AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
2010-10-23 Blue Hills 06.JPG
Gareth Wyn Jones · CC BY-SA 4.0
Blue Hills Reservation

Great Blue Hill–Houghton's Pond, 5 sights

2.5 mi · ▲ 844 ft · 1 hr 15 min

Great Blue Hill–Houghton's Pond, 5 sights is a 2.5-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near Ponkapoag, MA. The route passes Great Blue Hill and Houghton's Pond before reaching Blue Hills Reservation Beach at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It climbs 844 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi167 – 623 ft · steepest grade: 34%3.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Skyline Trail 42.21069, -71.12000
Nearest town Ponkapoag, MA · Official trailhead info (mass.gov)
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Great Blue Hill–Houghton's Pond, 5 sights

2.5 mi · ▲ 844 ft · 1 hr 15 min

Elevation 166–625 ft

Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation

Trailhead: Skyline Trail · 42.21069, -71.12000

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 6:45 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Skyline Trail, heading S.
  2. 400 ftTurn right onto Accord Path, heading E.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Skyline Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftPass Great Blue Hill.
  6. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  7. 100 ftBear left, heading NE.
  8. 100 ftTurn right onto South Skyline Trail, heading E.
  9. 0.2 miBear right onto Wildcat Notch Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.1 miSharp left onto Skyline Trail South, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miTurn right onto Coon Hollow Path, heading E.
  12. 0.3 miPass Houghton's Pond.
  13. 50 ftPass Blue Hills Reservation Beach.
  14. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  15. 150 ftReach Great Blue Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left onto Skyline Trail South, heading W.
  18. 0.2 miSharp right onto Wildcat Notch Trail, heading NW.
  19. 0.1 miBear left onto South Skyline Trail, heading W.
  20. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  21. 100 ftBear right, heading NW.
  22. 100 ftTurn left onto Summit Road, heading S.
  23. 400 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Skyline Trail, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right onto Accord Path, heading W.
  26. 50 ftTurn left onto Skyline Trail, heading W.
  27. 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/great-blue-hill-houghtons-pond-out-back-4-km-1bbb

Trail surface

83% dirt1% paved16% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 6:45 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Skyline Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Ponkapoag, Massachusetts