Been wanting to check out these trails for a while now and today was the day. There was no clear address on yelp directions but it got me there correctly. There's a tiny little spot you can park right before the head of the trail but only enough for a few cars. I guess if you came and it was full you could park down the street. There is a pretty big lot there that usually has quite a few spots open. You'd have to walk a bit to the trail though. Great trail around Ponkapoag pond. My Fit bit says it was a little over 11,000 steps. Most trails are marked good. There are maps posted every so often and most have an arrow that point "you are here". I would suggest to bring a map although at the place where I started from the box holding the Maps was empty so I just took a picture of the one posted. Definitely bring bug spray! This place is loaded with bugs. I was pretty bitten up at the end of my walk. I stayed on the main trail but there were lots of small trails to go off on. I was pretty disappointed to see signage that said no bikes allowed on a lot of them though. That's a real bummer for me and my beloved mountain bike. Saw lots of beautiful birds and butterflies. Luckily I didn't run into any coyotes but just be aware that they are around. 3.5 stars. read more

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4.5 mile loop around Ponkapoag Pond in Canton. Parking can be a little challenging in the entryway to the park, or you can park at nearby Houghton's Pond and walk over. I love the "boardwalk" - a long series of linked planks leading through the bog to the pond. So scenic and a unique off-trail walk. The trail is rocky and rolling in parts and flat in others, with a brief paved portion along the golf course. The trail also passes the YMCA camping sites and outdoors center, and is fairly well traveled in all seasons. Great place for running, dog walking and hiking. read more

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Love it, it's pretty flat compared to the rest of the Blue Hills so it is good for families, joggers, and there's also a boardwalk going into a cedar swamp. Same exit as Houghton Pond off of I-93, just in the opposite direction, a map is posted at the trail head but it is always best to carry one with you (available next to the Milton State Police Barracks or at the Trailside Museum. A small warning - after visiting here for over five years I did come face to face with a coyote this winter from a distance of about 20', lucky for me I saw him - he didn't see me! Why not five stars = noise, this park is somewhat noisy due to nearby interstates though Ponkapoag is quieter than other parts of the Blue Hills. Size = Ponkapoag Pond is just over 200 acres, the area around it about another 800 acres or so, all within the 7,000 acre Blue Hills Reservation. read more

Kind of a strange trail that is easily accessible from a parking area almost directly off I-93 (to the east of the exit). You follow green dots through woods, along a golf course, by a pond with a small beach, and through a campsite area. The pond side walk is very pretty with lovely flora and a well-maintained trail, but the campsite and golf course kind of intrude on the feeling of being alone in nature. Part of the walk is actually an access road to the AMC cabins on the pond. The boardwalk into the bog is definitely worth the 30 minutes it will take (round trip). The bog has an unusual landscape and ends with a lovely view of the pond. It's an easy walk that you could do with a dog. Starting from the I-93 entrance, I'd go around the pond counter-clockwise so you start on the wilder part of the trail. Definitely bring bug repellant. There are lots of gnats on the north side of the trail. read more

Ponkapoag Trails - Pondside, after the golf course. - Parks Near Me

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The trails around the pond and by the gold course are excellent. It's a good 3 miles(ish) or more if you choose and there's no weird loiterers about. You'll find mostly couples and families (and some times horse back riders) out here. I've been a couple of times with the ex and would gladly go back if and when I'm in the area. read more

How did I not know this existed?! Probably because you have to walk through the golf course to get to it. Way worth the visit on the other side of great blue hill from the highway you walk through the golf course to the pond and a wide trail circles the whole pond. It is a 4 mile loop. The trail was really muddy when we went (November) and we didn't make it all the way around but I look forward to going again, next time we will wear hiking boots instead of sneakers. The walk through the golf course is pretty nice too the paved road for golf carts is lined in gorgeous big old maples. read more

The Ponkpoag trails are all along the 230-acre Ponkapoag Pond in the 8,500-acre MDC Blue Hills Reservation. I am a frequent runner here and it's peaceful, quiet, and really pretty. A great place to go during the day, especially when the weather is nice! read more

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Definitely worth the trip, especially during the warmer months when there are cranberries growing. read more

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Pretty walk but we had some older gentleman driving golf balls x2 across the path we walked along. He came very close to hitting my 8 yr old. We had 4 young children with us so it was upsetting. The walk through the boardwalk is lovely though. read more

This place is teaming with poison ivy! It is literally all over almost every part of the trails. It is all along the side of the road where people park - inches away - and on the edges of all the trails. Be very careful and know how to identify it. I learned the hard way by not paying attention and came back to look for it and found it everywhere! Otherwise a lovely park. read more

