34 WILSON MOUNTAIN HIKE

KEY AT-A-GLANCE INFORMATION

LENGTH: 3.47 miles

CONFIGURATION: Loop

DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate

SCENERY: Woods, spring-fed wetlands, and a meadow sown with wildflower species especially attractive to butterflies

EXPOSURE: Mostly shaded

TRAFFIC: Moderate to heavy

TRAIL SURFACE: Packed earth topped by loose gravel, some rock face

HIKING TIME: 1–2 hours

SEASON: Year-round sunrise–sunset

ACCESS: Free

MAPS: Posted at entrance

FACILITIES: None

SPECIAL COMMENTS: A good hike for families

WHEELCHAIR TRAVERSABLE: No

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM BOSTON COMMON: 19 miles

Wilson Mountain Hike

UTM Zone (WGS84) 19T

Easting: 318737

Northing: 4680850

Latitude: N 42° 15' 32"

Longitude: W 71° 11' 52"

Directions

From Boston take I-90 west 9.4 miles to I-95 south via Exit 15. From I-95 south take Exit 17 to reach MA 135. Continue on MA 135 toward Dedham. The parking lot is 0.5 miles ahead on the right.

IN BRIEF

Tall enough to fit its name, yet accessible to hikers of all abilities, Wilson Mountain is minutes away from the center of Boston’s neighbor, Dedham. Following a trail that loops around the mountain’s base then climbs to its rocky peak, you will enjoy peaceful woods, gurgling streams, and a meadow that at the height of summer is resplendent with wildflowers and butterflies.

DESCRIPTION

In 1995 an out-of-town developer visited Wilson Mountain and conjured a plan to grade its ruts, backhoe out its boulders, and, once it was bare, “improve it” with a shopping mall. The scope of the development meant zoning would need to be considered, reconsidered, and possibly changed. A special town meeting was therefore scheduled to give the townspeople a chance to voice their thoughts and vote yea or nay, not only for the acres of asphalt, linoleum, and accompanying goods, but for the last sizable tract of open space in Dedham. The vote was unanimous, and Wilson Mountain’s 216 acres were saved.

Head uphill from the parking lot, following the wide gravel-topped path into woods. Keep to the right, passing another path bearing left. Within a few hundred yards, this path, identified by green blazes, forms a “V” with the red and green trail. A tree beside it bears the number 21. To escape city sounds and feel peaceful pines close by, take the narrow red and green trail. Traveling southwest over exposed roots and angular rocks spit up by the hill, and what looks like the forehead of an earth-enshrined granite giant, the trail reaches a high point.

From here, hiking becomes less strenuous. Less rocky, the path is now made of packed earth, mottled with patches of sand, the remains of pulverized boulders. After passing through a stone wall, perhaps built by Mr. Wilson for his family’s cows, the trail rounds a bend and climbs to intersection 24. Here the red trail hikes up and to the right, and the green trail goes left easing downhill. On this slope cooled by shade cast by pines, hemlocks, ashes, and basswood trees, the acoustics amplify the whoosh of cars slicing through air on a nearby road.

At the next intersection, the trail is, disconcertingly, marked 18. Bear left to stay on the green trail. For a pleasant, virtually rock-free stretch, the trail travels south up a slight grade. Then, closing in on the reservation’s boundary, it contracts in width and doubles back to head northeast, descending past knotted swamp oak and spry sassafras. This sheltered eastern side of the hill harbors mountain laurel and woodland wildflowers, including lady’s slippers (Cypripedium acaule). Easy to miss, this endangered member of the orchid family can live for 100 years but may flower only 10 to 20 times in its lifetime. Because of its rarity, identifying the plant’s twin oval leaves spread flat against the ground (to optimize photosynthesis), gives nearly the same thrill as spotting the single purple-pink blossom of the orchid in bloom.

Several unmarked paths split off from the green trail as it sweeps uphill again over pine needle–fed humus, which, besides being easy on the feet, is the basis of life for myriad forest creatures ranging in form and appeal from the lady’s slipper to American robins (thrushes misnamed by colonists who missed their British robins) to mushrooms (some deadly, some delicious). Stay on course with the green trail at both intersections 16 and 17, and at a split beyond, cross planks bridging a modest stream. In summer, the leaves of lindens and basswood trees fan the air above the trickling water. Nearby a fractured stone wall, looking tired and disorientated, traipses through this tract, which in farming days was pasture land.

Heading north past abutting residential property, the trail crosses more wetland. Rough slabs of wood provide dry footing over pooled tea-colored water. Granite-hewn upland casts shadow from the right. Pitching downhill, the green trail passes junction 15, veering away to cross a stream. Dazzling in the heat of a summer day, dragonflies and fluttering butterflies stir the vaporous atmosphere. Weaving north then west, up then down between hill and mire, the trail expands and flattens as it nears a road.

Insulated from the road and its light-but-steady traffic by a thick buffer of woods, the trail winds alongside it to a rock formation looking like the spine of a monster arching out of the earth. The trail then aims southwest, eases downhill, and frees itself from the road. Leveling at wetland once more, the trail meets an enormous boulder at the center of a clearing. Carried here by creeping ice thousands of years ago, the granite monolith is pinned in place by sassafras trees deeply rooted on opposing sides.

Wetland, perhaps born of glacial meltwater, picks up again beyond the boulder. An inviting pool to the left tempts passersby and dares jaded city slickers to give up inhibitions and at least dip their feet. Passing between the water and upland crag, the trail meanders southeast. Quiet that includes squawking blue jays and chirping chickadees takes over. Here, the city seems a thousand miles away. Dipping downhill over smooth ground, the trail arrives at junction 11. Sidetrack onto the right-hand path for an alternate route to the peak; otherwise, stick with the green trail to quickly reach the parking lot.

For those wanting more, steer right of the parking lot to take up the red and green trail once again. This time, bear right at junction 21 to take the red trail up Wilson Mountain’s western slope. Featuring jagged ledges, cliffs, and plenty of mammoth glacial erratics, this route is a dramatic counterpoint to the green trail. A massive mound of granite marks Wilson Mountain’s highest point, and, though it offers very little in terms of a view, it makes a perfect throne for anyone naming themselves “King of the Mountain.” From this great rock, follow the red trail as it serpentines around the peak, rising and falling with hillocks and hollows to eventually arrive at junction 24, where it reunites with the red and green trail. Bear left here and hike back downhill.

If you still balk at returning to your car, there is yet another diversion to consider. Where the red and green trail filters toward the parking lot, a second trail veers off to the right. Climbing a gentle incline, this route leads to a hidden meadow passing a collapsed cabin with an intact chimney along the way. Attractive to deer looking for fodder in the drab winter months, this round acre or so is a fantastic butterfly garden bursting with blossoming bee balm, aster, Queen Anne’s lace, and terrifically tall coneflower in the summer months.

When ready, follow the path of trodden grass southwest across the meadow back into woods. At the three-way junction you reach moments later, take the left-most trail and follow a stream on its northeast course to a pond below. Look for basking turtles, frogs, or a blue heron, and then turn heel and hike back to the parking lot.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

To round out the day before or after hiking, you can catch a movie at the Dedham Community Theater, established in 1927 and located in the town center (580 High Street, Dedham; [781] 326-0409). Besides showing the best in cinema, the theater houses the Museum of Bad Art. Unlike most movie houses, the concessions stand serves beer, wine, and hot chocolate in addition to sodas, candy, and popcorn.