Blue Hills Reservation Access Road (Milton, MA)

Blue Hills Reservation
Milton MA, 02186

Over the past few months I've been training for the infamous Deerfield Dirt Road Randonee. Otherwise known as D2R2, this ride presents a formidable challenge comprising of several dirt road hill climbs through Massachusetts and Vermont. The scenery promises to be breathtaking, yet the ride promises to be punishing. While the South Shore offers many hill climbs towards the east (Scituate, Cohasset, Hingham, and Quincy), there is none other than Mount Blue.

Conveniently located off Route 93 in Milton, Blue Hills offers many cyclists in the area a climbing experience unlike any other. Parking is conveniently located next to the trailside museum off of Route 28. From here, simply walk the short path over to the paved road and begin your ascent. An observation post lies at the summit and provides some interesting history and stats. From the bottom of the lot to the top is literally one mile.

I completed about five laps in about an hour (including breaks) and felt every minute of it. While each climb felt the same for my legs, I learned something important. Most hills are easily divided into three parts. When planning a climb, it's good to know where the grade changes are so as not to waste energy too early. Climbing is essentially about energy conservation. At Blue Hills (a one mile climb), the divisions are much more distinct than your typical rolling hill. I noticed what appeared to be six relatively different grades to the climb. Cognizant of this, I soon learned to keep in the saddle during flats and out during pitches. This helped me maintain forward momentum while conserving energy. Lesson learned: strategize your climbs in order to save your legs later.

Overall, this spot is an excellent place to punish yourself in preparation for your next big ride.