Ponkapoag Trails

Really great trails here. Hidden and unknown to many, usually not crowded at all. Many people bring their dogs off leash and also many people horseback ride through there so keep an eye out for some nasty spots that can happen but nothing unnatural there! Your own fault if you do not keep an eye out. The trails are not superbly marked but you really can’t mess it up to badly.

I go to Ponkapoag almost every weekend with my dogs. Love this trail! It’s an easy 4 mi loop around the reservoir and gorgeous.

Nice walk but typical New England trail B.S. Nothing is labeled. No idea where the trails start or end. There’s a map in the parking lot that is completely useless the minute you walk away from it. There’s s a gate. Is it the start of the trail? I dunno. Which trail is it the start of? No idea. Where does it lead? The pond? Michigan? Narnia? Who knows. If you get lost I guess just scream or set your clothes on fire. That should solve everything.

BE CAREFUL OF YOUR BELONGINGS. Our car got broken into (windows smashed!) and my purse got stolen. It had very little of monetary value but a lot of things with sentimental value. If anyone sees a black leather purse, please report it to the police or try searching for me by my name on the internet (my name is inscribed next to the zipper on the purse). The boardwalk was nice but I can never go there again because I feel so unsafe and upset!

Definitely worth the trip, especially during the warmer months when there are cranberries growing.

My kids (8 and 10) and I walk/​hike quite a bit around the South Shore since we like to geocache but we all agree the Bog Boardwalk has to be the best or close to the best walk we have taken locally. The uniqueness of walking on the boards through the bog/​swamp, the beauty of the landscape– especially the tree branches and such framing the boards at times in almost a tunnel like arch and the out-​of-​the-​way, rural, quiet nature of its location made it our #1. I would have ranked it a 5 but only for it is difficult to get to and it seems that you need to hit the weather right for some of the boards not to be submerged. We picked the wrong winter day and got our feet wet… we considered it part of the adventure. Difficult to get to… We considered that a plus but most people would consider it a con… it was like a treasure hunt for us. For those who do not like treasure hunts… Park in the Ponkie golf course/​ice skating rink parking lot, look to the right of the Ponkie club house– there is a small path/​road labeled Maple Ave, follow that all the way to the end of the road until the Ponkie pond is in front of you and take a left onto the dirt path in front of the pond, follow that all the way until you come to a V in the path (the V is almost next to Hole #3 in the golf course), veer right at the V and follow the path staying right and the boardwalk is a very small path off to the right on that path– it is not labeled so you need to look for it.

How did I not know this existed?! Probably because you have to walk through the golf course to get to it.
Way worth the visit on the other side of great blue hill from the highway you walk through the golf course to the pond and a wide trail circles the whole pond. It is a 4 mile loop. The trail was really muddy when we went (November) and we didn’t make it all the way around but I look forward to going again, next time we will wear hiking boots instead of sneakers.
The walk through the golf course is pretty nice too the paved road for golf carts is lined in gorgeous big old maples.

The trails around the pond are really nice, well maintained and wide. The area isn’t desolate so you’ll run into other walkers and joggers. It’s very buggy after the rainy spring, so bring bug spray and a hat. A loop around will take you about an hour and you can end at Fisherman’s Pond, a great place to take a rest and read a book by the water.

Definitely worth a visit. Wear waterproof shoes (and plenty of mosquito repellent if it’s the summer) and head out along the boardwalk that takes you through a cedar bog.

I lead a good number of hikes here all year long, and it is one of my favorite places for casual, leisurely strolls (mainly because its mostly flat with wide trails). The bog boardwalk on the northwest side of the pond is something special, as you feel like you are in a rain forest, eventually heading what feels like halfway out to the pond (which it isn’t, actually). And the Ponkapoag Camp area is a great place for lunch, as they have picnic tables, a dock on the water, and huge pine trees to keep the sun out when the days are hot. The views aren’t spectacular and the trails can be muddy at times, but this is a great area for walking if you’re not up for anything too difficult in the Blue Hills.

Love it, it’s pretty flat compared to the rest of the Blue Hills so it is good for families, joggers, and there’s also a boardwalk going into a cedar swamp. Same exit as Houghton Pond off of I-​93, just in the opposite direction, a map is posted at the trail head but it is always best to carry one with you (available next to the Milton State Police Barracks or at the Trailside Museum.
A small warning — after visiting here for over five years I did come face to face with a coyote this winter from a distance of about 20′, lucky for me I saw him — he didn’t see me!
Why not five stars = noise, this park is somewhat noisy due to nearby interstates though Ponkapoag is quieter than other parts of the Blue Hills.
Size = Ponkapoag Pond is just over 200 acres, the area around it about another 800 acres or so, all within the 7,000 acre Blue Hills Reservation.

The trails around the pond and by the gold course are excellent. It’s a good 3 miles (ish) or more if you choose and there’s no weird loiterers about. You’ll find mostly couples and families (and some times horse back riders) out here.
I’ve been a couple of times with the ex and would gladly go back if and when I’m in the area.

The Ponkpoag trails are all along the 230-​acre Ponkapoag Pond in the 8,500-acre MDC Blue Hills Reservation. I am a frequent runner here and it’s peaceful, quiet, and really pretty. A great place to go during the day, especially when the weather is nice!