We all know that Gasson is beautiful and Bapst reminds us of Harry Potter – we love our campus – but every once in a while it’s nice to venture away from BC and see what New England has to offer. I’d like to think it’s good for the soul to leave your cramped dorm room and explore the great outdoors, and lucky for us there are a ton of great places for day hikes around Boston!
1. Blue Hills Reservation
Covering over 7,000 acres and sitting just 15 minutes south of Boston, the Blue Hills Reservation is the perfect place for a quick day hike. There over 100 miles of trails reaching up to 635 feet in elevation, so there are trails for new hikers and experienced hikers alike. You can even enjoy a view of the Boston skyline from some of the hikes!
2. Quincy Quarries
So, the Quincy Quarries don’t necessarily count as trails, but they’re free, they’re awesome, and they’re only 20 minutes outside of Boston! There are some trails around the area, although the main event at the Quincy Quarries is climbing. This quarry produced granite for over a century, and is now open for hiking, exploring, rock-climbing, and other recreational activities. Over the years people have created some pretty cool graffiti art on the cliff faces as well, so even if you don’t want to climb you can sit back and enjoy the view.
3. Breakheart Reservation
Breakheart Reservation is a great option because it has so much to offer: over 600 acres of forests, two fresh-water lakes, rock outcroppings, and hills that provide picture-perfect views of not only Boston, but also central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
4. Middlesex Fells Reservation
Middlesex Fells is only a few miles north of Boston, but you would never know that from looking at it! It is comprised of over 2,500 acres of preserved green space made up of great ponds, dense woods, and large meadows. (There are a lot of dog walkers at Middlesex Fells too, so you’ll probably be able to pet some fluffy puppies while you hike.)
5. Noanet Woodlands
The Noanet Woodlands are located in Dover, and are famous for offering clean, well-maintained, well-marked hiking loops. The Peabody Trail is a 1-2 mile loop that takes you past a few ponds and an old mill site with a waterfall. Picnic tables are scattered around the park too – perfect for a picnic. There are a ton of dogs on this trail too, so pet a dog, get a cool autumn Instagram picture, and take a hike!
There are so many interesting trails around Boston, and if you have access to a car, there are even more options in New Hampshire (I’ve heard so many great things about Mount Monadnock!). You might be surprised by how calming and comforting it is to leave BC and unplug from technology for the day. Plus, who doesn’t love a great skyline view of Boston? Find a trail that’s perfect for you and take a hike!
Photo Sources:
http://www.kohlshealthyfamilyfun.org/wp-content/uploads/bluehillview-620×325.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yFE5NxcgxHE/UZo-u5tWGcI/AAAAAAAACeY/6Bi7mMnbtMo/s1600/cover.JPG
http://amcboston.org/walks/pics1/BreakheartRes-SilverLake-Cove-6-2-02-JB.jpg
http://thingstodo.viator.com/boston/files/2011/11/boston-middlesex-fells2.jpg
http://www.betterphoto.com/uploads/processed/1015/1004061350321img_0447.jpg