Blue Hills Reservation FAQ
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
Do you need tickets for the Blue Hills Reservation?
No. You don't need a ticket, pass or reservation to walk in. DCR's Blue Hills page on mass.gov gives the hours as dawn to dusk and lists no entrance fee, and parking at Houghton's Pond is free. Only the extras sell tickets: the Trailside Museum, Blue Hill Observatory tours and the ski area. See hours and fees.
Is Blue Hills Reservation free?
DCR lists no entrance fee, and parking at Houghton's Pond is free. The Trailside Museum, Blue Hill Observatory and ski area charge for admission or tickets. See hours and fees.
What are the Blue Hills hours?
The reservation is open dawn to dusk, every day of the year. Houghton's Pond swimming runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in season. See hours.
Where do you park for the Blue Hills?
Houghton's Pond (840 Hillside St, Milton) for swimming and easy walks, the Trailside Museum lots on Route 138 for Great Blue Hill, and Reservation Headquarters on Hillside Street for the Skyline Loop. See parking.
Are dogs allowed in the Blue Hills?
Yes, on a leash (DCR suggests 10 feet maximum). Dogs are not allowed on the Houghton's Pond beach or on the Trailside Museum grounds. See rules.
Can you swim in the Blue Hills?
Yes, at Houghton's Pond, the reservation's supervised swimming beach. Lifeguards are on duty on weekends from Memorial Day, then every day from June 15 to Labor Day. Swimming is banned at the Quincy Quarries.
What is the best hike in the Blue Hills?
Great Blue Hill from the Trailside Museum for a first visit: about 1 mile on the red dot trail to Eliot Tower. For a harder day, the 2.6-mile Skyline Loop from headquarters. More on best hikes.
How long is the Skyline Trail?
The full Skyline Traverse is 7.5 miles one way, 4 to 7 hours. The Skyline Loop is 2.6 miles, 2 to 2.5 hours. DCR rates both difficult. See Skyline Trail.
How tall is Great Blue Hill?
635 feet above sea level, the highest of the 22 hills in the Blue Hills chain. See Great Blue Hill.
When is Blue Hills Ski Area open?
DCR says the downhill season generally runs mid-December to mid-March. The operator sets daily and night hours and sells tickets and lessons online. See Blue Hills Ski Area.
Can you camp in the Blue Hills?
Only at AMC Ponkapoag Camp, the Appalachian Mountain Club's cabins and tent sites on Ponkapoag Pond, with an advance reservation.
Can you kayak in the Blue Hills?
Yes, on Ponkapoag Pond only. DCR allows non-motorized cartop boats, launched from Fisherman's Cove on Randolph Street in Canton. Boats are not allowed on Houghton's Pond.
Can you mountain bike in the Blue Hills?
Yes, on trails marked in black on DCR's mountain bike map. Biking is banned east of Route 28 and north of I-93, and all bike trails close in March. See hiking and biking.
Is the Trailside Museum free?
No. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 65+, and $3 for children 2 to 12. Mass Audubon members get in free. See Trailside Museum.
Can you rock climb in the Blue Hills?
Yes, at the Quincy Quarries Historic Site on Ricciuti Drive in Quincy. DCR allows top-rope climbing and requires proper safety equipment.
Are there snakes in the Blue Hills?
Yes. Small populations of timber rattlesnakes and northern copperheads live there. DCR says they avoid people and don't bite unless provoked, and they're protected by state law. See rules.
Who manages the Blue Hills Reservation?
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Reservation Headquarters is at 695 Hillside Street, Milton, MA 02186, phone (617) 698-1802. See contact.
How big is the Blue Hills Reservation?
More than 7,000 acres with over 120 miles of trails. DCR calls it the largest open space within 35 miles of Boston. See about the park.
Facts from the DCR page for Blue Hills Reservation.