The Middlesex Fells Reservation is a popular hiking area north of Boston. Its deep woods, moving streams, and views from open hilltops make the Fells a favorite destination for walkers, whether they go to the Winchester, Medford, Malden, Stoneham, or Melrose section (or all of the above). Some parts are better known than others, however, and one of the least known parts of the Fells just happens to be one of the most popular recreation areas in Medford. Confused? Read on to find out more....
Wright's Pond is located in the eastern part of the Middlesex Fells, wedged between Route 93 and Route 28, Elm Street, and Woodland Road. And while the beach area of Wright's Pond gets very crowded during the summer, much of the rest of the pond (which is actually manmade) is quite pristine. And since it is not really on any through trails in the Fells, it is often overlooked by hikers. One way to get to Wright's Pond is by parking in the Flynn Rink parking lot on Woodland Road, then walking along the Cross Fells Trail past Quarter Mile pond and up and down some low hills. At a rock outcropping perhaps 10 minutes from the parking lot, take a left down into the woods. From here, it gets a little confusing since the trails are mostly unmarked, but once you see the northern edge of the pond through the woods, try to stay on the trail that heads to the left shore. Once you get to the pond, you will soon find a rocky ledge above it that has outstanding views (see photo). This is a popular lunch spot among hikers.
From the ledge, continue along the trail that goes alongside the pond, and keep bearing to the right whenever you can. Soon you will reach the beach at Wright's Pond (see photo). If you go during the summer, it will most likely be crowded, but most of the rest of the year it is quiet. From the beach, continue along the pond, heading clockwise around it until you come nearly to the trail that you first saw the pond. From here, continue on until you reach the Cross Fells Trail and head back to the parking lot, or if you want a longer hike, take a left on the Cross Fells Trail into the western part of the reservation or go straight which will take you to Spot Pond.
Again, many of the trails are not marked well in the Wright's Pond area, so it best to get a map of the Middlesex Fells and use a GPS if possible. You can't really get lost because the area is bordered by roads, but it can be a confusing area in spots.
A group of us went on a nature walk around Little Blue Hill in the extreme western section of the Blue Hills Reservation in Canton over the weekend. Much of the vast Blue Hills Reservation (especially the Milton section) is popular with hikers, but the extreme east section (near the Shea Rink in Quincy) and the extreme western section (Little Blue Hill) aren't as popular. But both areas are quite scenic, with the Little Blue Hill area having a variety of features, including streams (see photo), hilltop views, and pristine woods.
We more or less took a counter-clockwise route around the base of Little Blue Hill, starting out by taking a right at the end of the parking lot just south of the Trailside Museum on Route 138. We wound our way up gradually, coming to a beautiful view looking west from the shoulder of Little Blue Hill. From there, we dropped down and walked past some meadows and fields (see photo) and along some little-known paths before turning around near the Route 128/95 intersection. From there it was a quick walk back to the parking lot. This section of the Blue Hills is cut off from the rest--and isn't a huge area--but is a perfect spot for a short walk along some peaceful paths.
We did such a trip recently, starting at the Lincoln Public Schools just off Lincoln Road near the center of town. From the parking lot near the tennis courts (hikers are allowed to park here), we walked north past the school fields and into a beautiful meadow area, eventually reaching a wooded trail that kept close to Sandy (Flint's) Pond. After awhile, we turned left, crossing Sandy Pond Road and working our way up to the top of Pine Hill, where we were awarded with limited, though pleasant views to the west (see photo).
From Pine Hill, we wound our way down to the bottom near Walden Pond, then walked around the hill and back over to Sandy Pond. We walked around most of the rest of the pond, stopping for lunch at a scenic overlook above the pond and just below the DeCordova Museum. After our break, we continued up the fairly steep trail, skirting the museum, and heading east a few hundred yards, where we were treated to a remarkable view of fields, meadows, and rolling hills that felt more like Vermont than the Greater Boston area (see photo). From here, we headed south down a trail that was steep in a couple of spots, ending up back at the meadow just north of the school. From here, it was a short walk back to the parking lot.
