Friends of the Blue Hills volunteers lead regular hikes, including Beginner hikes and Boots n’ Brews, mindfulness, and nature hikes. If you’d like to learn when hikes are scheduled, sign up below to receive emails for upcoming hikes, as well as news about the Blue Hills!
Upcoming Events
May
9
Fri
2025
10:00 am
Be Kind! Intro to Trail Stewards...
@ Houghton's Pond Parking Lot
Be Kind! Intro to Trail Stewards...
@ Houghton's Pond Parking Lot
May 9 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

This event will be a part of our “Be Kind” series. Have you ever noticed rocks in the trails that do not look like natural placement? Curious about trail maintenance or how trails are designed.[...]
May
10
Sat
2025
8:30 am
Walk with a Doc
@ Houghton's Pond Parking Lot A-
Walk with a Doc
@ Houghton's Pond Parking Lot A-
May 10 @ 8:30 am

This walking program is a fun and safe place to take a walk (at your pace), learn health tips from local healthcare professionals, and meet new people. The event is FREE and all are welcome![...]
12:00 pm
Kristin Kubera Memorial Hike 2025
@ Blue Hills Trailside Museum
Kristin Kubera Memorial Hike 2025
@ Blue Hills Trailside Museum
May 10 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Please join the Friends of the Blue Hills on Saturday, May 10th to celebrate the life of Kristin Kubera with a hike in her memory. Kristin passed away suddenly on May 9,2023 from heart disease. To[...]
May
15
Thu
2025
7:00 am
Your Morning 3-Miler
@ Shea Rink
Your Morning 3-Miler
@ Shea Rink
May 15 @ 7:00 am – 8:30 am

How do you start your mornings before work? Brew a cup of coffee, read the news, or watch some TV? The Friends of the Blue Hills has a better idea… Why not start your day[...]
May
16
Fri
2025
3:00 pm
Women’s Hike with Kay
@ Chickatawbut Overlook
Women’s Hike with Kay
@ Chickatawbut Overlook
May 16 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join Kay on this Woman’s Hike! Our goal is to hike is approximately 3-4 miles, with trail adjustments to limit the time to 2 hours. The trail is sometimes very rocky with some inclines. We’ll[...]
May
17
Sat
2025
9:00 am
Join David at Ponkapoag Pond for...
@ Ponkapoag Pond
Join David at Ponkapoag Pond for...
@ Ponkapoag Pond
May 17 @ 9:00 am

Join David Saturday May 17th for a Hike followed by a yoga session in the park! We will meet David at Fishermans Beach at 9:00 am! Starting your day with a hike in nature allows[...]
9:00 am
Trail Maintenance at the Friends...
Trail Maintenance at the Friends...
May 17 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join us for a volunteer day dedicated to maintaining and improving the trails at The Friends of the Blue Hills. We’ll focus on essential tasks like brushing back overgrowth, clearing debris, raking paths, picking up[...]
May
18
Sun
2025
10:00 am
Beginners’ Hike with Bruce
@ Houghton's Pond Recreation Area
Beginners’ Hike with Bruce
@ Houghton's Pond Recreation Area
May 18 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Beginners’ Hike with Bruce Event Details: – When: Sunday, May 18th 10:00 am-12:00 pm – Meeting Point: Playground at Houghton’s Pond – Leaders: Bruce Dezube – Sign-Up: Guests must sign up in advance Hike Description: Join Bruce for[...]
May
19
Mon
2025
9:30 am
Invasive Plant Removal
@ To be determined
Invasive Plant Removal
@ To be determined
May 19 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Volunteer Event: Invasive Species Removal at Friends of the Blue Hills Join us for a hands-on volunteer event aimed at removing harmful invasive species, Garlic Mustard, from our beautiful local park. These plants disrupt native[...]
May
21
Wed
2025
2:00 pm
DCR of Massachusetts-Wellness in...
@ Houghton's Pond Visitor Center
DCR of Massachusetts-Wellness in...
@ Houghton's Pond Visitor Center
May 21 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Wellness in the Woods, 2:00 pm—3:00 pm Join DCR Massachusetts for quiet and contemplative forest relaxation program in the beautiful and peaceful Blue Hills. De-stress and reconnect with nature on this slow and gentle[...]
May
27
Tue
2025
10:00 am
Ashes to New Beginnings Hike
@ Houghton's Pond Parking Lot
Ashes to New Beginnings Hike
@ Houghton's Pond Parking Lot
May 27 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

