Bear Hill

"Originally planned to hike the Rock Circuit Trail, but an event was using the entirety of the main parking lot and a quick loop around the southeast section of Middlesex Fells yielded no available parking spots. So we decided to hike around the North and Middle Reservoirs. We left from the Sheepfold parking lot around 11:45am and began heading towards Bear Hill, passing a garter snake along the way. The temperature was cooler than in recent days, down to the high-50s with some moderate wind, but the partly cloudy sky was a nice change. Other than the significant number of people enjoying the nice weather with their dogs, the hiking was uneventful and quick. We returned to the parking lot around 1:45pm." — JCalautti • Jun 1, 2025

"Took a bus to and from Middlesex Fells, easily accessible from the MBTA Orange Line. Overcast day in the mid-50s with occasional windows of sunshine and a few rain drizzles. This hike “wrapped up” some of the hills I missed over the course of the spring and summer (which required several short bushwhacks), but also provided an opportunity to revisit some of my favorite sites in the Fells, particularly Pickerel Rock. Past peak fall foliage, but there were still some nice swathes of color. The fallen leaves created a slick layer on all the rocks, which made descending some trails slippery. Last hike of the year before daylight savings ends and night arrives earlier." — JCalautti • Nov 2, 2024

"Rain the day before and freezing temperatures overnight, so there were some patches of ice but nothing dangerous. Had to double-back over Winthrop Hill to retrieve a lost hat. We saw an abundance of birds along the trail, particularly around the North Reservoir, and even spotted a heron in Long Pond. Cold started to set in as the sun went down, but we finished the loop soon after." — JCalautti • Mar 24, 2024