Blue Hills Reservation

Do you like the great outdoors? Do you love to hike? If so, Milton, Massachusetts is the place for you! Milton is part of the Greater Boston Area with plenty of great hikes and natural attractions. One of our favorite hikes in Milton is the Great Blue Hill State Reservation. It is located at 695 Hillside St, Milton, MA 02186. The Great Blue Hill is a massive mountain with two peaks: one with a blue dome, and the other that has a white dome. The location offers some of the best hiking trails in Massachusetts’s wine country as well as some other fantastic sights like waterfalls and forests. After reading this article, we’re sure you’ll want to add this hike to your itinerary when visiting Milton, MA! More from Marathon Moving.

Getting to the Great Blue Hill State Reservation

We recommend starting the Great Blue Hill State Reservation trail at the Cold Spring Trailhead, located on Cold Spring Rd. This is the southernmost trailhead, and starting here offers the easiest access to the great outdoors. You can also start at the Milton State Forest Trailhead, located on Parker Hill Rd. This trailhead offers an additional option, and it’s slightly closer to Milton than the Cold Spring Trailhead. Getting to the trailhead is relatively simple, but we recommend visiting the State Forest Office in Milton to get trail maps and information on parking. The Great Blue Hill State Reservation is approximately 25 miles from Boston, but it feels like a world away. The trails are relatively flat, allowing hikers and bikers to take their time exploring the area. At the beginning of the trail, you’ll cross Route 95 (Cold Spring Rd) and pass by the Milton State Forest Office on your right. The parking lot is small, so plan ahead and arrive early. While the office isn’t open on weekends, it is open on weekdays. There are ample parking spots in the front of the office, so feel free to park there. While you’re at the Milton State Forest Office, be sure to pick up a trail map and visit the gift shop. They have many hiking and outdoor-related items for sale, including maps, hiking books, and clothing. There’s also a well-stocked outdoor equipment store.

Hiking at the Great Blue Hill State Reservation

After you arrive at the trailhead and get your bearings, head out to begin your hike. The Great Blue Hill State Reservation is a 25-mile trail that offers hikers a variety of terrain from forested trails to rocky outcroppings. The forested portions of the trail are the best for spotting wildlife, as the trees provide a green canopy that masks the wildlife from human eyes. The Visitor Center at the Great Blue Hill offers hiker-friendly amenities like restrooms, water, and trail maps. If you’re starting at the Cold Spring Trailhead, take the blue-blazed trail, which will lead you to the Visitor Center in 1.5 miles. If you start at the Milton State Forest Trailhead, follow the blue-blazed Cold Spring Trail to the Visitor Center in 1 mile. See our post on Castle Island here.

Be careful on trails in Milton, Massachusetts

While the Great Blue Hill is a fantastic place for hiking, it’s also a popular destination for bouldering and other types of rock climbing. The park’s website has a comprehensive list of rules and regulations, but the most important is to stay on the trails and avoid climbing any rocks or boulders. If you do accidentally climb a rock, stay on the trail and notify an employee or hang a sign. While you should follow the rules and regulations at the Great Blue Hill, you should also be care about your safety. The trails in the park are uneven and rocky, and some areas have loose rocks and dirt that can be dangerous. Be aware of your surroundings, and don’t push yourself or go beyond your abilities.

Biking and hiking at the Great Blue Hill State Reservation

If you’re a cyclist, head over to the Great Blue Hill Bike Trail and start at the trailhead on Washington Street in Milton. The Milton Bike Trail provides a nice, flat 11-mile route that starts in the center of town. If you start at the Milton State Forest Trailhead, you can access the bike trail via the blue-blazed Cold Spring Trail. This trail is a bit steeper than others in the park, so be careful if you bike on it. We recommend taking the Washington Street bike trail to Cold Spring to access the blue-blazed trail. It’s a bit longer, but it’s a more gradual climb, and the park is more open on the Milton side. If you’re a hiker, you can bike on the Milton Bike Trail to get to the trailhead. The bike trail is a nice, smooth, flat 11-mile path that goes through the town of Milton. It’s great for biking to the Great Blue Hill or to the Milton State Forest if you’re not comfortable with biking on the trails. You can also bike on the Great Blue Hill Bike Trail to access the Milton Bike Trail or the Milton State Forest Bike Trail. Biking isn’t allowed on the other trails in the state park, but the bike trail is an easy way to access the park.

Conclusion

Milton is a fantastic town for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a variety of activities including biking, hiking, rock climbing, and even horseback riding. If you visit the area, don’t miss the Great Blue Hill State Reservation. The Great Blue Hill is a massive mountain with two peaks: one with a blue dome, and the other that has a white dome. The location offers some of the best hiking trails in Massachusetts’s wine country as well as some other fantastic sights like waterfalls and forests. After reading this article, we’re sure you’ll want to add this hike to your itinerary when visiting Milton, MA!