Where is there good hiking within a 2 hour drive of Boston?

May 9, 2009 11:50 AM

My mom is visiting in late June and wants to go hiking somewhere near Boston (no more than 2 hours by car). I was thinking Western Massachusetts might be nice but I'm open to other suggestions. Where is it fun to go hiking within a 2 hour drive from Boston?

I'm not looking for multiday hiking, but either dayhikes or ones that would take a few hours.

posted by Kattullus to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

Western Mass is a great place to go hiking. The first thing that comes to mind is the Berkshires. Great place, beautiful in June.
posted by mateuslee at 11:57 AM on May 9, 2009

If you want to stay closer to town, try the Middlesex Fells or the Blue Hills -- the hikes won't be tough, but both areas are very pretty and can certainly keep you busy for a few hours. If you're up for something a bit more challenging, Mount Monadnock is just under two hours away, in southern New Hampshire. This hike can be crowded, but it's really terrific. It'll take you a couple of hours to get to the summit (or more, depending on which route you choose), and the views are spectacular.
posted by cider at 11:58 AM on May 9, 2009

Mt. Cardigan in NH is gorgeous, an easy hike, and according to Google maps, 2hrs. 15min. from Boston.

(Bonus: It is on the world tour of "places I got epically carsick." Still, awesome hike.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:36 PM on May 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

PS: Link.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:37 PM on May 9, 2009

There are a lot of terrific places to walk around the Quabbin Reservoir. Not super challenging and more walking than hiking, but some neat history and never a lot of people when I've been.
posted by jessamyn at 2:12 PM on May 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

The Blue Hills are right outside the city and once you get away from Great Blue Hill there are hardly any crowds. If you want something challenging you can do the skylike trail, which stretches about eight miles from one end of the reservation to the other. It's rocky and has enough small ups and downs that it's probably as tough as some of the lesser 4000 footers in NH. You'll need to spot a car though, unless you want to go back the way you came.

Other less challenging hikes in the area can be found at Noanet Woodlands in Dover and Rocky Narrows in Sherborn. These are both Trustees of the Reservation land so it'll cost you a couple bucks.

Monadnock is the "big" climb in southern NH that every cub scout climbs as his first mountain. If you do some of the lesser known trails (stay away from anything with White or Cross or Dot in the name) you can avoid the crowds until you get to the top.

I second Cardigan. It's much, much nicer than Monadnock and less crowded. You can get a nice five mile loop if you climb over Firescrew as well. My wife and I sort of hooked up because of Cardigan, but your mom probably doesn't care about that.

Welch and Dicky, probably two hours away near Waterville Valley in NH are a beautiful loop that gives you a lot of bang for the buck. Almost immediately you're into open ledges with views all around. This is a great beginner hike.

Slightly beyond two hours will get you to Franconia Notch in NH, with some of the best hiking in New England. You can do the Falling Waters Trail up to the top of Little Haystack and if you're feeling good you then take the loop over to Lincoln and Laffayette. This involves some tough hiking above treeline, so make sure you're prepared for any type of weather. I don't know your experience level but this isn't a beginner hike.

Remember, June is black fly season in New Hampshire, so be prepared for bugs.

Back in MA you have Mt. Watatic, which has some nice views at the top.

As Jessamyn said, there's a lot of good to be found around the Quabbin and the history of the flooding of the three (?) towns is pretty interesting.

Dogtown, on Cape Ann, is pretty and has these eerie rocks with messages carved in them. Sort of like a primitive form of They Live.
posted by bondcliff at 2:54 PM on May 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

I'll second Monadnock. It's the quintessential mid-New England hike. It is crowded. They claim to be the second-most hiked mountain in the world, after Fuji. Great views, nice, long day hike.
posted by one_bean at 3:02 PM on May 9, 2009

Pisgah State Park in New Hampshire. Many hiking trails. Site has PDF trail maps. 2 hours from Boston out Rte. 2.
posted by Xurando at 4:07 PM on May 9, 2009

Wachusett Mountain in Princeton has some great trails for day hikes. Very easy to find off Rt 2.
posted by paxton at 5:32 AM on May 10, 2009

Seconding the Franconia Notch area and the White Mountains in general. Bring the bug spray since it's the dreaded black fly season.

also Best Day Hikes Near Boston
posted by canine epigram at 4:59 PM on May 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

Thanks everyone! Now I have a number of sites to consider. Right now I think Mt. Watatic is most likely.
posted by Kattullus at 8:06 PM on May 10, 2009