A map of hikes near Boston from the fourth edition of book AMC’s Best Day Hikes near Boston.
Use the top right square symbol on the map to expand view into full screen. There are two layers in the map. One for this fourth edition & another for previous third edition of the book. Changes between editions listed below.
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Knowing a handful of them evokes a feeling of riches; they are a quiver of cures for daily stress & soothing to ponder when we are away from them.
AMC’s Best Day Hikes Near Boston: Four-Season Guide to 60 of the Best Trails in Eastern Massachusetts
Walk
List of all hikes in the book with log of my activities at each location:
1️⃣ Middlesex Fells Skyline trail run: brief stop at Wright’s Tower. Recorded 30 January 2021 13:07 on Garmin & Strava ➡️12.96km ⬆️499m.
2️⃣ Middlesex Fells Reservoir trail winter run through light snow. Recorded 3 February 2018 14:07 on Garmin & Strava ➡️10.14km ⬆️691m.
3️⃣ Middlesex Fells Rock Circuit trail: open views from Pinnacle Rock & many others. Recorded 18 January 2021 11:06 on Garmin & Strava ➡️8.51km ⬆️384m.
4️⃣ Middlesex Fells Cross Fells trail: one way trail using public transport from Oak Grove station to bus 77 along Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington. Recorded 19 December 2022 13:00 on Garmin & Strava ➡️12.53km ⬆️282m.
5️⃣ Breakheart Reservation: Opt Outside to mill site, Fox Run trail, Boston skyline, & pond beach. Recorded 27 November 2020 10:39 on Garmin & Strava ➡️4.84km ⬆️175m.
6️⃣ Lynn Woods: ice water, steel tower, stone tower, view of Boston, & Mount Gilead in separate detailed report. Recorded 15 March 2014 11:57 on Garmin➡️4.18km ⬆️144m.
7️⃣ Arnold Arboretum in spring.
8️⃣ Spectacle Island: detailed report in separate post.
9️⃣ Stony Brook reservation: well maintained wide trail, many options for alternate trails & shortcuts. Recorded 20 March 2021 14:04 on Garmin & Strava ➡️4.16km ⬆️81.8m.
1️⃣0️⃣ Blue Hills Reservation Observation Tower Loop: popular area with many walkers on the trails. Started with steep climb to the tower. Rolling hills after that until final descent. Recorded 2 January 2023 13:31 on Garmin & Strava➡️6.19km ⬆️203m.
1️⃣1️⃣ Blue Hills Reservation Great Blue Hill Green Loop: combined with 10 Observation Tower Loop.
1️⃣2️⃣ Blue Hills Reservations Ponkapoag Pond: flat fast walk on well maintained trail around the pond. Boardwalk was a bit tricky & slippery at times with broken boards & mud. Recorded 2 January 2023 10:21 on Garmin & Strava➡️8.69km ⬆️96m.
1️⃣3️⃣ Blue Hills Reservations Houghton’s Pond: a few people actually plunged in the frigid water. Tempted. For another time. Recorded 2 January 2023 12:33 on Garmin & Strava ➡️2.13km ⬆️20m.
1️⃣4️⃣ Skyline Trail in Blue Hills Reservation: detailed report includes walk part of the trail & run of the entire trail round trip from Quincy Adams subway T stop.
1️⃣5️⃣ Weir Hill Reservation & picnic lunch from Clear Flour Bakery. Recorded 15 October 2017 12:46 on Garmin & Strava ➡️3.73km ⬆️91m.
1️⃣6️⃣ Ward Reservation: Solstice Stones in Ward Reservation that align with sun at vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, & winter solstice. Recorded 18 August 2020 16:08 on Garmin & Strava ➡️4.82km ⬆️122m.
1️⃣7️⃣ Not attempted yet—new in fourth edition.
1️⃣8️⃣ Bald Hill Reservation without reaching the hill. Trails not well maintained. Recorded 10 October 2022 11:16 on Garmin & Strava ➡️7.60km ⬆️150m.
1️⃣9️⃣ Ipswitch River Wildlife Sanctuary: woodpecker, gazebo, tower, & maple. Recorded 19 March 2016 14:59 on Garmin ➡️2.63km ⬆️28.3m.