HIKE RESCHEDULED TO TUESDAY MAY 27th! LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: MODERATE This hike will be approximately 3 miles, with some elevated difficult terrain and rocky obstacles. Wear sturdy footwear. This hike will begin at 840 Hillside St,[...]
May
31
Sat
2025
10:00 am
125 Mile Club Reunion Hike
@ Houghton's Pond
125 Mile Club Reunion Hike
@ Houghton's Pond
May 31 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

The 125 reunion hike is about celebrating the incredible journey of those who have completed, are currently working on, or are eager to start the 125-mile hiking club! Whether you’ve already tackled the trails, are[...]
Jun
1
Sun
2025
9:00 am
Be Kind! Pick up Trash with John
@ Houghton's Pond Recreation Area
Be Kind! Pick up Trash with John
@ Houghton's Pond Recreation Area
Jun 1 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Join our Volunteer and Program Manager, John Harrell to clean the park! Get some fresh air and exercise… and give back to an amazing park that serves tens of thousands of visitors each year. You[...]
Jun
7
Sat
2025
9:00 am
National Trails Day at the Frien...
National Trails Day at the Frien...
Jun 7 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join us for a volunteer day dedicated to maintaining and improving the trails at The Friends of the Blue Hills. We’ll focus on essential tasks like brushing back overgrowth, clearing debris, raking paths, picking up[...]
12:00 pm
Widow Walkers Hikes-6/7/25 Natio...
@ Widowmaker Brewing
Widow Walkers Hikes-6/7/25 Natio...
@ Widowmaker Brewing
Jun 7 @ 12:00 pm

Join the Friends of the Blue Hills along with our partners Widowmaker Brewing and ARC’TERYX at the 2025 Widow Walkers Hike Series. All hikes will meet at Widowmaker Brewing, 200 Wood Road Braintree and the[...]
Great!
Glad to hear that you will be sponsoring guided hiking tours again. I’m not comfortable hiking alone & am really looking forward to hiking together again
Glad you’d like to join us!
I am very interested in hiking but need more information about the milage. How many miles for the advance hikers ? And what we should wear any special cloth? And why to bring with us? Looking forward to hike with you . Thank you
Misha,
We organize different hikes throughout the year. When you sign up, you’ll get invitations to the different hikes, and we’ll let you know about the mileage, whether it’s for beginners or advanced hikers, and specify the clothing and equipment that you’ll need.
I’m so glad you’re interested in hiking with us!
Judy
Thanks for this!
I’m interested in easier (slower-paced) hikes. Will there be any of these scheduled?
Our Beginner Hikes are often slower paced. You might enjoy those.
Hiked the trails at Blue hills when I was much younger. It’s such a beautiful area, I’m looking forward to starting again.
We’d love to see you!
I can’t believe I’ve never done this before. I’m a bit afraid to go it alone in the large park. Maybe because I’m also wondering what wildlife to expect?
Melissa, A guided hike might be just the thing for you! Hopefully, we’ll see you on a hike. (And if you’d like some suggestions for where you can go by yourself, just email us at: info@friendsofthebluehills.org.
Interested in beginner,shorter hikes to start me off.
We’ll send an invite next week, but you can sign up for a 4-mile beginner’s hike here: https://friendsofthebluehills.org/event/hike-march/
Hi Melissa, you seldom see much, if any wildlife. In 4 years, I have only seen 2 very small garter snakes in early spring. They were so small they probably were only a day or so old and if I wasn’t watching or caught the leaf move, I would have missed them entirely. I have seen one owl early one morning and a few deer.
Seldom see any deer or anything else, because, I assume the animals have great sensory perception of people approaching.
Ellen, Thanks for answering that part of her question. We missed that!
I am a mom of two young children and looking for mom friends, who love to get outside!
Awesome! We hope to organize some family hikes once the weather gets a little better.
Would you consider doing hikes that are inclusive of young adults with Autism or Intellectual Disabilities?
I have a great walking companion who enjoys 3-4 miles of brisk hiking, and we would like to join with typical or special needs people.
Thanks so much for asking! We will definitely consider it!
Hi, I’m Jane, 68 years old and from Dorchester. I’ve walked in the Blue Hills solo in recent years, but could use help motivating myself to get out there more often. I look forward to learning more about these groups.
Jane, So glad you’d like to hike with us!
I would be interested in beginner hikes to start, to get used to the trails.
Great! So glad you’d like to hike with us.
Thank you for thinking of me!