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Recent Walks/Hikes (2013) 2012 Local Walks/Hikes 2011 Local Walks/Hikes 2010 Local Walks/Hikes 2009 Local Walks/Hikes 2008 Local Walks/Hikes Photo Gallery AMC Boston
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Appalachian Mountain Club
Boston Chapter Local Walks/Hikes Committee

The AMC Boston Chapter Local Walks/Hikes Committee leads day hikes and nature walks year-round in eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. They range in length from 3 to 20 miles over terrain which ranges from smooth and flat to rocky and hilly. A typical hike is 5 to 8 miles in length along woodland trails over rolling terrain with some hills and takes 4 to 5 hours, including lunch. The pace is usually moderate, allowing participants to socialize as they walk. Some of our hikes are hilly enough to be useful as conditioning hikes for the more rugged trails in the White Mountains or elsewhere. Dogs are not permitted on AMC Local Walks/Hikes unless explicitly stated in the hike description. Proper footwear required incl. traction gear for snow/ice.

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To see the kinds of activities we do, go to the listing of recent walks/hikes (2012) or check out the other pages linked above. Our hikes are announced in the Backcountry section of the monthly members' magazine, AMC Outdoors. To find out how to join the AMC, go to www.outdoors.org/join.

The Hiking Areas page is a compilation of over one hundred of the larger areas for day hikes out of Boston plus information on obtaining trail maps. The Photo Gallery pages contain a growing collection of photos of trail scenes from those areas and from recent walks. The Easy Walks page has a list of nearby places where there is a scenic, level walk that is easy to follow. The Nature Walks page is about what to expect from an AMC nature walk, what to bring, and where to go on your own nature and bird walks.

The Local Walks/Hikes Authors page is about the Weston conservation lands guidebook written by AMC Local Walks/Hikes leader Elmer Jones and the guidebook to plants commonly seen on walks written by AMC Local Walks/Hikes leader Hilary Hopkins.

Leadership opportunities: AMC members with an aptitude for leading group hikes and knowledge of a local hiking area are encouraged to contact the Local Walks/Hikes chairman listed below and in AMC Outdoors magazine at the beginning of the Boston chapter activities.

Website contributions: Send corrections, additions, and photos to localwalks@amcboston.org. You can also direct any questions or concerns to this address.
Robert Winters, Local Walks/Hikes, Chair and webmaster

Amazing Outdoor Workouts: Hike (Casey Lyons, Boston Magazine, June 2012)
Get out for a walk - Fast walking, not trendy gadgets, is a key to long life (Derrick Z. Jackson, Boston Globe, Jan 8, 2011)

Think Spring!!!

Upcoming Local Walks ($1 for non-members...but, please, become a member!):
[Most AMC Local Walks/Hikes are "show and go" without registration. If registration is required, it will say so explicitly in the hike description. Proper footwear required incl. traction gear for snow/ice. Unless otherwise stated, you should assume each hike is at a moderate pace.]

Wed, May 22. Prospect Hill Park, Waltham, MA. 6:30-8:30pm. Moderately paced sunset hike on trails and roads with views. From 95/128 exit 27 Totten Pond Rd. Continue east 0.7 mi to park on right. L Henry Gardner.

Sat, May 25. Blue Hills Wildflower Hike, Quincy. 7-mile hike in the eastern section of the Blue Hills Reservation viewing wildflowers and climbing scenic hills, some steep, including the new trail along the restored Blue Hill Reservoir. 10 am-3:30 pm. Meet at Shea Ice Rink, Willard St., Quincy. From SE Expressway Exit 8 in Quincy, go south 0.6 miles on Willard St. Or from I-93/Route 128 Exit 6 in Braintree, go north 0.7 miles. Or for public transit take Bus 238 from Quincy Center T station. Joint with Friends of the Blue Hills. L Steve Olanoff.

Sat, May 25. West Quincy Quarries & Granite Railway. 5.5-mile.walk to Granite Railway & quarries, some rock scrambling and steep sections, 10:30am-2:30pm. Bring lunch/water/hiking shoes. Meet at Shea Ice Rink, Willard St., Quincy. From SE Expressway Exit 8 in Quincy, go south 0.6 miles on Willard St. Or from I-93/Route 128 Exit 6 in Braintree, go north 0.7 miles. Or for public transit take Bus 238 from Quincy Center T station. Email if severe weather. L Mike Tuohey.