Nice walk but typical New England trail B.S. Nothing is labeled. No idea where the trails start or end. There's a map in the parking lot that is completely useless the minute you walk away from it. There's s a gate. Is it the start of the trail? I dunno. Which trail is it the start of? No idea. Where does it lead? The pond? Michigan? Narnia? Who knows. If you get lost I guess just scream or set your clothes on fire. That should solve everything. read more

Ponkapog Pond is a great hidden gem here in Canton! I've heard it caLLed by a few diff. names (fisherman's pond/fisherman's beach, ponky, etc.). If you drive on RandoLph st.(coming frm canton going twrds randoLph) on the Right hand side immideatly after the temple, theres a gate Looking thing, you pull down & can park in any 1 of the spots (its a dirt road). You waLk straight down & see a map of the pLace. Keep waLking straight past that map and you wiLL find a LittLe beach! I've seen many people bring kids here to swim, and even more people bring thier Dogs to swim! This place is AMAZING for fishing, but you have a MUCH better chance of catching fish if you have a boat/canoe/kayak. I've fished off shore here many times in the past&have maybe caught a few sm fish but considering the fact that people are usually on the beach, you wont have many places to cast...not sure about the opposite side across from the beach but if you foLLow either path 2the Left+Right of the beach, you can maybe find 2diff openings where only one person could fit. Theres a path that takes you around the entire pond & it's a reaLLy nice pLace to go if you enjoy waLking! I Like it best in Mid Spring, Summmer & FaLL is my favorite!! I always have a camera/phone on me because the sunset here is gorgeous! You can even see bLue HiLLs on the path (waLking from the beach taking the Left path, right at the end before Ponkapog GoLf Course)! I've seen many different wiLdLife / animaLs here such as snakes, birds, ducks, geese, fish, frogs & insects to name a few! This pLace is great for aLL ages, LittLe ones MUST be supervised &is aLso pet friendly too! :) read more

Really great trails here. Hidden and unknown to many, usually not crowded at all. Many people bring their dogs off leash and also many people horseback ride through there so keep an eye out for some nasty spots that can happen but nothing unnatural there! Your own fault if you do not keep an eye out. The trails are not superbly marked but you really can't mess it up to badly. read more

I lead a good number of hikes here all year long, and it is one of my favorite places for casual, leisurely strolls (mainly because its mostly flat with wide trails). The bog boardwalk on the northwest side of the pond is something special, as you feel like you are in a rain forest, eventually heading what feels like halfway out to the pond (which it isn't, actually). And the Ponkapoag Camp area is a great place for lunch, as they have picnic tables, a dock on the water, and huge pine trees to keep the sun out when the days are hot. The views aren't spectacular and the trails can be muddy at times, but this is a great area for walking if you're not up for anything too difficult in the Blue Hills. read more

Love it! My dog can't get enough! But why, if dog owners clean up after pets, don't horse owners don't do the same??? Poop is poop in the middle of the trail no matter what animal drops it. read more

BE CAREFUL OF YOUR BELONGINGS. Our car got broken into (windows smashed!) and my purse got stolen. It had very little of monetary value but a lot of things with sentimental value. If anyone sees a black leather purse, please report it to the police or try searching for me by my name on the internet (my name is inscribed next to the zipper on the purse). The boardwalk was nice but I can never go there again because I feel so unsafe and upset! read more

Definitely worth a visit. Wear waterproof shoes (and plenty of mosquito repellent if it's the summer) and head out along the boardwalk that takes you through a cedar bog. read more

My kids (8 and 10) and I walk/ hike quite a bit around the South Shore since we like to geocache but we all agree the Bog Boardwalk has to be the best or close to the best walk we have taken locally. The uniqueness of walking on the boards through the bog/ swamp, the beauty of the landscape- especially the tree branches and such framing the boards at times in almost a tunnel like arch and the out-of-the-way, rural, quiet nature of its location made it our #1. I would have ranked it a 5 but only for it is difficult to get to and it seems that you need to hit the weather right for some of the boards not to be submerged. We picked the wrong winter day and got our feet wet... we considered it part of the adventure. Difficult to get to... We considered that a plus but most people would consider it a con... it was like a treasure hunt for us. For those who do not like treasure hunts... Park in the Ponkie golf course/ ice skating rink parking lot, look to the right of the Ponkie club house- there is a small path/ road labeled Maple Ave, follow that all the way to the end of the road until the Ponkie pond is in front of you and take a left onto the dirt path in front of the pond, follow that all the way until you come to a V in the path (the V is almost next to Hole #3 in the golf course), veer right at the V and follow the path staying right and the boardwalk is a very small path off to the right on that path- it is not labeled so you need to look for it. read more