Blue Hills Parking & Directions

The Blue Hills Reservation has no single main lot. Pick the one for what you want to do: Houghton's Pond (840 Hillside Street, Milton, MA 02186, free) for swimming and easy walks, the Trailside Museum lots on Route 138 for Great Blue Hill, or Reservation Headquarters at 695 Hillside Street, Milton, MA 02186 for the Skyline Loop. DCR warns that parking is limited and heavily used on weekends.

If you search for the Blue Hills Reservation on Hillside Street in Milton, that's headquarters and Houghton's Pond, a quarter mile apart on the same road.

Parking by Destination

Houghton's Pond: Swimming, Picnics, Easy Loops

840 Hillside Street, Milton, MA 02186. DCR says parking here is free. The lots close at 8 p.m. unless posted. On hot summer weekends they fill early, and DCR asks visitors to share rides. This is also the trailhead for the Houghton's Pond Loop, Dark Hollow Loop, Buck Hill Loop and the Forest Path bike loop.

Reservation Headquarters: Skyline Loop, Hancock Hill

695 Hillside Street, Milton, MA 02186, a quarter mile north of Houghton's Pond beside the State Police station. The spaces in front of headquarters are 10-minute parking for picking up maps and information. DCR's hiking page says hiker parking is across the street. The self-service information station sells trail maps.

A note on the address: DCR's location page lists 725 Hillside Street, while its 2026 trail map and hiking page give 695 Hillside Street. Either gets you to the same building.

Trailside Museum and Ski Area: Great Blue Hill

The Trailside Museum is at 1904 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA 02186. From I-93 or I-95, take the Route 138 exit in Canton and drive north about a mile, through one traffic light; the Blue Hills Ski Area and Trailside Museum parking areas are on the right. Use the South lot for the red dot trail to the summit and the North lot for the paved summit road and the Wolcott Path loops.

Chickatawbut Overlook: Skyline Views by Car

On Chickatawbut Road in the middle of the reservation. DCR's map lists a parking area, picnic tables and charcoal grills, and a view of the Boston skyline you can reach without hiking.

Braintree Pass Path

A small pull-off at Route 28 and Chickatawbut Road in Quincy, intersection 3024 on the DCR map. DCR calls it a small pull-off.

Ponkapoag Pond

DCR suggests parking at Ponkapoag Golf Course on Route 138 (2167 Washington Street, Canton) or at Fisherman's Beach off Randolph Street in Canton, which is also the boat launch. DCR's hiking page also lists the pull-off at I-93 exit 3 on Blue Hill River Road. More on our Ponkapoag Pond page.

Quincy Quarries

Free on-site parking off Ricciuti Drive in West Quincy. From I-93, take the Furnace Brook Parkway exit, follow signs to Willard Street, and turn onto Ricciuti Drive at the Quarry Hills sign. See our Quincy Quarries page.

The Donovan School Lot in Randolph

DCR has a specific warning here. Hikers may not park at the Donovan School lot, 123 Reed Street in Randolph, during school hours, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's open to hikers after school, on weekends and on holidays. During school hours, DCR points hikers to Fisherman's Beach near 1060 Randolph Street in Canton or the Randolph Little League fields on High Street.

Is Parking Free?

At Houghton's Pond and the Quincy Quarries, yes: DCR says so. DCR doesn't list a parking fee for the reservation's other lots either, but its general hiking advice notes that fees may apply at some trailheads. The Trailside Museum and the Blue Hill Observatory charge their own admission, and the ski area charges for lift tickets, but those are separate from parking.

When Parking Fills Up

DCR's map puts it plainly: public parking is limited, so expect heavy use, especially on weekends. DCR also says Houghton's Pond and its picnic areas are especially popular on summer weekends. Arrive early, carpool, or take the bus.

• Don't block other cars in. DCR's suggested-hikes sheet asks drivers to be courteous in tight trailhead lots.
• Don't leave valuables in the car, also from DCR's advice.
• Watch the clock at Houghton's Pond: the lots close at 8 p.m. unless posted, and the rest of the reservation closes at dusk.

Getting There by Public Transit

DCR lists the Blue Hills as transit friendly and strongly encourages taking the bus. Three MBTA routes serve the reservation:

• Route 716, Mattapan Station to Cobbs Corner (Canton): the west side, including the Trailside Museum, the ski area, Great Blue Hill and Houghton's Pond. DCR notes it runs on an unusual schedule. In 2026 DCR also listed weekend and holiday Houghton's Pond service every 45 minutes, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., from May 23 through October 11.
• Route 240, Ashmont Station to Avon Square: the central area, including Chickatawbut Overlook.
• Route 238, Quincy Center to Holbrook/Randolph: the east side, including St. Moritz Ponds and the Shea Rink.
• Route 215 from Quincy Center: the Quincy Quarries (stop at Copeland and Willard Streets).

Schedules change, so check the MBTA trip planner before you leave. Park hours are on our hours page.