Great place to walk anytime of year. Plenty of parking, restrooms, picnic tables. Lots of trails…read moreand something new to explore on each trip. Part of the blue hills on the canton line.

I miss the Blue Hills "Peek-a-blue" hikes that happened pre pandemic for kids preschool aged and…read moreyounger. We would meet in the Houghton's Pond parking area to start that hike. We visited today though to enjoy the playground. There's 2 sides - one for preschool and younger, other for older kids. Both have swings, slides, and climbing areas. There's also a wooden boardwalk that leads to trails to the pond.

This lake is just wonderful. You need a day pass or a year membership for the summer . The cost…read moreis affordable and reasonable. You then have access to the bathroom and changing facilities. The free parking lot. We usually buy the year membership for the summer. The staff here is also welcoming.

Great neighborhood lake. there's a little beach here and if your residence of Newton, you can pay…read more$8 dollars to use the beach and jump off the platforms. You can park at the beach house. One of her little kids, and one for adults. But on the side of the lake, they're a bunch of people jumping at their own risk, but it's very, neighborly and unpretentious. I just jumped in to stay cool. I wouldn't call this lake a destination.

Beautiful shared space for people and dogs. While we were there all dogs and their owners were…read moremindful of others and everyone had fun. Easy access to the water at multiple points. My senior dog had a great time swimming. Be cautious about algae/bacteria in the water and area!

Relaxing beautiful place to chill with the kids or have a picnic. Love it here so pretty in the…read morewarmer months.

The address on Yelp will lead you to the parking lot for a skating rink and a community pool. It is…read morea convenient place to park, but I am not sure if is the best place to access longer trails. This location is not near the lake. The area is beautifully wooded, providing plenty of shade on a sunny day. The trails here were relatively short. I ventured off the main trail and discovered areas with overgrown greenery, lots of graffiti and decayed benches. Without anybody else around, it looked like a post apocalyptic world, and it felt eerie! Not sure who is supposed to fund or do the maintenance for this beautiful nature spot, so close to Boston, but it really needs some love! Without signage in the area and no phone connection, I almost got lost! I Ma aged to walk/run the trails for an hour but would love to explore different areas of Stony Brook if in the area again.

I used to come here often while walking my two Jack Russell Terriers. One day we were near the…read moreGeorge Wright golf course when (at least) two coyotes snuck up behind me and almost got one of my dogs. The coyotes were wicked bold and only my loud yelling got them to back off but they still followed. I'm bummed that I can't go any more because it is nice and quiet and the dogs love being off leash. Not trying to discourage anyone from going but if you have small dogs off leash, be careful.

A friend suggested that it wouldn't be a good idea to check out the Quincy Quarries Reservation on…read moremy own. So, last year, when I saw an event was scheduled to take place there, I figured it would be a safer time to visit. Well, yes and no. I wasn't the only person going, but because I wasn't the only person going, their parking lot was full, so parking was a bit of an issue. I checked out the grafitti, making my way around the folks standing or sitting around, to get a closer look at the rocks. I stayed on the grassy ground while I noticed some folks climbing up the rocky cliffs, both with and without rock climbing gear.

My friend is from Boston and while visiting here she want to go to the quarries. I thought to…read moremyself "whats the big deal we see graffiti in FL on everything " when we arrived I was surprised at the place. I found myself walking around and reading all I could, wondering how they got to the heights to do the artwork. Why they wrote or painted what they did, how long it took for all this beauty. Next trip I will be adding my name, someplace low! LOL

I stayed at a Ponkapoag tent site last summer and had a wonderful time. The lake is calm and…read morebeautiful, and there are extensive trails for hiking. I can't speak to the cabin experience, but the camp as a whole is easy to access yet also allows you to feel like you've escaped the city. The tent sites are clean, spacious and have a fire pit and a picnic table. The one we were at (and I think all of them...) have private lake access, meaning you can step out of your tent and walk straight into the water for a cool morning swim or even to fish (if you have a permit!). There is also a sanctioned swim area for children and families where there are safety ropes and water toys for everyone's use. The whole experience was restful and easy to execute. I would absolutely go again.

