Three color-coded loop trails were marked with blazes and intersection numbers in 2021. The loops range from 0.8 miles to 1.4 miles. Longer walks are possible by combining two or three of the routes. Detailed descriptions of each route appear below.
This rough map shows the routes. The Newton Conservation Areas map will soon be updated to include this information.
Detailed Trail Descriptions
Blue Trail (1.4 miles)
Access is from the DCR Hammond Pond Reservation parking lot, behind The Street Chestnut Hill. From the DCR kiosk at the northwest corner of the parking area, follow the wide, blue-blazed trail past a popular rock-climbing cliff, then bear left at intersection 1 and right at intersection 2. Entering Webster Conservation Area, bear left at intersections X and W, and right at intersection Y. At Hemlock Vale the Blue Trail continues across a boardwalk over Tarn Pond Brook, passes through several intersections, and then takes a sharp left at intersection U, just before the MBTA Green Line. (Instead of turning left at U, continue straight across the MBTA tracks for access to Houghton Garden and the former Deer Park in the northeast section.) The Blue Trail soon reaches Hammond Pond Pkwy. Cross the parkway, turn right, and walk along the wide shoulder for 100 yards. Enter the woods at a trailhead sign. Follow the marked trail through intersection G to the junction with the Green Trail at intersection J, with the high ledge of Gooch’s Cave on the left. Turn left and follow the Blue and Green trails around the cave and past Cake Rock. Turn left at intersection O, keeping Cake Rock on your left, and follow the Blue Trail back to Hammond Pond Pkwy. Cross the parkway, turn right, and walk along the wide shoulder for 125 yards. Enter the woods at intersection 4. Continue down the trail across a small bridge, and turn right at intersection 3. Follow the Blue Trail over a steep hill and back to the parking lot.
Green Trail (0.8 miles)
Access is from the end of Warren St. (on-street parking, or a 10-min. walk from the Newton Centre Green Line station). Enter the woods and walk through a gate next to the undeveloped Webster Playground. Turn left at intersection D. At the fence next to the MBTA tracks, the trail makes a sharp right. Continue through intersection E. Bear left at intersection H and continue to intersection J, where the trail joins the Blue Trail. Turn right on the combined Blue and Green trails and walk past Gooch’s Cave and Cake Rock. At intersection O, the Blue Trail turns left. Continue straight on the Green Trail to intersection P. Turn right on a trail in the woods that runs parallel to the Boston College driveway and parking lot. At intersection K, the trail joins a wide dirt road. Continue on the dirt road, turning right at intersection B. Pass a spur to Elgin Street (where on-street parking is also available) at intersection C, and continue to intersection D. Turn left to return to the trailhead.
Red Trail (0.8 miles)
Access is from the DCR parking lot on the west side of Hammond Pond Pkwy, behind The Shops at Chestnut Hill. The trailhead is at a corner where the driveway from Hammond Pond Pkwy. turns left. Continue on the driveway and park in the DCR parking lot, and walk back to the trailhead, where stairs lead down to the trail.
Turn left at intersection 5 and continue through intersections 6 and 7, passing Cat Pond, a small vernal pool. At intersection 8 (a 5-way junction), take a sharp right to stay on the Red Trail. Bear right at intersections 9 and AC to reach a large vernal pool, Bare Pond. Continue on the blazed trail past intersections AE and AF to intersection 6. Turn left, and then right at intersection 5 to return to the trailhead.
Southwest Section Circuit on Green and Red Trails (1.5 miles)
This route combines segments of the Green and Red trails and two marked Red-Green connectors to form a 1.5-mi. loop. This description begins at the DCR parking area behind the Shops at Chestnut Hill (see Red Trail description), but it can also be done starting at the end of Warren Street, which is accessible by MBTA (see Green Trail description).
From the trailhead at the DCR parking lot, follow the Red Trail through intersections 5, 6, and 7. At intersection 8, leave the Red Trail and take a Red-Green Connector trail, which is marked with “To Green Trail” blazes. Where this trail reaches the Green Trail at intersection B, continue straight. Follow the Green Trail past intersections C and D. (Intersection D is where you would begin the walk starting from the end of Warren Street.) Continue along the trail as it turns sharply right at a fence along the MBTA tracks. Follow the Green Trail through intersections E, H, and I to where it joins the Blue Trail as it turns right at intersection J. Continue on the Green Trail past Gooch’s Cave and Cake Rock and through intersection O, where the Blue Trail leaves to the left. Turn right to stay on the Green Trail at intersection P. At intersection K, cross the wide dirt road onto another Red-Green Connector, marked with “To Red Trail” blazes. At intersection AD, the connector approaches Bare Pond, a large vernal pool. Bear left on the Red Trail and follow it past intersections AE and AF to intersection 6. Turn left, and then right at intersection 5 to return to the trailhead.
The Grand Tour (2.6 miles)
This route combines most of the Red, Green, and Blue trails to form a 2.6 mile loop. This description begins at the DCR parking area behind the Shops at Chestnut Hill (see Red Trail description), but it can also be done starting at the end of Warren Street, which is accessible by MBTA (see Green Trail description).
From the trailhead near the DCR parking lot, follow the Red Trail through intersections 5, 6, and 7. At intersection 8, leave the Red Trail and take a Red-Green Connector trail, which is marked with “To Green Trail” blazes. Where this trail reaches the Green Trail at intersection B, continue straight. Follow the Green Trail past intersections C and D. (Intersection D is where you would begin the walk starting from the end of Warren Street.) Continue along the trail as it turns sharply right at a fence along the MBTA tracks. Follow the Green Trail through intersections E, H, and I to where it joins the Blue Trail at intersection J. Continue straight ahead on the Blue Trail to Hammond Pond Pkwy. Turn right, and walk 100 yards on the wide shoulder. Cross the parkway and enter the woods at a trailhead sign.
Continue on the Blue Trail past intersection T, and turn right at intersection U. Go straight through intersections V, Y, and W, and bear right at intersection X. Bear left at intersection 2 and walk past intersection 1 to the Hammond Pond Parking lot. At the edge of the lot, turn right and follow the Blue Trail up the hill. Continue on the Blue Trail, and turn left at intersection 3. The trail reaches the parkway at intersection 4. Turn right on the wide shoulder. Walk 125 yards, cross the parkway, and enter the woods at a trailhead sign. Continue past intersection S. Turn left onto the Green Trail at intersection O. Turn right to stay on the Green Trail at intersection P. At intersection K, cross the wide dirt road onto another Red-Green Connector, marked with “To Red Trail” blazes. At intersection AD, the connector approaches Bare Pond, a large vernal pool. Bear left on the Red Trail and follow it past intersections AE and AF to intersection 6. Turn left, and then right at intersection 5 to return to the trailhead.
