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Arnold Arboretum Winter Hike

This winter hike at The Arnold is a perfect way to boost your health, reconnect with friends, and meet new adventurers.

Arnold Arboretum Winter Hike

This winter hike at The Arnold is a perfect way to boost your health, reconnect with friends, and meet new adventurers.

Details

This winter hike at The Arnold is a perfect way to boost your health, reconnect with friends, and meet new adventurers.

Why The Arnold?
The Arnold Arboretum is one of Boston’s greatest treasures and a world-class resource. Part of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace (yes, the same visionary behind NYC’s Central Park), the Arboretum hosts one of the globe’s most carefully curated living collections of temperate trees and shrubs across 265 acres of natural-style landscape. It’s stunning in every season—especially in winter.

About the Hike
This hike is adaptable for all fitness levels—great for beginners and seasoned hikers alike. It’s a supportive environment if you're unsure what level you’re ready for—we’ll help you gauge how you feel, and you can shorten your hike at any time. Winter hiking is all about adjusting to the day’s conditions.

  • Distance: 4.1-mile loop
  • Elevation Gain: 230 ft
  • Highlights: Summits of the two major hills with winter views of the Boston Skyline and more
  • Pace: Moderate, comfortable strolling
  • Estimated Time: ~3 hours
  • Terrain: Mix of trails and paved roads

After the hike, if there’s interest, we’ll head to a nearby restaurant for a late lunch.

What to Bring
Dress in layers—hats, gloves, and winter hiking boots are a must. The hilltops can feel fresh!
Bring your pack if you'd like feedback on how it fits for future White Mountains trips or want to test out new holiday gear. If you have Microspikes in case we encounter any icy surfaces, it doesn’t hurt to bring them.

Meeting Spot & Timing
We’ll start at the Main Gate on Arborway, and restrooms are available at the Visitor Center.
Please don’t be late—our policy is to wait only 15 minutes past the start time for registered hikers. If you can’t make it, kindly remove yourself online.

New to GO?
This is a fantastic event to dip your toes in (well, inside warm boots!). We’d love to meet you.

Hope to see you there!
~ Mike & Jon

Directions

Driving: Easy!  Google Maps/GPS “125 Arborway, Boston, MA” and it will get you there by driving or public transportation.  On-street parking is limited, but there are municipal parking lots a couple of blocks away on Burroughs Place.  

Via the MBTA Orange Line to Forest Hills Station and exit through the Arnold Arboretum door. Continue west on Arborway [toward MA 1] to the gate.

Saturday, January 31, 2026
Boston, MA · Directions
Meet at 10:30 AM
Hosted by Gandalf
17/50 signed up
Arnold Arboretum Winter Hike

About this event

This winter hike at The Arnold is a perfect way to boost your health, reconnect with friends, and meet new adventurers.

Why The Arnold?
The Arnold Arboretum is one of Boston’s greatest treasures and a world-class resource. Part of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace (yes, the same visionary behind NYC’s Central Park), the Arboretum hosts one of the globe’s most carefully curated living collections of temperate trees and shrubs across 265 acres of natural-style landscape. It’s stunning in every season—especially in winter.

About the Hike
This hike is adaptable for all fitness levels—great for beginners and seasoned hikers alike. It’s a supportive environment if you're unsure what level you’re ready for—we’ll help you gauge how you feel, and you can shorten your hike at any time. Winter hiking is all about adjusting to the day’s conditions.

  • Distance: 4.1-mile loop
  • Elevation Gain: 230 ft
  • Highlights: Summits of the two major hills with winter views of the Boston Skyline and more
  • Pace: Moderate, comfortable strolling
  • Estimated Time: ~3 hours
  • Terrain: Mix of trails and paved roads

After the hike, if there’s interest, we’ll head to a nearby restaurant for a late lunch.

What to Bring
Dress in layers—hats, gloves, and winter hiking boots are a must. The hilltops can feel fresh!
Bring your pack if you'd like feedback on how it fits for future White Mountains trips or want to test out new holiday gear. If you have Microspikes in case we encounter any icy surfaces, it doesn’t hurt to bring them.

Meeting Spot & Timing
We’ll start at the Main Gate on Arborway, and restrooms are available at the Visitor Center.
Please don’t be late—our policy is to wait only 15 minutes past the start time for registered hikers. If you can’t make it, kindly remove yourself online.

New to GO?
This is a fantastic event to dip your toes in (well, inside warm boots!). We’d love to meet you.

Hope to see you there!
~ Mike & Jon

Directions to the trailhead

Get directions
Opens turn-by-turn directions to Boston, MA, 02108 in Google Maps (new tab).

Driving: Easy!  Google Maps/GPS “125 Arborway, Boston, MA” and it will get you there by driving or public transportation.  On-street parking is limited, but there are municipal parking lots a couple of blocks away on Burroughs Place.  

Via the MBTA Orange Line to Forest Hills Station and exit through the Arnold Arboretum door. Continue west on Arborway [toward MA 1] to the gate.

Who's going (17)

Gandalf SUSTAINING
Gandalf
Thornton, NH
TrailBlazer GUEST MEMBER
TrailBlazer
Thornton, NH
HikerBiker SUSTAINING
HikerBiker
Manchester, NH
JR GUEST MEMBER
JR
Boston, MA
pmgnoho GUEST MEMBER
pmgnoho
Boston, MA
A member
Profile hidden
AdrIanB GUEST MEMBER
AdrIanB
West Roxbury, MA
E SUSTAINING
EdHarrington
Jaffrey, NH
P GUEST MEMBER
Paulin02118
Boston, MA
H GUEST MEMBER
hikerbuddy
New Bedford, MA
Keith26.2 GUEST MEMBER
Keith26.2
West Roxbury , MA
P GUEST MEMBER
PC176
Newton, MA
A member
Profile hidden
BILL0624 GUEST MEMBER
BILL0624
Derry, NH
J GUEST MEMBER
Jlw
GOSHEN, NH
A member
Profile hidden
LewLasher SUSTAINING
LewLasher
Cambridge, MA

Questions about this event?

Reach out to the host, Gandalf, for route details, carpooling, or what to bring.

Email the host

You can also ask in the event discussion below.

Event discussion

Gandalf · Jan 2, 2026
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thanks for such interest!!! So many have signed up, I'm not sure we can pull off having lunch together for anyone interested since we would overwhelm the kitchen and staff.
LewLasher · Jan 30, 2026
Given the abundant recent snow, is anyone bringing snowshoes?
Gandalf · Jan 30, 2026
Unless someone who lives nearby has better intel, my understanding is that "Snow-ops" is keeping the Olmsted carriageways clear so that we won’t need snowshoes. I was going to take some paths off the carriageways but I may bypass them if we need snowshoes.
LewLasher · Jan 30, 2026
Given the abundant recent snow, is anyone bringing snowshoes?
JR · Jan 30, 2026
I was there the day after the storm. All the paved roads are well plowed, not sanded, not salted. I walked around only in boots. I also walked along some unpaved trails, including Hemlock Hill (the third and lesser traveled hill). Everything was well packed. Snowshoes do not make sense for this plan.
LewLasher · Jan 30, 2026
Given the abundant recent snow, is anyone bringing snowshoes?
emsinjp · Jan 30, 2026
Hi there - I agree with Johnny and his comment. I walk a few miles through the Arboretum most every day. The last snowstorm dumped about 23 inches on us and the Arboretum is now a real winter wonderland. The paved roads are all plowed well and mostly sanded. A lot of the known and trodden trails are all packed down with snow. Off the trails you would need snowshoes to get around well. In any case, it should be a great walk for the group! Ed

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