2️⃣0️⃣ Bradley Palmer State Park. Recorded 20 September 2020 14:52 on Garmin & Strava ➡️5.19km ⬆️112m.
2️⃣1️⃣ Not attempted yet—changed from third edition.
2️⃣2️⃣ Not attempted yet—new in fourth edition.
2️⃣3️⃣ Crane Beach: ocean & on sand dunes. Recorded 15 January 2017 14:01 on Garmin ➡️5.24km ⬆️71m.
2️⃣4️⃣ Ravenswood Park: Samuel E Sawyer preserved this land “laid out handsomely with drive-ways & pleasant rural walks.” Recorded 15 April 2022 12:13 on Garmin & Strava ➡️4.24km ⬆️96m.
2️⃣5️⃣ Halibut Point State Park & Quarry Lake: splash around on the rocky shore.
2️⃣6️⃣ Wachusett Reservoir well maintained double track trails. Recorded 6 September 2020 14:38 on Garmin & Strava ➡️7.48km ⬆️131m.
2️⃣7️⃣ Mount Pisgah walk to overlook. Recorded 18 October 2020 15:13 on Garmin & Strava ➡️2.90km ⬆️53m.
2️⃣8️⃣ Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge to walk & canoe. Visit Carlson’s Orchards for apples & hard cider. Recorded 18 October 2020 16:23 on Garmin & Strava ➡️3.20km ⬆️22m.
2️⃣9️⃣ Great Brook Farm: hike, bicycle & ski. Finish with ice cream.
3️⃣0️⃣ Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Flat pleasant walk around march land. Small platform to view birds. Recorded 28 October 2023 13:24 on Garmin & Strava ➡️3.23km ⬆️13m.
3️⃣1️⃣ Minute Man: run, walk, bicycle & ski.
3️⃣2️⃣ Walden Pond full day to play: fish, rackets, & hike around pond. Recorded 11 May 2014 13:09 on Garmin ➡️2.15km ⬆️11m.
3️⃣3️⃣ Lincoln Conservation Land: walk to Mount Misery & throw stones across Sudbury River. Recorded 26 November 2017 12:39 on Garmin & Strava➡️3.61km ⬆️82m.
3️⃣4️⃣ Nobscot Hill & Tippling Rock along Bay Circuit Trail: easy trail, open views, & flat rock for picnic lunch. Recorded 1 April 2018 11:28 on Garmin & Strava ➡️6.48km ⬆️268m.
3️⃣5️⃣ Not attempted yet—new in fourth edition.
3️⃣6️⃣ Not attempted yet—new in fourth edition.
3️⃣7️⃣ Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary one of many Mass Audubon facilities near Boston. Detailed report available separately. Recorded 8 June 2014 13:50 on Garmin ➡️3.56km ⬆️44m.
3️⃣8️⃣ Rocky Narrows Reservation to King Philip’s overlook. The conflict began in 1675 when Metacom, an American Indian leader whose English-given name was Philip, led an uprising to regain tribal lands from European settlers. Recorded 18 April 2022 10:29 on Garmin & Strava ➡️3.71km ⬆️83m.
3️⃣9️⃣ Not attempted yet—changed from third edition.
4️⃣0️⃣ Rocky Woods Reservation: Whale Rock, Cedar Hill, & Echo Lake at Rocky Woods Reservation. Recorded 5 November 2017 9:57 on Garmin & Strava ➡️6.31km ⬆️207m.
4️⃣1️⃣ Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. Mostly in the woods between trees except open views from Bluff Hill. Recorded 24 November 2023 13:30 on Garmin & Strava ➡️6.23km ⬆️127m. Fun bicycle route to Blue Moon Bagels passes through Moose Hill.
4️⃣2️⃣ Borderland State Park. There were some serious disc golf players with large bags of 20+ discs for every move! Recorded 24 November 2023 10:59 on Garmin & Strava ➡️5.61km ⬆️40m.
4️⃣3️⃣ Ames Nowell State Park. Scenic walk along Beaver Brook. Recorded 18 February 2024 16:39 on Garmin & Strava ➡️2.44km ⬆️18m.
4️⃣4️⃣ Great Esker Park. Could not follow the exact trail as described due to missing connection over wet march section. Maybe there used to be a bridge there or lower water level at times. Recorded 18 February 2024 8:21 on Garmin & Strava ➡️2.44km ⬆️18m.
