Houghton's Pond–Hillside Pond, 4 lakes
8.7 mi · ▲ 647 ft · 3 hr 13 min
Houghton's Pond–Hillside Pond, 4 lakes is an 8.7-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near Milton, MA. The route passes Hillside Pond and Houghton's Pond before reaching Blue Hills Reservation Beach at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It climbs 647 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Houghton's Pond–Hillside Pond, 4 lakes
8.7 mi · ▲ 647 ft · 3 hr 13 min
Elevation 76–274 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
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Headquarters Path, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 400 ftBear right, heading W.
- 350 ftPass Hillside Pond.
- 200 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Dark Hollow Path, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Headquarters Path, heading W.
- 0.1 miPass Blue Hills Reservation Beach.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miReach Houghton's Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Dark Hollow Path, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 350 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Headquarters Path, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 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 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.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Little Dome & Headquarters Path 3.7 mi · ▲ 225 ft
- Fox Hill–Blue Hills Reservoir, 3 summits 4.6 mi · ▲ 372 ft
- Blue Hills Reservation Viewpoint & Headquarters Path 4.8 mi · ▲ 430 ft
- Skyline Viewpoint & Headquarters Path 5 mi · ▲ 546 ft
- Crags Foot Path & Headquarters Path 5 mi · ▲ 265 ft
- Blue Hills Reservation Viewpoint via Headquarters Path 5 mi · ▲ 513 ft
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Hikes near Milton, Massachusetts