Hike the Fells Skyline
Greater Boston / Stoneham–Medford, Massachusetts
Activity
Hiking / Skyline Views
Difficulty
Strenuous / repeated rocky climbs
Distance
6.9 mi round trip
Elevation gain
~1500 ft
Duration
~4.5–5.5 hrs
Route
Loop
The adventure
Complete the Fells' 6.9-mile white-blazed perimeter loop with its relentless sequence of wooded climbs and rocky viewpoints.
Pick up the white blazes at the western Fells and commit to the entire Skyline circuit. Work through the repeated rocky ascents, tag the high viewpoints—including the Boston-facing terrain around Wright's Tower—and keep following white until the loop delivers you back to your starting area.
2,500-acre forested reservation spanning five communities
What you'll do
Start at Bellevue Pond / Skyline Trail access, then follow the route about 6.9 miles round trip.
Expect wooded landscape with several steep ascents to rocky outcrops.
Expect roughly 1,500 ft of climbing along the way.
What you're looking at
- The Fells preserves a large rugged trail network immediately north of Boston.
- surrounding Greater Boston landscape
The story of the place
The Skyline Trail intentionally traces high, rocky terrain around the western reservation rather than following the easier reservoir corridors.
Once you're there
Start from the Bellevue Pond/Skyline access area and locate the white Skyline Trail blazes. Follow white continuously around the western reservation perimeter rather than drifting onto the many intersecting reservoir and connector trails.
The route repeatedly climbs rocky outcrops before dropping back into forest. Keep the trail map handy at junctions, pass through the Wright's Tower high ground, and stay with the white-blazed loop until it returns to your starting sector.
Don't miss
When the skyline finally breaks into view from the high ground, stop long enough to pick out downtown Boston before the trail throws another hill at you.
Good to know
- Access
- No permit or reservation requirement identified for ordinary individual hiking.
- Best time to go
- Year-round reservation access, but snow, ice, wet leaves and freeze-thaw conditions can make the many rocky ascents substantially harder.
- Hours
- Sunrise to sunset
- Parking
- Free at designated Middlesex Fells lots.
- Visitor services
- Botume House seasonally offers restrooms, water bottle filling and orientation on the east side of the reservation.
- Hazards
- Steep rocky climbs, roots, wet rock, winter ice, navigation at numerous trail junctions
- Dogs
- Dogs are allowed; they must be leashed except within the designated Sheepfold off-leash area.
- FULL SKYLINE
- The official Skyline Trail is a 6.9-mile loop and is rated strenuous, with an average hiking time around five hours.
- FEET ONLY
- The trail is pedestrian-only, so the technical rock-and-root sections are hiking territory rather than shared bike trail.
- FREE BUT POPULAR
- Free parking is available at multiple reservation access areas, but popular lots can fill during peak hours.
- Surface
- Woodland trail, rock outcrops, roots and steep ascents
- Managed by
- Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation — Middlesex Fells Reservation.
Please respect the place
- Skyline Trail is pedestrian-only
- Keep dogs leashed outside the designated off-leash area
- Expect repeated steep rocky ascents
- Begin early enough to finish before sunset
Photos
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