Great
Blue Hill (635 ft.) is a pleasant hike that offers a clear view of Boston
from Eliot Tower on the peak. It is located within Blue Hills
Reservation, a hilly nature preserve only a half hour south of Boston.
Located primarily in the town of Milton, Blue Hills encompasses 7000 acres,
125 miles of trails, and 22 hills, the most notable being Great Blue Hill.
A 10-mile day hike across the park offers many fine views. Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory sits atop Great
Blue Hill and is in its 126th year of operation. It maintains the oldest continuous
weather record in North America. The
Blue Hills Trailside Museum offers exhibits on wildlife
you may see while hiking the Reservation’s trails. Just outside the Trailside Museum is a
sizable zoo where a variety of wildlife - from otters to foxes - reside. A swim at Houghtons
Pond or Ponkapoag Pond after your hike is a great
way to top off the day. In the winter, skiers and snowboarders can hit the
slopes at the William F. Rogers Ski Slope. The state government reduced Blue Hills budget by 1/3 in year 2000. Among other
things, it has had to close restrooms by the parking lot and close the
Trailside Museum on Monday and Tuesday in order to maintain operations.
Blue Hills encourages visitors to contact state legislators to restore
funding for this natural treasure so close to Boston. The Trailside Museum
is worth the very affordable entrance fee. Inside you will find for
purchase an inexpensive map that is well-detailed and helpful for hiking in the
Reservation.
