Accessible By T: 5 Best Hiking Spots in Greater Boston Area

Cutler Park is a 700-acre fresh water marsh on the Charles river. Located in Needham and Dedham, it is a maze of trails in the wetlands fed from The Charles and is also a major bird haven, so don’t forget your binoculars. Other activities aside from hiking are canoeing and fishing. Cutler Park is open year-round from dawn to dusk.



How to get there: Take the Green line “D” branch to Newton Highlands.  From there grab the Needham Shuttle.  At the Charles River Place stop it should be about a 2-5 minute walk to the Blue Heron Trail.

Blue Hills is a… wait for it… 7,000 acre reservation South of Boston with over 125 miles of trails that cover all hiking levels. Break those boots in with a weekend climb.



How to get there:  Since the reservation is so expansive, there are multiple ways to get to the footpaths of the Blue Hills. Check out this resource for the how to best locate it.

Rumney Marsh Reservation represents the north shore of Boston in the cities of Saugus and Revere with 600 acres of salt marshes and trails.



How to get there: Take the MBTA Lynn/Salem bus to Rt. 107, Salem Turnpike and enter at the embankment.

Hammond Pond Reservation is more like a two-for-one option in the Chestnut Hill area of Newton. Hammond Pond is large and scenic with its woodland surroundings, and is adjacent to trails and a bog in Webster Conservation Area.



How to get there: Green Line (D) to Chestnut Hills Station. Easy Peasy!

Our favorite hiking spot in the greater Boston area can only be described by documenting our own visit to the reservation.



“The Fells Reservation”

With the sun finally showing its face, we wasted no time in packing and getting out to the trails.



“Ready to Hit the Trails”

The Middlesex Fellsway is roughly 2,500 acres, located in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Winchester, and is filled with trails for hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing.  Being so close to Boston, we went for a trail that was to take us to the Bear Hill Tower that overlooks the city, but has views that extend to the Atlantic too. Pristine landscapes and a cold wind awarded us for our efforts.



“Tower Watch”

Hiking back down, our trail was filled with flowers, birds and lots of small wildlife.



“The Fells Witch Project”



Oh, and don’t forget a map.  If you choose to go off the main drags, there is a good chance you could get lost– this place is extensive.

The Middlesex Fellsway is a great day trip and once you make it back out of the woods you’re practically home. Does it get any better than that?  We think not. Hike on!

How to get there: This place is huge.  There are lots of entry points, both on the west and east side of route 93.



West Side of 93:



Take the Orange Line to Wellington Station.  Then grab the  MBTA bus #100 to Roosevelt Circle Rotary.  Walk south to the rotary and turn right on South Border Road.  The Bellevue Pond entrance to the Reservation is 0.2 mile up and the South Border Road on the right.



East Side of 93:



Take the Orange Line to Oak Grove Station, exit on the Washington Street side and head north on Washington Street (away from Boston).  Washington Street bears left at intersection with Pleasant Street.  Go one more block up Washington Street and turn left on Goodyear Avenue.  Goodyear Avenue is one short, steep block long and ends at the Gate 58 entrance to the Reservation at the east end of the blue blazed Cross Fells Trail.  The Reservation is a 10-15 minute walk from the Oak Grove Station.



Did we miss out on any rad hiking trails and/or outdoor adventures?  Hit us back with your own knowledge and stay tuned for more “Accessible by T” features throughout the summer.