Blue Hills Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue Hills Reservation |
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Ponkapoag Pond, with Great Blue Hill visible in the background
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 Blue Hills Reservation
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States |
| Area | 6,165 acres (24.95 km2) |
| Elevation | 180 ft (55 m) |
| Established | 1893 |
| Governing body | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Blue Hills Reservation |
The Blue Hills Reservation is a huge park in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. It covers about 6,000 acres, which is like 4,500 football fields! This amazing state park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
It stretches across parts of several towns. These include Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham. The park is only about ten miles south of downtown Boston. It's one of the biggest natural areas near the city. With its different types of land and pretty views, it's a favorite spot for hikers.
Contents
History of the Blue Hills
When European explorers first sailed along the coast, they saw the mountains. They noticed a bluish color, which comes from a special rock called riebeckite. This blue color gave the area its modern name, the Blue Hills.
The name of the state, Massachusetts, comes from the Massachusett Indian tribe. Their name for the hill was massa-adchu-es-et. This means "place of the great hill."
In 1893, the Metropolitan Parks Commission bought the land. This made Blue Hills Reservation one of the first places in the state set aside for public fun. It was a big step to protect nature for everyone to enjoy.
A cool tradition called First Day Hikes started here in 1992. People celebrate New Year's Day by going for a hike outdoors. This idea became very popular. By the 2010s, these hikes were happening in state parks all over the country!
Animals and Plants of the Blue Hills
The Blue Hills are home to many different kinds of nature. You can find wet marshes and swamps. There are also thick forests and open meadows. A special kind of wet area called a bog is also here, with Atlantic white cedar trees.
Some rare animals live in the reservation. These include the timber rattlesnake and the copperhead snake. Other animals you might see are white-tailed deer and coyotes. Look out for wild turkeys, red foxes, and even turkey vultures flying overhead. You might also spot pretty plants like dogwood trees and lady's slipper flowers.
Weather in the Blue Hills
The Blue Hills area has a humid continental climate. This is typical for most of New England. Summers are short but can be very warm, with mild nights. Winters are short, but they get a lot of snow and cloudy days. It rains or snows a lot throughout the whole year.
| Climate data for Blue Hills Reservation (Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory), 1891−2010 normals, extremes 1885−present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
68 (20) |
89 (32) |
94 (34) |
94 (34) |
99 (37) |
100 (38) |
101 (38) |
99 (37) |
88 (31) |
81 (27) |
74 (23) |
101 (38) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.9) |
34.8 (1.6) |
43.4 (6.3) |
54.9 (12.7) |
66.3 (19.1) |
74.6 (23.7) |
80.0 (26.7) |
77.9 (25.5) |
70.9 (21.6) |
60.5 (15.8) |
48.8 (9.3) |
37.4 (3.0) |
56.9 (13.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 25.7 (−3.5) |
26.4 (−3.1) |
34.4 (1.3) |
44.7 (7.1) |
55.3 (12.9) |
64.1 (17.8) |
69.7 (20.9) |
68.1 (20.1) |
61.2 (16.2) |
51.1 (10.6) |
40.6 (4.8) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
47.6 (8.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18.4 (−7.6) |
18.9 (−7.3) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
36.5 (2.5) |
46.4 (8.0) |
55.4 (13.0) |
61.5 (16.4) |
60.3 (15.7) |
53.6 (12.0) |
43.4 (6.3) |
33.7 (0.9) |
22.9 (−5.1) |
39.8 (4.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) |
−21 (−29) |
−5 (−21) |
6 (−14) |
27 (−3) |
36 (2) |
44 (7) |
39 (4) |
28 (−2) |
21 (−6) |
5 (−15) |
−19 (−28) |
−21 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.24 (108) |
3.95 (100) |
4.61 (117) |
4.06 (103) |
3.70 (94) |
3.69 (94) |
3.64 (92) |
4.08 (104) |
3.94 (100) |
3.97 (101) |
4.36 (111) |
4.39 (112) |
48.63 (1,236) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 16.0 (41) |
16.1 (41) |
11.7 (30) |
2.9 (7.4) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
2.6 (6.6) |
11.4 (29) |
61.1 (156.01) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 132.1 | 146.7 | 174.0 | 185.6 | 220.2 | 231.8 | 258.1 | 242.5 | 204.1 | 182.1 | 133.3 | 125.9 | 2,236.4 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 46.3 | 50.9 | 48.5 | 47.9 | 50.4 | 52.7 | 58.0 | 58.7 | 56.7 | 55.1 | 47.0 | 45.9 | 51.5 |
| Source: Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center | |||||||||||||
Cool Places to See
The Observatory
The highest point in the park is Great Blue Hill in Milton. This is where you'll find the historic Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory. It was built in 1885. This makes it the oldest place in the United States that has continuously recorded weather! From its tower, you can see amazing views of Boston and the areas around it. The observatory and its tower are important historic sites.
Blue Hills Trailside Museum
The Blue Hills Trailside Museum is a fun place to visit. It's connected with the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Here, you can see animal exhibits both inside and outside. It's a great way to learn about the local wildlife up close.
Things to Do in the Park
Blue Hills Reservation is a fantastic place for outdoor activities. Many people come here for hiking and mountain biking.
When winter comes, you can go snowshoeing. There's even a ski area on Great Blue Hill for downhill skiing. You can also try cross-country skiing. During other months, you can go rock climbing in certain spots. Horseback riding is also allowed.
In the summer, Houghton's Pond and Ponkapoag Pond are popular for swimming and relaxing. You can also enjoy non-motorized boating, camping, and fishing. There are places for picnics and playing fields. In winter, you might even go ice skating. The park also offers special programs and has a playground for kids near the Hillside Street entrance to Houghton's Pond.
Images for kids
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Otter at Blue Hills Trailside Museum
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Trail on Great Blue Hill
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View of Boston skyline
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Blue Hills State Police Station H-7
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Blue Hills Reservation Parkways
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Brookwood Farm
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Chickatawbut Observation Tower
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Comfort Station
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Eliot Memorial Bridge
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Great Blue Hill Observation Tower
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Great Blue Hill Weather Observatory
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Massachusetts Hornfels-Braintree Slate Quarry
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Metropolitan District Commission Stable
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Old Barn
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Ponkapoag Camp of Appalachian Mountain Club
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Refreshment Pavilion