Sun, May 26. Leominster State Forest, Leominster, MA. 6 mi. scenic hike Redemption Rock to Crow Hill cliffs/back. Carpool-Lincoln. 9:30am-4pm (approx). Bring lunch/water/sturdy footwear. From Rte. 95/128 exit 28, take Trapelo Rd. W (2.5 mi.) to end. L onto Lincoln Rd. (1.3 mi.) to RR sta. pkg. on R before tracks. Heavy rain cancels. L Jerry Yos.

Sun, May 26. Blue Hills Reservation, Milton. Moderate to strenuous 7 mile hike on Skyline and other trails w/some steep hills. Although the pace will be moderate, this hike will be a workout. Not for beginners. 9:30am-2:00pm. Bring lunch/water/sturdy footwear. Meet at Houghton's Pond lot. Rte 93/128 exit 3, go N to stop sign at Hillside St. R 0.2 miles to lot on R. Heavy rain cancels. L Bill McDonald. [Web-only late listing]

Sat, June 1. Blue Hills Bird Walk, Milton. Bird Walk 3 miles through Fowl Meadow, 8-11:30 am. Learn to bird by listening for and identifying late migrant and nesting species in the best birding area in the Blue Hills Reservation. Bring your binoculars and a bird book if you have one. From Route 93/128 Exit 2B, take Route 138 north 1.7 miles, go left on Neponset Valley Parkway for 0.5 miles to the small lot at Brush Hill Rd. Joint with Friends of the Blue Hills. L Steve Olanoff.

Sat, June 1. Ponkapoag Pond, Canton. 4½ mi. We will hike for about three hours. Meet at Ponkapoag Golf Course Parking Lot Route 138 Canton at 10:00A.M. Bring lunch and water. Lunch will be at the AMC Camp. Bad weather cancels. L Ann C. Landers.

Sun, June 2. Charles River's Edge: Cambridge-Charlestown-Boston. Approx. 5-6mi. walk via North Point Park, new North Bank Bridge, USS Constitution, and Charles River Dam. Meet at 10:00am at the gazebo at Cambridgeside Galleria Mall fountain. Bring lunch and desire to explore. We'll cover the past, present, and future plans for this historic area. Note: On Sundays, Cambridge parking meters are free and it's OK to park on streets marked for Resident Permit Parking. L Robert Winters.

Sat, June 8. Blue Hills Hike, Milton. Mod. stren. 8mi. hike on lesser used trails with some steep hills, 9:30am. Bring lunch/water/sturdy footgear. Meet at Houghton's Pond pkg. lot. I-93/128, exit3, N to stop sign at Hillside St., R 0.2mi. to lot on R. Heavy rain cancels. L Corinne Waite.

Sat, June 8. Wompatuck State Park, Hingham. 8 mile. hike w/lunch at scenic pond, 9:30am. Bring lunch/water/hiking shoes. Rte. 3 Exit 14 to Rte. 228N toward Hingham, 4 mi. to Wompatuck sign, then R on Free St. 1.3 mi. to visitor center pkg. lot Email if severe weather. L Mike Tuohey.

Sun, June 9. Horn Pond Conservation Land, Woburn. Slow-paced nature walk looking for late spring wildflowers. Focus on plant ID and fun natural history. 12:30pm - 3:30pm. From Rte. 95/128 exit 33A, take Rte. 3 S 3 mi., L on Pond St. 0.8 mi. to pkg. lot on L. Arrive early, parking limited. Steady rain cancels. L Boot Boutwell.

Sun, June 9. Gamlin Crystal Spring, Groton, MA. 1:00pm. Explore this large and pretty area of various conservation lands, including a number of beaver ponds, meadows, and upland forest. Meet at the Crystal Spring parking area on the west side of Old Dunstable Road at 42.63118N 71.51023W. About 2 hours, maybe some bushwhacking. L Olin Lathrop.

Wed, Jun 12. Blue Hills, Milton. 6PM-8PM. Bring raincoat/water. Meet-Houghtons Pond pkg.lot. From Rte.93 take Exit3, Houghtons/Ponkapoag. Proceed 1/2 mile North(toward Boston) on Blue Hill River Road to its end. Turn Right, proceed 0.2 miles to Houghtons Pond parking lot on right. L Bob Vogel.


DCR Blue Hills Hikes & Happenings and Adult Walking Club - Spring 2013 (HTML)

DCR Blue Hills Hikes & Happenings and Adult Walking Club - Spring 2013 (PDF)


Department of Conservation and Recreation
Blue Hills Reservation Draft Resource Management Plan

Information at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/rmp/rmp-bluehills.htm.

