Rattlesnake Hill–The Shield, 4 cliffs
3.7 mi · ▲ 228 ft · 1 hr 21 min
Rattlesnake Hill–The Shield, 4 cliffs is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near Camp Sayre, MA. The route passes Kayla's Pond and Rattlesnake Hill before reaching The Shield at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 228 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 10/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rattlesnake Hill–The Shield, 4 cliffs
3.7 mi · ▲ 228 ft · 1 hr 21 min
Elevation 154–259 ft
Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation
Trailhead: Red Dot Loop · 42.22405, -71.07007
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 6:45 PM
Transit-accessible: Randolph Ave and Chickataubut Rd stop 73 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Red Dot Loop, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Headquarters Path, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Indian Camp Path, heading E.
- 0.1 miPass Kayla's Pond.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 150 ftPass The Shield.
- 50 ftReach Rattlesnake Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Headquarters Path, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Red Dot Loop, heading S.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 6:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:04 PM — 10 min before dark.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Randolph Ave and Chickataubut Rd stop 73 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Red Dot Loop Trailhead
- Crags Foot Path–Headquarters Path, 4 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 309 ft
- Houghton's Pond–Hillside Pond, 3 lakes 3.5 mi · ▲ 163 ft
- Hancock Hill & Hillside Pond via Breakneck Ledge Path 3.8 mi · ▲ 546 ft
- Hawk Hill Viewpoint & Pipe Line 2 mi · ▲ 299 ft
- Skyline Viewpoint–Hawk Hill Path Loop, 4 sights 2.4 mi · ▲ 418 ft
- Buck Hill–Hillside Pond Loop, 3 summits 2.3 mi · ▲ 287 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Camp Sayre, Massachusetts