Blue Hills Reservation is a Massachusetts State Park located Norfolk County. The park is named for the hills that are made of a bluish rock containing Riebeckite and the area contains a variety of terrain, including hills, forests, meadows and marshes. There are 22 hills in the chain and the largest is Great Blue Hill, whose peak is 635 feet above sea level.
It is located a few miles from downtown Boston and offers a wide range of outdoor recreation for families. Hiking is a major activity and there are 125 miles of trails within the reservation. Family-friendly hikes include Braintree Pass Path, Dark Hollow Loop, Houghton’s Pond Loop and Wolcott Path Loop. The Skyline Loop provides a challenging hike 3-mile hike that includes Great Blue Hill and many panoramic views. Camping is available at cabins on Ponkapoag Pond maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club.
The reservation contains a series of brooks, ponds and a portion of the Neponset River. Paddle boating is permitted in the river and Ponkapoag Pond. Fishing is permitted in Hillside Pond, Houghtons Pond, Ponkapoag Pond, St. Moritz Pond and Pine Tree Brook. The ponds are stocked with trout and there are other species, like bluegill, pickerel and largemouth bass living in the waters.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) had a camp within the Blue Hills Reservation. They built two stone observation towers and trails through the park.