Schedule of upcoming DCR public meetings


Want more listings? Interested in listings for other AMC chapters and committees? You can do a complete search at http://trips.outdoors.org.

Zippy walks in the woods

with permission of Bill Griffith

Zippy - Nov 11, 2012

with permission of Bill Griffith

Site Contents:

Local Walks/Hikes Home - this page.

Recent Local Walks/Hikes (2012)

Local Walks/Hikes, 2011 - brief descriptions

Local Walks/Hikes, 2010 - brief descriptions

Local Walks/Hikes, 2009 - brief descriptions

Local Walks/Hikes, 2008 - brief descriptions

Local Walks/Hikes, 2007 - brief descriptions

Local Walks/Hikes, 2003 (partial)

Local Walks/Hikes, 2002

Local Walks/Hikes, 2001

 

Hiking Areas - list of hiking areas and map info

Middlesex Canal - canal walk details

Hunting Seasons - hunting seasons to be aware of

Conditioning Hikes - nearby trails with elevation gain

Easy Walks - walks that are level and easy to follow

Nature Walks - nature and bird walk info

Photo Gallery - photos of the hiking areas and hikes

Local Walks/Hikes Authors - books by Local Walks leaders

Cat Rock and 80 Acres - sample chapter from Elmer Jones' book

Common Plants index - index from Hilary Hopkins' book

Common Plants sample pages - sample pages from Hilary Hopkins' book

BLUE = south of Boston

PURPLE = north of Boston

GREEN = west of Boston

BROWN = out of state

  • Sylvatica Tortuosa (Arnold Arboretum) Sylvatica Tortuosa (Arnold Arboretum)
  • View from Hemlock Hill (Arnold Arboretum) View from Hemlock Hill (Arnold Arboretum)
  • Fawn Lake (Bedford Conservation Lands) Fawn Lake (Bedford Conservation Lands)
  • Fawn Lake Rocks (Bedford Conservation Lands) Fawn Lake Rocks (Bedford Conservation Lands)
  • Ponkapoag Bog Boardwalk (Blue Hills) Ponkapoag Bog Boardwalk (Blue Hills)
  • Brook on Hemenway Hill path (Blue Hills) Brook on Hemenway Hill path (Blue Hills)
  • Blue Hills Skyline Trail Blue Hills Skyline Trail
  • Pearce Lake (Breakheart Reservation) Pearce Lake (Breakheart Reservation)
  • Pearce Lake (Breakheart Reservation) Pearce Lake (Breakheart Reservation)
  • Pearce Lake Trail (Breakheart Reservation) Pearce Lake Trail (Breakheart Reservation)
  • Silver Lake Cove (Breakheart Reservation) Silver Lake Cove (Breakheart Reservation)
  • Cormorant (Charles River Greenway) Cormorant (Charles River Greenway)
  • Beavers at work (Concord Conservation Land) Beavers at work (Concord Conservation Land)
  • Beavers at work (Concord Conservation Land) Beavers at work (Concord Conservation Land)
  • Fairhaven Bay (Concord Conservation Land) Fairhaven Bay (Concord Conservation Land)
  • Sudbury River (Concord Conservation Land) Sudbury River (Concord Conservation Land)
  • Sudbury River Overlook (Concord Conservation Land) Sudbury River Overlook (Concord Conservation Land)
  • Halibut Point (Rockport) Halibut Point (Rockport)
  • Halibut Point (Rockport) Halibut Point (Rockport)
  • Feeding Chickadee (Ipswitch River Audubon) Feeding Chickadee (Ipswitch River Audubon)
  • Goose (Lexington Conservation Land) Goose (Lexington Conservation Land)
  • Lunch at Lower Mill Pond, Mt. Misery (Lincoln Conservation Land) Lunch at Lower Mill Pond, Mt. Misery (Lincoln Conservation Land)
  • Upper Mill Pond, Mt. Misery (Lincoln Conservation Land) Upper Mill Pond, Mt. Misery (Lincoln Conservation Land)
  • Jackson Path (Lynn Woods) Jackson Path (Lynn Woods)
  • Stone Tower (Lynn Woods) Stone Tower (Lynn Woods)
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Most photos by Jack Boudreau. Others by Mike Stadelmaier, Phil Witonsky, and Susan Luo.