A Beautiful Fall Hike through Blue Hills Reservation
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Blue Hills is one of the most beautiful places to hike near the city. This 7000 acre urban oasis, located just 10 miles outside of Boston, is an amazing place to visit any time of year. I love that it located near the city but feels a world’s away. Autumn is a particularly scenic time of the year for hiking, especially if you can time your hike near peak.
I’ve been enjoying a lot of leaf peeping since moving near Providence and this is one of my favorite places. I like the natural setting and the diverse of trails offered here. There are over 100 trails to choose from, so I can keep coming back to enjoy something new with each visit.
If you find yourself vacationing in Boston this time of year, I recommend taking a drive out here to enjoy some leaf peeping in a rustic setting.
A rustic escape from city life
Mike & I have hiked the scenic Great Blue Hill Red Dot Trail on several occasions. I think this is one of the better options for new tourists. The trek is just over a mile, although it’s a bit steep so you will still get in a decent workout. Most of the trails here are moderate in intensity, so I would say this is a great pick. We have hiked this trail many times: this hike was even better than usual with that fall feeling in the air: leaves scattered among the ground, brightly colored trees, and brisk, cloudy weather.
Our hike was fantastic. We weren’t expecting the foliage to be that great as we haven’t noticed much color at other state parks in the area, as of yet. While not at peak, plenty of yellow, orange, and red colors were starting to peek through. Sometimes, I actually prefer the look of fresh greenery contrasting against the bright colors of fall. And I love parks where all leaves don’t all change at the same time so I can keep coming back all month long and still enjoy a bit of leaf peeping. That feeling of fall was definitely in the air which is what we were looking for. It was a beautiful day in nature with perfect temps and a bit of leaf peeping as an extra bonus.
At the top of the hike, you can take the short 5 min walk over to Eliot Tower for great views of the surrounding mountains and skyline. Great Blue Hill is the highest summit in the park at an elevation of 635 feet. On a clear day, we can usually see the Boston skyline. It was a cloudy day, so we were unable to see anything. However, there was some great orange foliage to enjoy. As I love everything fall related, I’ll take the gorgeous leaf peeping over the city view anyday.
For those interested in more of a challenge, you can read my post about hiking the Skyline trail. This trek is more challenging being that you will climb a number of summits in the mountain range.
Fall Foliage Chairlift Rides
This weekend, The Ski Area was offering a fall foliage chairlift ride up to the top of the Great Blue Hill (ski season typically begins at the end of December). The chairlift ride was a unique experience and it was only a few bucks so we figured why not. It would have been even better if colors would have been at peak, however, the ride up was still pretty fun. And it was only a few bucks, so really who can complain? I am not sure if they offer this every year or if this was a one time thing. Be sure to check with the reservation for upcoming events.
Houghton’s Pond
More great leaf peeping can be enjoyed at Houghton’s Pond. There is a beautiful trail just under a mile where you can enjoy fall photography and hiking. We would like to come back in a week or 2 to see if the leaves have changed anymore. The colors were ok, but nothing spectacular as peak was still off by at least a week or 2.
This is really a great year-round destination. In the summer months, you can swim here. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Trout fishing is also available. Winer is a great time to break out the cross country skis. Other amenities include: a playground, picnic facilities, a trailside museum, and a baseball field.
Address & Parking Information
Location: To hike the Red Loop Trail, you can park at the free lot located at: 1904 Canton Ave. Milton, MA 02186.
Free parking for Houghton’s Park can be found at 840 Hillside Street Milton, MA 02186.
Dog friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed but they must remain on the leash. Note they are not allowed on the beach.
Accessibility: Trailside Museum, At Houghton’s Pond: Beach mat and wheelchairs, visitors center, restrooms, and picnicking facilities. Paved hiking with the reservation: Summit Road and Old Rt. 128. Learn more at the visitor’s center.
