Houghton's Pond–Hillside Pond, 5 lakes
8.2 mi · ▲ 473 ft · 2 hr 58 min
Houghton's Pond–Hillside Pond, 5 lakes is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near Five Corners, MA. The route passes Kayla's Pond, Hillside Pond and Houghton's Pond before reaching Blue Hills Reservation Beach at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It climbs 473 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 5/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Houghton's Pond–Hillside Pond, 5 lakes
8.2 mi · ▲ 473 ft · 2 hr 58 min
Elevation 95–274 ft
Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation
Trailhead: connector · 42.23025, -71.03207
Weather Aug 4: Overcast, high 84°F / low 64° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:40 AM · sunset 8:03 PM
Transit-accessible: Willard St opp Thistle Rd stop 102 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Pipe Line, heading SW.
- 0.4 miPass Kayla's Pond.
- 50 ftBear left onto Indian Camp Path, heading NW.
- 0.8 miSharp left, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Headquarters Path, heading W.
- 250 ftBear left, heading W.
- 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.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 150 ftPass Hillside Pond.
- 400 ftBear 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.
- 400 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Headquarters Path, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Houghton's Pond.
- 50 ftPass Blue Hills Reservation Beach.
- 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miReach Houghton's Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Dark Hollow Path, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 350 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Red Dot Loop, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto Headquarters Path, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Indian Camp Path, heading N.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Pipe Line, heading NE.
- 450 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 2.0 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 6:48 PM for the 8:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Willard St opp Thistle Rd stop 102 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from connector Trailhead
- Rattlesnake Hill–Skyline Viewpoint Loop, 5 lakes 1.4 mi · ▲ 225 ft
- Saint Moritz Pond–Pipe Line, 3 sights 2 mi · ▲ 230 ft
- Q Wall–R Wall, 5 cliffs 2.3 mi · ▲ 232 ft
- Kayla's Pond & Headquarters Path 4.5 mi · ▲ 280 ft
- Kayla's Pond–Buck Hill Path, 3 sights 5.5 mi · ▲ 337 ft
- Hancock Hill–Hillside Pond, 5 lakes 10 mi · ▲ 1,028 ft
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