Boston Skyline Views: A Hike through Blue Hills Reservation
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On our second visit to Blue Hills Reservation, a beautiful 7000 acre hiking oasis in Milton, Massachusetts, we decided to hike the popular “Red Loop Trail.” This scenic trek takes you to an observation tower with great views of the city.
This large natural area is one of the best hiking destinations near the city with over 125 miles of hiking trails to choose amongst. If you are looking for the best bang-for-your-buck option, I recommend hiking this short loop which offers great scenery and the opportunity to enjoy a historical site.
A short but steep trek
Parking at the Trailside Museum Lot will take you right to the start of the Red Loop Trail. The steep 0.75 mile climb up to the Elliot Observation Tower is short, but pretty strenuous. We got in a fabulous workout and enjoyed the relaxing trek through nature. This is the biggest view for the smallest effort so basically what you will want to do if you are short on time.
I really love the view of the Boston skyline and the fact that little effort is required.
There is also a nice overlook of the surrounding forests. It’s hard to imagine that you are so close to the city when surrounded by such gorgeous wilderness. This is what I love about Boston. You could be walking around downtown walking The Freedom Trail one day and hiking an isolated trail in the woods the next. This reservation is such a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a little bit.
The oldest weather recording station
From the observation tower, you can walk an additional 0.3 miles or so over to the Blue Hills Observatory, the oldest weather recording station still operating. For an extra 5 bucks, you can take a self guided tour of the tower roof. For those who want to learn even more, guided tours are available for 8 bucks.
No matter which tour you pic, you will get to explore the Mish Michaels Exhibit Hall for Scientific Discovery and enjoy views from the top. You will also get to explore the History Room on the guided tour. We were satisfied with the views, and therefore, decided to skip the guided tour.
The Skyline Trail
Next, we decided to hike a portion of the popular “Skyline Trail,” a 9 mile hike featuring scenic views, steep hills, and rough terrain. The path is well marked unlike some other hikes where you aren’t sure which direction to turn.
The trails are well marked which is nice. I’ve hiked so many trails where I am totally confused on where to go next. Nothing is more frustrating than hiking a long, tiresome trail and trying to figure out which way to go. As you can see, the blue trail marker really stands out.
This is a great trail to get back to nature. The scenery is so beautiful and there is a lot of shade, so it’s a nice summer hiking option. We completed about 6 miles of this trail. It was an exhausting journey, but well worth it for the adventure, photography opportunities, and great workout. Enjoy a few pics we took of the greenery along the route.
There are several very steep climbs during this hike. If you complete the entire hike, you will climbing several hills in the Blue Hills range including the tallest peak in the reservation. On this high hill, you will get to enjoy a fabulous viewpoint of the city skyline. Check out some of the pictures we took to get an idea of the terrain. As a fairly regular gym buff and weekend hiker, I found it pretty tough.
The Nature Center
After your hike, I recommend checking out the nature center. Here you will find a few small animals such as otters, owls, and various small animals. You will also find the Trailside Museum, where you can learn more about animals and plants found within the reservation. Lots of animals call the reservation home including wild turkeys, coyote, red fox, and white tailed deer.
Endangered Timber Rattlesnakes are occasionally seen. Here’s an interesting article detailing a hiker’s recent experience coming across this rare snake. This would be a scary experience, especially since you don’t typically think of coming across dangerous snakes in this state.
The extent of our wildlife sightings included these turtles at the pond outside the nature center.
I enjoyed my day hiking at Blue Hills. In the future, Mike and I would love to go back and complete the entire Skyline Trail. Unfortunately on this visit, we were not prepared for a lengthy hike. 6 miles was enough to leave us sore and tired the next day.
Blue Hills is a beautiful park. It is amazing that this reservation is located just 15 minutes outside of the city. What a great way to spend a weekend afternoon exploring nature, exercising, and enjoying the peaceful setting away from the busy city.
If anything, hiking here really allows you to rejuvenate in nature and enjoy some fresh air before getting back to the city. We normally spend a lot of time exploring city attractions, so hiking here was a nice change of pace.
Tips for your hike
*Bring several water bottles. I did not see any water stations along the trail. You will need plenty of water, especially if you are completing a lot of mileage or not used to strenuous uphill hikes. I recommend a camelbak (backpack with a built in water holder).
This handy backpack not only holds a lot of water, but also comes with the added bonus of freeing up your arms. Plus, there are small pockets to hold snacks and other essentials. If you are hiking long enough, you may want to consider Gatorade or other electrolyte snacks.
*Plan your hike early in the morning. It took us approximately 4 hours to hike 7 miles. There is a lot of uphill and downhill climbing which takes up extra time.
* Limit coffee and tea before your hike, due to the diuretic effects of the drinks.
*You can get better pictures of the skyline if you bring with a camera with a high zoom lens.
*Wear shorts in summer– I made the mistake of wearing pants. The combination of heat and climbing up big hills makes for a strenuous workout. I was definitely overheated with the long pants. During the fall and winter months, layer up as you may heat up even if it’s cold outside.
Additional Info
Address: 1904 Canton Avenue Milton, MA 02186. Parking is free.
Visit the reservation website for trail maps.
