The Crags–Hillside Pond, 4 lakes
7.5 mi · ▲ 751 ft · 2 hr 53 min
The Crags–Hillside Pond, 4 lakes is a 7.5-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near Camp Sayre, MA. The route passes Hillside Pond and Kayla's Pond before reaching The Crags at the turnaround, 3.6 miles in. It climbs 751 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
The Crags–Hillside Pond, 4 lakes
7.5 mi · ▲ 751 ft · 2 hr 53 min
Elevation 154–431 ft
Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation
Trailhead: 42.22023, -71.09173
Weather Aug 4: Rain, high 78°F / low 68° · precip 97% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 5:40 AM · sunset 8:03 PM
Transit-accessible: 1904 Canton Ave @ Trailside Museum stop 162 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto North Skyline Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miPass Hillside Pond.
- 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Dark Hollow Path, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 350 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Headquarters Path, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 300 ftPass Kayla's Pond.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Crags Foot Path, heading E.
- 50 ftPass The Crags.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 300 ftBear left onto Skyline Trail, heading E.
- 450 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 150 ftReach The Crags, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Crags Foot Path, heading NE.
- 300 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Headquarters Path, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading W.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 400 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Dark Hollow Path, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 400 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto North Skyline Trail, heading SW.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 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 2.0 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 6:48 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: 1904 Canton Ave @ Trailside Museum stop 162 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Hancock Hill–Houghton's Pond Loop, 4 beaches 1.9 mi · ▲ 525 ft
- Boyce Hill & Hillside Pond via Dark Hollow Path 2.1 mi · ▲ 300 ft
- ice pond & Chestnut Run Path 2.1 mi · ▲ 260 ft
- Hemenway Hill–Jeffries Trail, 3 sights 2.8 mi · ▲ 600 ft
- Hillside Pond via North Skyline Trail 3 mi · ▲ 622 ft
- Skyline Viewpoint–Hillside Pond, 3 sights 3.4 mi · ▲ 528 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Camp Sayre, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Camp Sayre, Massachusetts