4️⃣5️⃣ World’s End Reservation opt outside to play in art maze.
4️⃣6️⃣ Whitney & Thayer Woods. Recorded 18 February 2024 9:28 on Garmin & Strava ➡️5.77km ⬆️82m.
4️⃣7️⃣ Massasoit State Park. Recorded 26 December 2023 12:49 on Garmin & Strava ➡️7.43km ⬆️101m.
4️⃣8️⃣ Burrage Pond. Recorded 27 December 2023 12:00 on Garmin & Strava ➡️5.04km ⬆️19m.
4️⃣9️⃣ North Hill Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. Recorded 27 December 2023 14:23 on Garmin & Strava ➡️5.21km ⬆️89m.
5️⃣0️⃣ Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary. Recorded 18 February 2024 13:28 on Garmin & Strava ➡️8.53km ⬆️101m.
5️⃣1️⃣ West Island State Reservation. Recorded 18 February 2024 11:58 on Garmin & Strava ➡️2.83km ⬆️23m.
5️⃣2️⃣ Bicycle tour on paved trails of Myles Standish state forest. Recorded 24 October 2020 15:02 on Garmin & Strava ➡️19.15km ⬆️181m.
5️⃣3️⃣ Skipping rocks at Ellisville Harbor state park. Recorded 31 December 2020 11:35 on Garmin & Strava ➡️3.07km ⬆️41m.
5️⃣4️⃣ Lowell Holly Reservation woodland week between two ponds. Recorded 31 December 2020 14:44 on Garmin & Strava ➡️5.43km ⬆️119m.
5️⃣5️⃣ Sandy Neck circuit walk & run on sand with beach views. Recorded 31 December 2020 13:35 on Garmin & Strava ➡️2.95km.
5️⃣6️⃣ Nickerson state park bicycle & swim: visited multiple times for weekend trips review in separate detailed report.
5️⃣7️⃣ Fort Hill & Red Maple swamp boardwalk. Recorded 1 January 2021 15:26 on Garmin & Strava ➡️2.15km ⬆️40m.
5️⃣8️⃣ Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary open flat walk with sea breeze. Recorded 1 January 2021 14:24 on Garmin & Strava ➡️3.70km ⬆️30m.
5️⃣9️⃣ Great Island beach walk barefoot on freezing sand. Recorded 1 January 2021 11:01 on Garmin & Strava ➡️7.90km ⬆️105m.
6️⃣0️⃣ Not attempted yet.
Change from Third Edition
| Hike number in fourth edition | Hike number in third edition | Changed trail in same location | New trail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 8 | ||
| 8 | 9 | ||
| 9 | 11 | ||
| 10 | 12 | ||
| 11 | 13 | ||
| 12 | 14 | ||
| 13 | 15 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| 16 | 18 | ||
| 17 | ✅ | ||
| 18 | 19 | ||
| 19 | 20 | ||
| 20 | 21 | ||
| 21 | 23 | ||
| 22 | ✅ | ||
| 23 | 24 | ||
| 24 | 26 | ||
| 25 | 27 | ||
| 26 | 28 | ||
| 27 | 29 | ||
| 28 | 30 | ||
| 29 | 31 | ||
| 30 | 32 | ||
| 31 | 33 | ||
| 32 | 34 | ||
| 33 | 35 | ||
| 34 | 36 | ||
| 35 | ✅ | ||
| 36 | ✅ | ||
| 37 | 37 | ||
| 38 | 38 | ||
| 39 | 39 | ||
| 40 | 40 | ||
| 41 | 42 | ||
| 42 | 43 | ||
| 43 | 44 | ||
| 44 | 45 | ||
| 45 | 46 | ||
| 46 | 47 | ||
| 47 | 49 | ||
| 48 | 50 | ||
| 49 | 51 | ||
| 50 | ✅ | ||
| 51 | ✅ | ||
| 52 | 52 | ||
| 53 | 53 | ||
| 54 | 54 | ||
| 55 | 55 | ||
| 56 | 56 | ||
| 57 | 57 | ||
| 58 | 58 | ||
| 59 | 59 | ||
| 60 | 60 |
MCCCXXV 
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