Rattlesnake Hill–The Shield, 3 cliffs
5.7 mi · ▲ 470 ft · 2 hr 8 min
Rattlesnake Hill–The Shield, 3 cliffs is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near East Milton, MA. The route passes Kayla's Pond and Rattlesnake Hill before reaching The Shield at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It climbs 470 ft. It scores 6/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rattlesnake Hill–The Shield, 3 cliffs
5.7 mi · ▲ 470 ft · 2 hr 8 min
Elevation 76–243 ft
Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation
Trailhead: 42.24363, -71.05038
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 6:47 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, 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 NW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
- 100 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.6 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Indian Camp Path, heading SE.
- 250 ftPass Kayla's Pond.
- 0.2 miPass The Shield.
- 350 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 150 ftReach Rattlesnake Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 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 6:27 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:47 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:15 PM.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Bouncing Brook Path–Headquarters Path, 3 sights 6.8 mi · ▲ 480 ft
- The Crags–Saint Moritz Pond, 4 lakes 6.7 mi · ▲ 571 ft
- Buck Hill Path & Headquarters Path 6.5 mi · ▲ 480 ft
- Headquarters Path 7.4 mi · ▲ 884 ft
- Headquarters Path 7.6 mi · ▲ 943 ft
- Headquarters Path 7.4 mi · ▲ 943 ft
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Hikes near East Milton, Massachusetts