AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Blue Hills Reservation

Skyline Viewpoint & Headquarters Path

6.7 mi · ▲ 724 ft · 2 hr 36 min

Skyline Viewpoint & Headquarters Path is a 6.7-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near Milton, MA. The route reaches Skyline Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.3 miles in. It climbs 724 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi105 – 486 ft · steepest grade: 18%7.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.24333, -71.05040
Nearest town Milton, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Skyline Viewpoint & Headquarters Path

6.7 mi · ▲ 724 ft · 2 hr 36 min

Elevation 105–486 ft

Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation

Trailhead: 42.24333, -71.05040

Weather Aug 4: Rain, high 78°F / low 69° · precip 97% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 5:40 AM · sunset 8:03 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  4. 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
  5. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  10. 0.6 miSharp right onto Headquarters Path, heading E.
  11. 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
  12. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  13. 0.6 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading SW.
  14. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  15. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  16. 0.3 miBear left onto Buck Hill Path, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  18. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  21. 50 ftReach Skyline Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  24. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  25. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  26. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  27. 0.3 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading N.
  28. 350 ftTurn right, heading N.
  29. 0.6 miBear left, heading NE.
  30. 50 ftBear right onto Headquarters Path, heading NE.
  31. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  32. 0.4 miSharp left, heading N.
  33. 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
  34. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  35. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  36. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  37. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  38. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  39. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  40. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  41. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/buck-hill-out-back-8-km-8561

Trail surface

58% dirt22% paved20% unspecified

Weather

RainTemperature 78°F69°
Precip97%Wind7 mphUV3Humidity79%
Rained 0.2″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
80°65° 12 AM: 4% rain2 AM: 1% rain3 AM: 12% rain4 AM: 44% rain5 AM: 52% rain6 AM: 51% rain7 AM: 39% rain8 AM: 37% rain9 AM: 29% rain10 AM: 61% rain11 AM: 70% rain12 PM: 73% rain1 PM: 97% rain2 PM: 79% rain3 PM: 59% rain4 PM: 51% rain5 PM: 36% rain6 PM: 26% rain7 PM: 32% rain8 PM: 27% rain9 PM: 3% rain
Sunrise 5:40 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:03 PM
Tue 86°63°
Wed 86°63°
Thu 86°71° 26%
Fri 95°73° 29%
Sat 89°72° 37%
Sun 95°72°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:43 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 8:03 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:34 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Milton, Massachusetts