At just under 500 feet above sea level, Buck Hill isn't the highest point in the Boston area, but it certainly has some of the best views. A favorite of hikers in the Blue Hills reservation, Buck Hill is one of the most rugged spots in this hilly, wooded area south of Boston. The summit of this broad, round hill is mostly treeless, allowing for nearly 360-degree views including the the Boston skyline and the ocean.
There are relatively few trails in the Ponkapoag area, with the most popular trail being the loop that goes around the pond. Access to this trail can be found at the Ponkapoag Golf Course, which has a parking lot that hikers can use. Starting at the clubhouse, hikers can walk along the main road through the golf course, reaching the pond after a few minutes. From this point, folks can go either clockwise or counterclockwise; to go counterclockwise, continue straight along the trail (rather than turning left) where the golf course ends and the pond begins. The trail here is mostly wide and flat, and after about a mile, a remarkable view of Great Blue Hill from the pond (see photo) can be had from a small beach. From this point, hikers can continue along the lake, eventually turning left and coming to the Ponkapoag Camp where cabins can be rented on or near the pond. This is a perfect spot for lunch, as there is a boardwalk below the cabins that extends a short distance out into the pond and a number of picnic tables up on the hill where many of the cabins are.
From the Ponkapoag Camp, the trail continues near the pond for the most part and gets a bit hilly (there are also a few trails that veer off to the right in this area, mostly meandering through the woods). About a half mile before the trail meets up with the beginning of the loop by the golf course, there is a boardwalk that extends a good ways out into the pond by way of wetlands and marshes (see photo). This boardwalk is a must-see as long as the water isn't too high; if it is, the boardwalk can sometimes be under water in parts, and a bit dangerous as it becomes slippery. The boardwalk goes on for about a quarter mile, stopping at a spot with nice views of the lake. After backtracking to the main trail, it is an easy, mostly level walk back to the start of the loop and the road through the golf course that heads back to the parking lot.
Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle, MA, is one of the true gems of Eastern Massachusetts. It is a vast area that includes deep woods, low hills, farmland, meadows, streams, and beautiful bodies of water such as Meadow Pond (see photo). Great Brook Farm is also a four-season recreation area, as it has cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, and hiking and horseback riding for much of the rest of the year.
The trail network at Great Brook Farm State Park is extensive, allowing outdoors lovers to really get deep into some rugged land here. One particularly scenic loop is to start at the Hart Barn and Ski Center at the Lowell Road parking lot, and head clockwise along a number of trails, including the Lantern Loop, and Litchfield Loop, and the rugged Stone Row trail. From here, a short side trip can be taken north into Chelmsford, where a trail runs alongside the serene Russell Mill Pond (see photo). From this short spur, hikers can continue on to the Woodchuck Trail and the Garrison Loop, where there are a few historic sites to be seen.
From the Garrison Loop, hikers can turn left and cross North Road, taking the mostly level Pine Point Loop around Meadow Pond. A couple of interesting side trails with water views branch off of the Pine Point Loop, including the Beaver Loop and the Keyes Loop. Just before the Pine Point Loop enters a meadow area (where other trails can be taken back to the parking lot), a tree-shaded area around a boathouse (see photo) affords great views of the pond, and is an excellent place to have a picnic lunch. From here, it is an easy walk back to the parking lot.
Locke Pond is a bucolic, remote-feeling body of water in the Whipple Hill Conservation Area that straddles Winchester and Lexington. Many people who hike around Whipple Hill never even make it down to Locke Pond, as the sweeping views from the hill are often enough for folks who come to this rugged area northwest of Boston. 
One particularly nice approach to Locke Pond is from the aforementioned Whipple Hill. Park at the little pulloff on Johnson Road right where Winchester and Lexington meet, hike the few hundred feet up to the top of Whipple Hill, then go left from the summit, descending into the woods along a switchback trail that eventually straightens out, ending at a ravine just north of the pond. From here it is a very short walk to Locke Pond, where a number of trails afford excellent views.
