Boston is a world-class city with a metropolitan area full of all kinds of recreational activities, including some of New England’s prettiest hikes. Luckily, Boston residents and visitors don’t need to travel too far outside of the city when they’re looking for a day hike within driving distance. Here are some of the best hiking trails within a reasonable drive of Beantown.
1. Blue Hills Reservation
Just a short drive from the city, Blue Hills Reservation sprawls for 7,000 acres and an
impressive 125 miles of picturesque hiking trails. This idyllic expanse of nature touches Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Milton, Quincy, and Randolph in the south of the Boston metropolitan area.
There are 22 hills throughout the reservation, including the 635-foot summit of Great Blue Hill. Hikers who reach the rocky peak are rewarded with stunning views of the entire Boston metro area, truly one of the best hiking views in New England. However, there are plenty of other rewards to be discovered elsewhere in the 7,000 acres of Blue Hills Reservation.
History buffs can seek out trails that lead to sites with Native American remnants, along with the ruins of farms and quarries.
If you’re hiking primarily for views of natural scenery, several trails take you by ponds, swamps, and marshes. Others lead hikers through meadows and forests. One of the most unique highlights is the Atlantic white cedar bog, a type of wetland primarily made of decomposed plant material.
2. Emerald Necklace
Boston residents don’t even need to leave the city to enjoy a portion of the 1,100-acre Emerald Necklace park chain. Connected by parkways and waterways, this network is shared between Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts. Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed Emerald Necklace, which was named for his plan to construct a chain necklace hanging from the “neck” of the Boston Peninsula. This plan never materialized.
The Emerald Necklace Conservancy acts as a steward for six parks, which offer a variety of fun activities. Those who are simply looking for some quiet time out of the city can find it here, but there are also exciting and engaging activities such as sailing, golf, softball, and of course, hiking. The park system is also home to a zoo and an arboretum.
3. World’s End
Just 15 miles from the city proper, World’s End consists of rolling hills and rocky coastlines. Hiking trails run alongside saltwater marshes, woodlands, and meadows, offering many opportunities to spot native birds and plants. The trails lead to a spectacular long-distance view of the Boston skyline, while carriage lanes wind through sections of the park. Together, these trails and lanes account for about 4.5 miles of hiking.
The hills at World’s End were formed by retreating glaciers, which eroded granite ledges. Today, the ledges are covered in cedar and blueberry bushes.
Hiking isn’t the only worthwhile activity here, as the park also offers canoeing, cross-country skiing, birding, mountain biking, horseback riding, and snowshoeing.
4. Middlesex Fells Reservation
Hikers who are looking for a challenge should consider tackling a portion of Middlesex Fells. This vast reservation rests on 2,575 acres of land and includes over 100 miles of hiking trails. While some of New England’s most difficult trails can be found here, there are also more casual options for those looking for a more relaxing hike.
The most serious challenge is a strenuous five-hour hike along the 7-mile Skyline Trail, which crosses through rocky and hilly terrain and contains many elevation changes.
The natural scenery is worth the challenge if you’re up to it, as you will cross through some gorgeous forests along your way to the Pine Hill observation tower. From here, you can take in panoramic views of the reservation and see the Boston skyline in the distance.
5. Wachusett Mountain State Reservation
Standing at an elevation of 2,006 feet, Wachusett Mountain is the highest peak within a reasonable drive of Boston. It is a widely popular skiing destination in the winter, and perhaps equally as popular with hikers during the other three seasons. If you’re lucky enough to hike Wachusett Mountain on a clear day, you’ll be able to enjoy sweeping views that encompass Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, and the Boston skyline.
The reservation’s 3,000 acres also protect a variety of natural fauna and flora, including forests, meadows, fields, ponds, streams, and a raised bog. All of these natural sights can be taken in along the park’s 17 miles of trails, which vary in difficulty. The reservation is also home to the largest old-growth forest in Massachusetts, which includes trees that are over 350 years old.
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