Description
Blue Hills Reservation is a 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) park primarily used for hiking and mountain biking. It is also used for both downhill skiing and cross country skiing during winter, and rock climbing (in certain areas) and horseback riding during permissible months.
The park's varied terrain and scenic views, in combination with its proximity to Boston, make it a popular destination for hikers from the metropolitan area. The highest point within the reservation, Great Blue Hill in Milton, is the site of a historic weather observatory whose tower offers views of Boston and the surrounding area.
Between approximately December and March, Great Blue Hill offers a ski area. Houghton's Pond and nearby Ponkapoag Pond are popular swimming and recreation areas during the summer.
The ecology of the Blue Hills is diverse and includes marshes, swamps, upland and bottomland forests, meadows, and an Atlantic White Cedar bog. A number of endangered species in Massachusetts, such as the Timber Rattlesnake, reside in the reservation. Other flora and fauna include dogwood, lady's slipper, coyotes, turkey vultures, and copperheads.
Located approximately ten miles from downtown Boston, the reservation has the distinction of being the largest conservation land within a major metropolitan area.
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