Blue Hills Reservation is a 7,000-acre state park about 10 miles south of downtown Boston and one of Greater Boston’s largest undeveloped conservation areas. Spread across several communities, it preserves rugged hills, ponds, wetlands, forests, and rare habitats that support varied wildlife, including endangered snakes. Its name comes from the hills’ bluish color, and the name Massachusetts is linked to the Massachusett people’s word for the hill. Land bought in 1893 as one of the state’s earliest public recreation areas helped establish metropolitan park protection. Historic features include Great Blue Hill, the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory, and the Trailside Museum, while year-round recreation has made the reservation a lasting part of metropolitan Boston life.

Milton, Massachusetts · USA