This is a great winter hike to start the new year!  It’s great for health and meeting old friends and making new ones.  Get limbered up after the holidays and step off on your new year.

“The Arnold” is a great Boston and world resource that everyone should know.  It is arguably the biggest and most beautiful jewel of Boston’s Emerald Necklace designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (also NYC Central Park).  It houses one of world’s very best and most carefully curated “living collections” of temperate trees and shrubs arranged along a variety of trails on over 280 acres of built landscape in the natural style. 

The hike is very adaptable to your fitness level, desired output and the conditions of the day.  For people questioning their fitness for various levels of exertion, this is a great opportunity to hike with those who know and can give you feedback.  You can challenge yourself and cut the hike short at any time if needed. Only if the day is extremely “slushy” (snow+rain+wind precipitation combination) will it be rescheduled to Sunday (notice via e-mail).  Otherwise, we’re on.  Hiking is about being adaptable to changing conditions. 

Bring layers, hats, gloves, winter hiking boots, etc.  It can get windy and very “fresh” on the hilltops.  Bring your knapsack if you want to get feedback on how it would work on a hike in the White Mountains or if you want to test your new gift for fit and chafing when loaded.

We'll start at the Administration Building just inside the main gates (top of the stairs).  There are washrooms (heated) and other facilities there.  I’ll survey the group to see what kind of hike we want to do based on the day’s conditions.  Don't be late.  Our policy is to wait only 15 minutes past the designated start time for people who have registered and not checked in.  It's a courtesy to everyone.  If you can't come - please post it online where you registered (this page).

The clear day hike is 3.7-mile loop that tops the two major hills in the park, both of which offer views to the Boston Skyline in winter.  The pace will be moderate and the path is a combination of trails and/or paved roadway.  It should take 2-3 hours to complete the hike at a comfortable strolling pace. We’ll end at the gate - only a few blocks to the center of Jamaica Plain where we’ll go for beer and/or hot soup for an early evening after the hike.

I am a professional horticulturist who knows trees relatively well.  If you want to exercise or improve your plant identification skills, this is the place to do it. Winter is a great time to learn the different conifers (pines, hemlocks, spruce, cedar, etc.).  If there’s enough interest and the conditions are right we may divert part of the hike to that part of the Arboretum’s collection.  Learn to look at trees and it’s amazing what you’ll see!

The Arboretum website has years’ worth of information for you on just about any aspect of the park that you’d like to research.  It’s a recent addition to the Harvard University family of public offerings.  It is extremely well connected to the Boston Community.

We are considering making this hike a monthly event if there’s enough support and people are willing to step forward and help.  Leading this event is a great way to learn how to lead trips for Gay Outdoors.  Please join in. It's designed to be convenient and low risk for everyone.

If you’re new to GO and want to learn more, this is a great way to start.  Please come along.

Hope to see you there!

~ Mike Walsh

Directions: 

Driving: Easy!  Google Maps “125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130” and it will get you there by driving or public transportation.  Parking (free) is along the main road (the Arbor Way) at the entrance to the park. 

Via the MBTA Orange LIne: It’s only a 10-minute walk from Forest Hill Station on the Orange Line.  Use the address above.  It's West (L) on Hyde Park Ave. in front of the station to North (R) on Arbor Way.  The arboretum is then on the left.