time in. Even if you don't like hiking, go see that view of Boston. Bring lunch and just watch the world go by.

So close to Boston and so beautiful. Blue Hills Reservation proved to be a great spot for a recent hike/dog adventure, and the location can't be beat with only a quick 30 minute (give or take) jaunt from Boston. After arriving, the actual trails are easily accessible from the main parking area, and there are multiple maps that outline the basic loops. These trails are further marked with different colored dots on the trees along the route. Super easy to follow. Another plus, the area was very clean, well groomed, and a variety of trails for skill level. As others recommended bring your own water and snacks if you are doing one of the longer treks, as I did not see any fountains. However, I did see there were plenty of bathrooms in the welcome area. Also, to note, there are multiple grilling/picnic areas along the perimeter of Houghton's Pond, which would be a great place for seasonal grilling out. Perhaps a farewell Fall picnic adventure to follow.