Blue Hill's HIKE @ Quincy

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Quincy, MA, US

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Route Overview

All Day Adventures

Hiking, Cyclo-Cross, MTB, Fat Bike, Road Bike: in Eastern Mass, and New England www.AllDayAdventures.org

8 mi.

772 ft.

Explore a Huge Forest inside Greater Boston. 7500 Acres Blue Hills, 7 Mile - 4 Hour hike.

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Route Details

The **Blue Hills** is over 7500 Acres of Forest and 125 miles of trails at the Southern City Limits of Boston.

[**www.AllDayAdventures.org**](https://www.alldayadventures.org)

This hike starts and ends at the @poi[Shea Memorial Skating Rink](2529648), in Quincy. This is a small parking lot so you do need to get there early for a spot.  This is the only parking area for all the hikers, and there will be many.

This hike is on @photo[very rugged terrain](2137066).  I strongly recommend real hiking boots and even hiking poles.  There are lots of @photo[rock scrambles](2137065) and very rocky trails.

In all you will climb and descend 10 times on steep boulder ridden trails.  The first 4 miles will be this type of terrain. The return 2 miles of trail are fire-roads and are very easy walking.  Expect 4- 6 hours for this hike with stops. Bring food and water, there are no places to stop.

You will be starting this hike on the **Sky-Line Trail**.  This is a trail that starts in Quincy and traverses the entire Blue Hill Reservation till you arrive at Big Blue. (hill) Which is about 6 miles from your start, and makes a 13 mile round trip.  For this Hike, you will only be on the Sky-line trail for the first 3 miles. The Sky-Line Trail is denoted by a Light Blue Hash-mark.

In the **First mile**, you will pass between a park reservoir, and cross over Wampatuck Road. While you do start on the Sky-line trail, I take you off of it for a short ½ mile to view the @poi[Crags](2529175) before heading to @poi[Rattlesnake Hill](2529174). The Crags are a jumble of absolutely huge boulders all arraigned on a hill side.

At the peak of **Rattlesnake Hill**, is a small diversion off the path to the @photo[Overlook Crag](2137059).   From hear you will be able to see across most of the forest you are now in, and the highest peak you can see across from you is Chickatawbut Hill, which is at Mile 3.

@photo[Coming down](2137065) from the Crag is where you wished you listened and brought your hiking poles.  It is a rock-slide and a down-hill scramble.  As soon as you are at the bottom of this, you climb again onto Wampatuck Hill, and another down-hill rock scramble.

Crossing the road just before **Mile 2**, you still have 3 more rock scrambles for the hills known as Nahanton, Chickatawbut, and Kitchamakin.  Each of these hills have their own @photo[interesting geological](2137074) features.

On the backside of Kitchamakin, is a good place for a @poi[lunch stop](2529178).  There are a few views points and isolation, since I have routed you on a seldom used trail.

Just after **Mile 4**, you will find yourself on the @photo[Fire-road](2137071) for your return trip. It will be very welcome, since the hike to this point has been at a slow 1 to 1.5 mile per hour pace.

The return trail routes you into the Quincy Cemetery.  Please follow the GPS closely.  The @point[Exit Trail](d,9596.71) is between (2) graves.  It is a legal Dirt Path, but for some reason, it just does not feel right.  It is only a quick 20 feet to the trail behind the Cemetery.  The remainder of the route takes you back to the Skating Ring.  Enjoy Your adventure….!

**Note:** Cycling is very restricted at the Blue Hills.

Blue Hill's HIKE @ Quincy

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