Location

695 Hillside Street, Milton, MA 02186

617-698-1802

 

     

Difficulty--

Easy:15%, Moderate:60%, Difficult:20%, Caution:5%

 

Description

The Blue Hills Reservation includes 7000 acres of varied terrain. It ranges from woodlands to marsh to rocky hills. There is an extensive, well-marked and maintained trail system with miles of fire road, double and single track. There are great views of Boston and the south shore from several hill tops. Other activities available include hiking, swimming, canoeing and horseback riding. There is a designated swimming area at Houghton Pond as well as a refreshment stand.

The terrain open to mountain bikers at Blue Hills consists of the Houghton Pond area and the Great Blue Hill area. This area represents about one-third of the total area of the reservation. Within this area, approximately 95% of the double-track and 50% of the single-track is open to cyclists. Although these trails represent perhaps 20% of the total trails at Blue Hills, Blue Hills is big; there's a lot of stuff to ride here. Much of the double track is gravelly fire road but significant portions are rocky and quite challenging. The variety of single track is more limited than the double track but there are enough trails that even the experienced rider will not run out of challenging terrain.

The one lack at Blue Hills is that there is very limited novice terrain open to mountain bikers. The only really easy trails are the short loop around Houghton Pond and old 128 which is actually a paved road. Some of the double track is not difficult from a technical standpoint but it is still quite hilly. If you are not reasonably fit, you may want to build up conditioning riding someplace flatter for a while before trying Blue Hills. See the map for an indication of the easier trails.

Equestrians and hikers are common at Blue Hills. It's important to pay attention to what you are doing and be ready to stop at any time. It is very important that mountain bikers stay on good terms with the DCR if this and other DCR-operated properties are to stay open to mountain bikers. Riding safely and showing curtesy to other trail users is essential.

In winter, an alpine ski area operates on a section of Great Blue Hill. Check out the Friends of the Blue Hills. They help take care of the reservation and also plan a variety of activities including Mountain Bike fun rides.

Also see the DCR web site.                        

Map

The DCR prints a Mountain Biking in the Blue Hills map designating trails that are option. Follow the link to view a scan of the map. Please keep in mind that the closed trails are marked in red. If you print the map on a black and white printer, you may not be able to determine which trails are open. You may pick up a printed copy of the map for free at the reservation headquarters.

The online map has some trails highlighted in yellow. These trails have been selected by Bill Boles, a member of the Blue Hills Trail Watch as easiest trails with regard to both pitch and technical difficulty. Keep these trails in mind of you are new to Blue Hills.

               The DCR has a Newly revised DCR Blue Hills Reservation trail map and guide now availableat the Blue Hills Reservation headquarters at 695 Hillside Street in Milton and at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum at 1904 Canton Avenue in Milton.

Directions

From Boston, take I93 South.
From points South, take I95 North to I93 North.
From points North or West, take I95 South (Rt 128) to I93 North (Rt 128).
Take exit 2B off I93 (Rt 128) on to Rt 138 North.
Take 138 north 1/4 mile to light with Mobil station on your left. Take a right at light onto Hillside St.
Travel 1 1/4 miles on Hillside St. to the Houghton Pond parking area on your right. There is plenty of parking in this lot.
Approximately 1/2 mile further on Hillside St. is the Reservation headquarters on your left next the State Police horse stable. You can stop here for a map but there is little or no visitor parking. Stop by on your way in for a map or just park at Houghton Pond and bike the 1/2 mile down the road to the headquarters.

Nearby NEMBA Shops & Links           International Bicycle Centers    Bike Barn       Dave's Bike Infirmary      Wheelworks      Landry's      EMS    The Bikeway Source    SEMASS NEMBA      BV NEMBA   Greater Boston NEMBA
 

Rules

Ride on open trails only. The open trails are designated on the Mountain Biking in the Blue Hills map which is available at the reservation headquarters. Closed trails are marked in red on the map. There are also No Bicycle signs on trees marking the closed trails.

Mountain bikes are prohibited on trails between January 1st and April 15th.

Control your bicycle.

Always Yield Trail.

Ride Safely.