• Location: Mount Pisgah Conservation Area, Northborough/Berlin, MA
• Owner: Sudbury Valley Trustees
• Highlights: A flat walk to North View, a directional vista east toward Boston, which may be visible on a clear day.
• Description: The property was once farmland and the Mentzer and Sparrow trails are named after dairy farmers. More than 30 different species of trees have been identified on the land. The land is part of a wildlife corridor that stretches to New Hampshire. Thus, bobcat, moose and black have been seen on the property. Mount Pisgah is made of bedrock and a layer of glacial till. (source: Sudbury Valley Trustees brochure (PDF))
• Directions (from Boston): 45 miles, 58 minutes

• The Trail: 1.5 miles, round trip
  1. From the parking lot on Smith Road, take the yellow-blazed Mentzer Trail on the left.
  2. Cross Howard Brook.
  3. At 0.16 miles, keep left on Mentzer Trail. Sparrow Trail goes off to the right.
  4. At 0.43 miles, cross Berlin Road Trail.
  5. At 0.62 miles, cross Tyler Trail.
  6. Soon after, Mentzer Trail will curve left (other trails go straight and right), crossing the stone wall. Follow the trail a short distance to its end at North View.
  7. Return along the same route or explore other trails in the conservation area.
• For more information and a trail map, see this brochure (PDF) from the Sudbury Valley Trustees.

• Location: Weston, MA
• Owner: Town of Weston
• Highlights: A short walk with a small steep section to a nice view of Newton and Boston.
• Directions (from Boston): 13.1 miles, 23 minutes

• The Trail: 0.34 miles, round trip
1. From the end of Doublet Hill Road, follow the path with a sign that does not head toward the water tower.
2. Follow this path uphill, avoiding several side paths.It climbs somewhat steeply up one rock about half-way to the overlook.
3. Return along the same path you took to the summit.
• Click here for more information and a trail map from the Weston Forest & Trail Association.

• Location: Auburn, NH
• Highlights: A level walk on mostly wide trails to a great view of Massabesic Lake.
• Directions (from Boston): 54 miles, 1 hour 3 minute

• The Trail: 0.94 miles, round trip

1. From the pull-off along Rte. 121. take Fire Road 54 southwest toward the water.
2. After 0.17 miles, turn left onto Fire Road 53.
3. After 0.37 miles, take side trail on the right 0.1 miles to the overlook.
4. Return to the parking lot on the same path.



• Location: Whitney and Thayer Woods, Cohasset and Hingham, MA
• Owner: The Trustees of Reservations
• Highlights: An extremely short hike to a great view of the Atlantic Ocean, Hull windmill, Boston skyline, Blue Hills, and South Shore. A much longer hike could be done from other parking areas.
• Directions (from Boston): 18 miles, 31 minutes

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• The Trail: 0.12 miles, round trip 
  1. From the parking lot located almost at the summit, follow the obvious path into the open field, quickly reaching the summit and view.
  2. Return to the parking lot or explore the other trails on the property or nearby Weir River Farm.
• Trail maps are available from the trailhead kiosk or here (PDF).

• Location: Blue Hills Reservation, Quincy, MA
• Owner: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
• Highlights: A steep hike to perhaps the finest summit view in the Blue Hills.  A summit filled with mostly brush and small trees affords sweeping views in all directions, from the Boston skyline and the Atlantic Ocean to the suburbs south of Boston to other peaks in the Blue Hills.
• Interesting tidbits: Native Americans quarried in the Blue Hills for volcanic rock which they shaped into spearheads and other tools; The range was named by European explorers who noticed a blue tint to the hills (sources: Department of Conservation and Recreation brochure, Wikipedia)
• Public Transit: Take the MBTA‘s Red Line to Ashmont Station, then Bus 240 to the intersection of Randolph Avenue and Chickatawbut Road.  Walk 13 minutes south on Randolph Avenue to the trailhead.  
• Directions (from Boston): 13.7 miles, 16 minutes

• The Trail: 0.48 miles (steep) or 1.26 miles (gradual), round trip 
  1. From the roadside parking and trailhead, take the blue-blazed Skyline Trail 0.03 miles to its intersection with the larger Forest Path.
  2. Turn right on Forest Path and follow it until you reach a small (and potentially hard to follow) side trail at marked junction 2194.
  3. Turn left and follow it uphill, crossing Buck Hill Path at junction 2182.
  4. Continue on this unnamed trail until it emerges at the summit at junction 2165.
  5. For a shorter but very steep decent, take the Skyline Trail straight back to the parking area.
  6. Alternatively, follow the same route described above down the hill. 
• A trail map is available here (PDF). 

 
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1. Take Kyle’s Trail or Robin’s Way from the parking area.
2. Kyle’s Trail will go past a seating area cut into a granite slab more than 100 years ago.
3. Return to the parking area via the path you did not take out or continue to explore the trail system for a longer hike. 

 
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1. Take the paved path uphill from Leonard Street.  
2. At .07 miles, it will reach a fork with a basketball court on the left.  Take the path leading to the right.  
3. At .1 miles, a dirt path will branch off to the left.  Take it to the summit. 
4. Return the same way you ascended.   

 
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1. The trail begins behind the horse stable, which is down a dirt road from the parking areas.
2. Follow the dirt road up a small incline.
3. Once over the incline, the trailhead will be across a grassy area.  A blaze is visible but the sign, announcing the start of the Mt. Roberts Trail, is not until you are at the trailhead. 
4. Follow Mt. Roberts Trail as it enters the woods, then reemerges beside the horse pasture, before beginning the climb uphill
5. The climb is fairly gradual before reaching a steep part.
6. Just after the steep part, look for Spur Trail on the left.
7. Follow Spur Trail 50 yards to the ledges.
8. Return along the same path.

 
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1. There are many ways to explore this place, but I will recount the route I followed below.
2. From the parking lot, follow the paved road uphill.
3. After about 0.37 miles, turn left onto Cell Tower Road, a gravel path. 
4. Follow this path for about 0.19 miles and turn right onto the narrower Summit Trail.
5. Summit Trail quickly reaches a four way intersection.
6. Turn left at the interesction and quickly arrive at the view point which has several benches to sit and enjoy the view.
7. Return along the same route, or follow Summit Trail or the many other paths to see more art. 

 
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View of the pull-off looking west on Route 11.

1. Follow the path on the northern side of the pull-off which has a sign for a scenic lookout.
2. Follow this path up a short, steep section.
3. Once it quickly levels off, follow signs for the scenic lookout until quickly arriving at the overlook, which features a bench.
4. Return the way you came or explore some other trails which have several additional benches but no more views that I could find.