AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Blue Hills Reservation

Houghton Hill–Blue Hills Reservation Viewpoint, 6 sights

6 mi · ▲ 715 ft · 2 hr 21 min

Houghton Hill–Blue Hills Reservation Viewpoint, 6 sights is a 6-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near Milton, MA. The route passes Blue Hills Reservation Viewpoint, Hillside Pond and Houghton Hill. It climbs 715 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi171 – 420 ft · steepest grade: 34%7.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.22640, -71.06131
Nearest town Milton, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Houghton Hill–Blue Hills Reservation Viewpoint, 6 sights

6 mi · ▲ 715 ft · 2 hr 21 min

Elevation 171–420 ft

Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation

Trailhead: 42.22640, -71.06131

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

Transit-accessible: 1248 Randolph Ave stop 778 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Blue Hills Reservation Viewpoint.
  3. 450 ftBear left, heading NW.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left onto Headquarters Path, heading W.
  5. 0.5 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading SW.
  6. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  7. 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  8. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  9. 400 ftBear right, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  11. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  12. 250 ftPass Hillside Pond.
  13. 300 ftBear right onto Dark Hollow Path, heading W.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  15. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  16. 0.3 miBear right, heading W.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  19. 400 ftBear right, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Headquarters Path, heading SW.
  22. 400 ftTurn right onto Skyline Trail South, heading SW.
  23. 450 ftPass Houghton Hill.
  24. 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
  25. 400 ftTurn right onto Half Way Path, heading W.
  26. 0.1 miTurn left onto Wildcat Notch Trail, heading W.
  27. 0.1 miReach Houghton Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 0.1 miTurn right onto Half Way Path, heading S.
  29. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  30. 450 ftBear right onto Skyline Trail South, heading S.
  31. 0.5 miTurn left onto Headquarters Path, heading NE.
  32. 400 ftTurn left, heading E.
  33. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  34. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  35. 400 ftTurn left, heading E.
  36. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  37. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  38. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  39. 0.2 miTurn left onto Dark Hollow Path, heading SE.
  40. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  41. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  42. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  43. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  44. 350 ftBear left, heading NE.
  45. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  46. 0.4 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading NE.
  47. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  48. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  49. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  50. 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/houghton-hill-blue-hills-reservation-viewpoint-out-back-7-sights-10-km

Trail surface

77% dirt23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 6:45 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~13 min). Leave by 6:12 PM for the 6:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 1248 Randolph Ave stop 778 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Milton, Massachusetts