You don't need to cover much distance to
find a path worth walking down

By Tony Chamberlain, Globe Staff, 10/31/97

Trekking New England by foot or bike usually begins at the Berkshires, the Green or White Mountains -- northern and western gateways. Cape Cod is closer, but some find the summertime tourist deluge overwhelmimg.

Mountain and shore getaways usually require a week minimum, lots of planning, and at least a modest wad of travelers checks, no matter how pure your intentions of roughing it.

But taken for granted in our region are some magificent minimalist treks very close to home, some within the Route 128 belt. These are spots for a day trip -- a good, solid day on boot or pedal -- tucked into the aura of civility we know affectionately as The Hub.

Greater Boston by foot

From the Emerald Necklace to the Harbor Islands, from the Blue Hills to the Great Meadows of Concord, even if the names don't resonate with the mystery of faraway adventure, they sure are handy. And beautiful. And, in some cases, challenging.

-- No, it's not Cathedral Ledge in Conway, N.H., but give Big Blue (that's what skiers call it) a chance. The Blue Hills, of course. Settled between the towns of Milton and Quincy, this 7,000-acre Metropolitan District Commission park is a touch of fabulous wilderness with a view of the Boston skyline from about 650 feet. That's the summit of the granite ledge where the ski area was built half a century ago, which in skiing's offseason invites hikers to take a moderately difficult climb up the face. Both skiers and hikers find out quickly that Big Blue is a little steeper than one thinks.

Lately, the MDC has been keeping the park in mint condition, from the hiking trails to the parking lots, and after walking the two 5-mile loops, newcomers tend to be amazed at seeing so much open outdoor land (35 square miles) so close to the city (8 miles). It is, in fact, the largest such tract in what could be described as city environs.

Cycles are welcome on many of the trails, and those closed are well-marked. (No bikes are allowed in winter -- Jan. 1 to April 15.) Houghtons Pond centers one of the loops, and though it's a bit nippy for swimming now, the pond only enhances the wilderness feel of the park.

Blue Hills is easily reached from the Southeast Expressway and Routes 128, 138, and 28. These roads surround the park, and there are large parking lots at each entrance. Check out the Trailside Museum (Route 138), and by all means climb the stone observation tower on the summit. This 360-degree view puts Boston and its surroundings into perspective.

-- Ike's heart doctor, Paul Dudley White, worked hard to get America hooked on bicycling in the '50s. Since then his name has been memorialized by any number of bike paths around the country, one of the busiest and most interesting being part of Boston's best outdoor playground, the Charles River Esplanade.

Bostonians know well how busy and well-used are the lush greens running along both sides of the Charles, and suburbanites who think they have the corner on leafiness will find the city surroundings -- skyline, a river full of sails and rowing sculls, Frisbee-throwing college kids by the thousands -- a refreshing change.

There are two loops -- 11 miles Boston to Cambridge, and 7 miles Cambridge to Watertown -- peopled by bikers, hikers, runners, bladers, boarders. The Boston side is wider with more options, including the Hatch Shell and grounds. But on those Sundays when Memorial Drive is closed to motor vehicles, the Cambridge side becomes a kind of riverside park. Though the parking is not too bad, the T is the way to get there.

-- Also in the city is the Arnold Arboretum, the 265-acre botanical walkway associated with Harvard. This is a favorite spot in spring, a lovely downtown refresher for Bostonians. Located off the Arborway (Jamaicaway), the Arboretum has walkways such as Conifer Path, Hemlock Hill Road, and Willow Path. There are some hills to climb, though this locale won't make you forget the Mahoosuc Range. Brussey Hill offers one of the best views in the park. The Arboretum is a link in the Emerald Necklace, a 15-mile bikeway running westward from Arlington Street and the Public Garden.

-- Who goes to Nahant? It's not exactly on the way anywhere; most people take a left on the Lynnway and keep heading north. But for walkers and bikers looking for the rocky coast setting closest to Boston, Nahant is the place, with about 8 miles of pathways that climb up to overlooks of the beach and coast.

The town has done a nice job detailing these grounds with turf and picnic areas. The shore of Nahant Beach Reservation drops off the high ground to meet another popular walk and bladeway along Lynn Shore Drive all the way to Swampscott. This is a fabulous summertime area to stretch the legs, but when the winter wind is in the north, it's a polar trek.

-- Three hills rise above Hingham Bay and look across to Boston Harbor. Wonderful for skiing after a snowstorm, this 250-acre spit known as World's End has an easy 7-mile walk with some very pretty views of the southern bay stretch of Boston's waterfront. Planter's Hill, Rocky Neck, and World's End are the three hillocks in the reservation. The eastern border is the pretty Weir River. World's End is found off the Route 3A rotary in Hingham; follow Summer Street.