Blue Hills Reservation

History

The name Blue Hills comes from the bluish hue of the mountains, caused by riebeckite, noted by sailors along the coastline. The state name Massachusetts derives from the Massachusett Indian tribe's name for the hill: massa-adchu-es-et. In 1893, the Metropolitan Parks Commission bought the lands as one of the state's first public recreation areas.

Points of interest

At the top of Blue Hills Reservation sits Great Blue Hill, home to the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory. Founded in 1885, it holds the title of the nation's oldest weather recording station still in operation. Its tower offers sweeping views of Boston and beyond, and both the observatory and tower are on the National Register of Historic Places. The reservation also includes Houghton's Pond and the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, run by Mass Audubon since 1974, which displays indoor and outdoor animal exhibits.

Activities and amenities

Blue Hills Reservation is mainly used for hiking and mountain biking, with additional activities including snowshoeing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, rock climbing in certain areas, and horseback riding during permissible months. Great Blue Hill offers a ski area between approximately December and March. Houghton's Pond and Ponkapoag Pond are popular for swimming and recreation in summer. Other opportunities include non-motorized boating, camping, fishing, picnicking, playing fields, ice skating, interpretive programs, and a children's playground.

Did You Know?

• The reservation hosts endangered species such as the timber rattlesnake and copperhead snake.
• Its ecology includes an Atlantic white cedar bog.
• The climate is humid continental (Köppen: Dfa), typical of most of New England.