Blue Hills Reservation

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.

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!

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 :)

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!

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.

Less than two miles from the Boston city line! This is such an awesome accessible piece of nature for city dwellers. The skyline trail has a lot of ups and downs and is great for training. Beautiful in the fall, we’ll be returning regularly.

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!

Always a great choice to get up and out when the weather is nice. There are so many trail options for different difficulties and what ever you are in the mood for. I love coming up here because it is always so nice, never had a bad experience here. There are various starting points in various towns and you never seem to have to go on the same trail twice. Careful after the winter snow meltdown, some of the trails can be slippery and if you opt to take a little run down the ski area it will be muddy!

I had NO idea that this type of reservation existed so close to the city! I was doing some research (well, Unilocalsearch) 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.

Great place to hike. Lots of trails. And the observatory is super neat. I spent about 3 hours hiking up and down these hills! I was exhausted by the time I left and that’s exactly how I like to be after a hike!

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.

I can not believe I have lived next to the Blue Hills Reservation and never had taken the time to hike in the hills. The area the reservation covers is huge with an abundance of clearly marked trails to hike. There is generally parking at various points however on a nice day parking can be a challenge. The area is very well kept; well worth a visit.

Took our first local hike here! Took the green dot trail. Passed A LOT of runners, hikers and walkers; and almost all of the. Said hello as they passed. (and saw a few dogs too)
Trails are clearly marked on trees and easy. My only complaint was all the mess left by horses on the trails! I saw a ton of horse mess, and zero horses.
Remember to take a map with you if you are not familiar with the trails, and bring plenty of water.

A friend of ours asked us to go hiking with him before he went to Norway for a hiking trip. It was such a blast. The trails are beautiful and there are trails for all levels. I’d love to go back!

If I could I would give Houghton’s Pond at Blue Hills more than 5 stars! It is better than ever this spring. They have made noticable changes and improvements. A major upgrade is a good sized cabinlike building containing restrooms across the street from the ball fields.
There have been lots of families and groups of people already filling up the grounds on weekends. The staff does a great job of getting the area cleaned and picked up the mornings after big crowds. I just love to hike there. Everyone is so friendly. There is such a welcoming, relaxing feeling. It just keeps getting better!

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!

What a gem! Similar to the Fells in Stoneham/​Winchester area, The Blue Hills Reservation boasts numerous trails for different abilities, including kids. You will feel as if you’re quite far from Boston. I would recommend the mile-​long loop up to the tower (catch this from the trailside museum). It’s steep and a bit rocky, but short and worth it for the views.

Beautifully kept. Best place to spend a gorgeous day with family. Great for hiking, having a picnic/​grilling or just enjoying nature.

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.