This is my absolute favorite place on earth. I've been going here since I was a little girl and I…read morehave the best memories here. I'm even getting the coordinates tattooed. It's an escape from reality and you feel like at peace. If I could live here I would. Plus it's also really cheap. This place holds a very important place in my heart. They allow dogs and they have many trials. My family has been going here for over 60 years. Their no electricity or running water but I think that adds to the experience of being in nature and excluded to the outside world. Truly an amazing place!

Not sure if I picked the wrong day or the wrong trail but my "hiking" experience in the Blue Hills…read morefell short. In general, there's not great hiking around Boston unless you keep doing the same trails in Milddlesex but I had heard a lot of good things about Blue Hills so off I went. 1. The Skyline trail, for being the most popular one, was extremely poorly marked. I'm glad I downloaded the AllTrails map ahead of time for the route because even with the map, I got turned around several times and had to scurry forward and back to try to find the markings. At one point, the markings disappeared completely, i.e., I was definitely off-trail, and I couldn't find my way back without committing to another rock scramble back down, so I just consulted the map, did another trail, and cut back to the same route a few minutes later. 2. So very, very buggy. Most of the time that I was walking, I was swatting a bug, trying not to eat a bug, or actually eating a bug. Not the most pleasant of hiking conditions but something avoidable by just coming later in the season when all the bugs are dead. Passed by some lakes that looked very scenic from a distance but then, when you get close, you see it's all pretty much stagnant water/pond scum and millions of mating bugs. 3. This may be relatively minor but if you're coming from Boston, the traffic to get over here is dreadful and, again depending on which starting point you use, there aren't bathrooms available. Plan accordingly. 4. Parking was free and easy - I went with the Shea Memorial Rink in Quincy and hopped right onto the trailhead from there. 5. Hiking shoes are fine but I think this hike is doable in sneakers. Aside from a scramble here or there, the elevation was pretty gradual. Do be careful of the various roots and whatnot. I guess the lesson is: bug spray and download the trail map. Unless you're fine making a day of it and trying different trails, but even so, download the map.

Very well maintained trails, great views, good woods scenery for all seasons. Highly recommended;…read moremap boards at trailheads are clear, and most trails are clearly marked.

Been wanting to check out these trails for a while now and today was the day. There was no clear…read moreaddress on yelp directions but it got me there correctly. There's a tiny little spot you can park right before the head of the trail but only enough for a few cars. I guess if you came and it was full you could park down the street. There is a pretty big lot there that usually has quite a few spots open. You'd have to walk a bit to the trail though. Great trail around Ponkapoag pond. My Fit bit says it was a little over 11,000 steps. Most trails are marked good. There are maps posted every so often and most have an arrow that point "you are here". I would suggest to bring a map although at the place where I started from the box holding the Maps was empty so I just took a picture of the one posted. Definitely bring bug spray! This place is loaded with bugs. I was pretty bitten up at the end of my walk. I stayed on the main trail but there were lots of small trails to go off on. I was pretty disappointed to see signage that said no bikes allowed on a lot of them though. That's a real bummer for me and my beloved mountain bike. Saw lots of beautiful birds and butterflies. Luckily I didn't run into any coyotes but just be aware that they are around. 3.5 stars.

4.5 mile loop around Ponkapoag Pond in Canton. Parking can be a little challenging in the entryway…read moreto the park, or you can park at nearby Houghton's Pond and walk over. I love the "boardwalk" - a long series of linked planks leading through the bog to the pond. So scenic and a unique off-trail walk. The trail is rocky and rolling in parts and flat in others, with a brief paved portion along the golf course. The trail also passes the YMCA camping sites and outdoors center, and is fairly well traveled in all seasons. Great place for running, dog walking and hiking.

Nice park, looks like it's taken care by people who loves nature! Everything is clean and…read moreaccessible!

Not bad. Big Summer camp spot. Gets crowded on nice days in the Summer but is pretty quiet the rest…read moreof the year. Snack bar and lifeguards during the season.

We had the honor of stepping foot on the grounds special to Prince Hall Masonary. This park has a…read morelot of History. It has a renovated playground and a restaurant. Parking can be tight but stat vigilant!

Even in the dead of winter ,this is an exciting place to visit,…read moreIts the best air in the city a nice cardio workout in the wind , I just love the views