Earlier this year, I touched upon the Neponset River greenway in a blog entry about Lower Mills and Milton Landing. Both of these places are near the western end of the greenway, and are perhaps the most interesting parts of the path. But there are other interesting parts of the Neponset River Greenway, starting with the eastern end at Pope John Paul II Park in Neponset, as well as the extensive wetlands and meadows (see photo) near the Neponset/Milton border.
From Pope John Paul II Park and the wetlands shown above, the Neponset River Greenway moves west into a slightly more wooded (and at times residential) area. The Red Line crosses the path, following it all the way to Milton Village and the Lower Mills section of Dorchester (see photo). This section of the greenway includes views of historic factories and other buildings, a dam, and a particularly fast-moving part of the Neponset River. From here, the Neponset River Greenway heads west for a little bit before ending at Central Avenue on the Milton/Boston border.
As mentioned in the earlier blog entry, a slight side trip can be taken from the Neponset River Greenway near Lower Mills and Milton Village. Milton Landing (see photo) is a calm, peaceful area just down the hill from Milton Village that has beautiful water views from the walkways around this area. The walkways at Milton Landing don't really go anywhere, but instead meander around, ending in spots and looping in others. From this area, it is easy to get back to the greenway and head back to Pope John Paul II park, where a vast network of trails and paths that await folks who wish to continue on.
Most people in the Boston area think of Stoneham and Medford simply as bedroom communities north of Boston, but for those who love outdoors, a good chunk of these two communities is considered prime hiking territory, thanks to the area known as the Middlesex Fells Reservation. The eastern part of the Fells (the part east of Route 93 that is mostly in Stoneham and Medford) is a bit smaller than the western part, but some of the most beautiful parts of the reservation are here, including a number of rocky hills, the scenic High Service Reservoir (see photo), and some of the most pristine woods inside Route 128.
Several of us explored a large section of the Eastern Middlesex Fells over the weekend, enjoying the deep blue skies and mild late winter weather. We started at the Flynn Rink on Woodland Road in Medford and proceeded up to the aforementioned High Service Reservoir before descending into a beautiful wooded ridge with a stream running through it (see photo) before heading north into an area of low hills and pine forests.
Leaving the woods near the Stone Zoo on Pond Street in Stoneham, we briefly hiked near the road before re-entering the woods and ascending a rocky trail that afforded tremendous views of Spot Pond (see photo). The trail continued over several ledges before dipping back into some deep woods and continuing south, eventually bringing us back to the serene Quarter Mile Pond and the Flynn Rink.
Several of us took a walk along the Neponset River Greenway over the weekend, spending a good amount of time near the end of the greenway around Lower Mills in Dorchester, Milton Village, and Milton Landing. This area include one of the most scenic and historic parts of Boston, with the Neponset River (see photo) roaring its way toward the ocean, and making a natural border between Milton and Dorchester.
We wandered around the Dorchester side of the Neponset River for awhile, taking a look at the many historic buildings and structures there, including the old Bakery Chocolate Factory (see photo), which has been converted into apartments and condos. Lower Mills itself is a gem of a neighborhood, with interesting shops, old-fashioned streetlights, old brick buildings, and a real community feel. We walked along Dorchester Avenue (the main street of Lower Mills), soaking in the history and character of this great section of Boston.
Before heading back to the parking lot at Pope John Paul II Park in Neponset, we spent a little time on the Milton Side of the Neponset River, walking through Milton Village and heading down to Milton Landing (see photo). Hidden away on a dead end street, Milton Landing is a quiet, peaceful spot with outstanding water views and pleasant walkways that go in various directions. Milton Landing is in the process of being renovated and redeveloped, with many condos there having sweeping views of the water below. There was virtually nobody out when we arrived at this area, so we pretty much had the walkways to ourselves. We stopped for a few minutes to enjoy the serenity of the spot before heading back to our cars, knowing we'd be back sometime in the summer to do more exploring in this interesting area just south of Boston.