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Wolcott and Border Path

Blue Hills Trails

An easy 2.5-mile loop through pines and hemlocks from Blue Hills Reservation Headquarters, via Five Corners and Border Path.

Aerial view of the Blue Hills range south of Boston

The Wolcott and Border Path loop is an easy, fairly level walk from Blue Hills Reservation Headquarters through stands of pine and hemlock. It meets four other trails at Five Corners, then circles back on Border Path.

DistanceAbout 2.5 miles
Time1 to 1.75 hours
DifficultyEasy, fairly level
StartReservation HQ, 695 Hillside St, Milton

Trailhead parking

Directions to Reservation Headquarters →

The route

  1. Park across the street from Reservation Headquarters and start on Wolcott Path, the woodland lane at intersection #1186.
  2. Walk about half a mile to Five Corners, intersection #1141, where five trails meet.
  3. Angle right onto the green dot trail.
  4. At Border Path, intersection #1135, turn right and continue to #1175.
  5. Turn right, follow the path past #1178, then turn left back onto Wolcott Path to return.
Want a summit? Hancock Hill starts at the same headquarters and takes about 30 minutes.

Before you go

  • If you get lost or hurt, call 911. Give the dispatcher the four-digit number on the nearest intersection post. Those numbers match the DCR map and help responders find you. For non-emergency park concerns, DCR’s 24-hour dispatch is (508) 820-1428.
  • Before you go, share your phone’s location with a friend, and tell someone your route and when you plan to be back.
  • Carry the DCR trail map. Many intersections have a white post with a four-digit number that matches the map.
  • Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, and dress for wind on the summits.
  • The reservation is open dawn to dusk. Dogs must be leashed. Carry out everything you bring in.
  • Timber rattlesnakes and copperheads live in the Blue Hills. They are shy. Stay on the trail and give them space.

Guided hikes

Add a guided summit hike

Our staff lead groups up Great Blue Hill, connecting the trail to the landscape, the climate record, and 141 years of daily observation. Every guided hike ends inside the Observatory.

Staff-led · By appointment, any day, year-round · Observatory tour included · From $250 per group, members save

See guided hikes

FAQ

How long is the Wolcott and Border Path loop?

DCR lists it at about 2.5 miles, taking 1 to 1.75 hours.

Is it a good beginner hike?

Yes. DCR lists it among its easy hikes, and it is relatively level.

What is Five Corners?

Intersection 1141 on the DCR map, where five trails meet.

Trail details are based on the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s recommended color-coded hiking trails. Trails and markers change, so carry the DCR map and confirm conditions with DCR at 617-698-1802.

Save the summit for later

Great Blue Hill and the Observatory are the high point of the range. Plan your visit.

Plan your visit See the summit now