When you think of skiing in the suburbs south of Boston, Blue Hills is the first place that comes to mind. The 635-foot summit in Canton has been a destination for downhill skiers since the 1930s.
And if you’re a fan of cross-country skiing, even more opportunities await.
Cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, is a favorite pastime of Judy Lehrer Jacobs, executive director of the Friends of the Blue Hills, a local nonprofit that works to preserve and protect the Blue Hills Reservation, the state-owned park that covers more than 7,000 acres in Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Milton, Quincy, and Randolph.
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While her daughter and family enjoy zipping down the manmade snow-covered slopes of Great Blue Hill, Lehrer Jacobs prefers to propel herself with her cross-country skis and poles through different parts of the reservation, taking in the winter scenery and views of frozen ponds, snowy wetlands, oaks, hickories, and evergreens.
“Downhill is not my thing,” said Lehrer Jacobs, 47, of Easton, with a laugh.
One of her spots to cross-country ski is Fowl Meadow, “because it’s flat and you can glide real easily,” she said. Other times, she might park her car on Route 28 and go around Hawk Hill. If there’s not much snow on the ground to begin with, she heads to Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton, which is also part of the Blue Hills Reservation.
“The skiing on Ponkapoag is very mellow,” she said. “It’s a good place for beginners.”
Ponkapoag has no set trails, so skiers are free to roam around the fairways and glide down the gentle slopes of the 36-hole golf course. Lehrer Jacobs also enjoys the trails around Ponkapoag Pond.
All hiking trails in the Blue Hills Reservation are available for cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing, and best of all: they’re free. But unlike the downhill ski area, the trails are not groomed, and there is no snow-making. You have to rely on Mother Nature to provide enough powder.
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Most trails in the Blue Hills are relatively rocky, so at least 8 to 12 inches of snow is necessary for cross-country skiing, according to Lieutenant Tom Bender, a Department of Conservation and Recreation park ranger.
If there’s only a few inches, the golf course is the way to go.
“What we tell people is, if they want to ski this weekend, go to Ponkapoag Golf Course,” said Bender. “If people call and ask, that’s where we tell them to go. . . . It’s a wonderful place to ski.”
“It’s a very pretty course. When you’re out there, it’s nice and peaceful,” he said. “It’s very serene.”
Just remember to stay off the putting greens, he added, so as not to damage them.
Besides the golf course, there are other locations where you can park your car, put on your skis, grab your poles, and explore Blue Hills trails. Six recommended starting points are listed in a brochure titled “Ranger Tim’s Cross-Country Ski Routes,” which is available at the Trailside Museum or can be downloaded from the DCR website. It suggests the Trailside Museum’s north parking lot (1904 Canton Ave., Route 138, Milton); the Ponkapoag Golf Course parking lot (2167 Washington St., Route 138, Canton); Braintree Pass Path parking lot (at Route 28 and Chickatawbut Road); the main parking lot at Houghton’s Pond (840 Hillside St. in Milton), Fowl Meadow parking lot (intersection of Neponset Valley Parkway and Brush Hill Road); and the Shea Memorial Rink parking lot (651 Willard St. in Quincy).
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The routes in the brochure range from 1 to 4 miles long, from easy to advanced. The most difficult is a 3-mile trail around Hemenway Hill that requires skiers to navigate a steep slope aptly named Breakneck Ledge Path.
Blue Hills is open every day from sunrise to sunset, and it is not the only place for cross-country skiing. Other DCR parks that allow Nordic skiing include Ames Nowell State Park in Abington, Borderland State Park in Easton, Ellisville Harbor State Park in Plymouth, F. Gilbert Hills State Forest in Foxborough, Myles Standish State Forest in Carver, and Wompatuck State Park in Hingham.
The Trustees of Reservations also owns several properties south of Boston where cross-country skiers are welcome. They include Francis William Bird Park in Walpole, Moose Hill Farm in Sharon, World’s End in Hingham, Whitney and Thayer Woods in Hingham and Cohasset, and the Governor Oliver Ames Estate in Easton.
Tell us what you think: Where are your favorite places to ski? Share your thoughts with us in an e-mail to globesouth@globe.com.
Outdoor recreation spots south of Boston
Whether you prefer skiing, sledding and tubing, or skating, there are many places for cold-weather fun south of Boston.
Skiing
Ames Nowell State Park , Abington: More than 10 miles of trails snake around the edge of Cleveland Pond and into the surrounding woods. 781-857-1336
Blue Hills Reservation , Milton: The Blue Hills Reservation, stretching over 7,000 acres just south of Boston, has miles of ski routes ranging from easy, smooth paths to steeper, more strenuous trails. 617-698-1802
Moose Hill Farm , Sharon: This 347-acre former “gentleman’s farm” is a popular spot for cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and walkers with 3.5 miles of trails through meadows and woods. 781-784-0567
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Francis William Bird Park, Walpole: Perfect for beginners, this park offers 3 miles of flat pathways through meadows, past duck ponds, and over stone arch bridges. 508-668-6136
Wompatuck State Park, Hingham: All the Wompatuck trails west of Union Street are reserved for cross-country skiing in the winter, and are mainly wooded bridle paths and hiking trails. 781-749-7160
Borderland State Park, Easton : For a $2 parking fee, visitors can ski around a popular 3-mile loop, although like many state parks, the trails aren’t maintained in the winter. 508-238-6566
Whitney and Thayer Woods, Cohasset/Hingham: 10 miles of carriage roads wind through forests and fields, offering up views of the Boston skyline. 781-740-7233
Sledding and tubing
Coast Guard Hill , Marshfield: One of the more popular hills in Marshfield, Coast Guard Hill is a steep climb, but Marshfield recreation director Ned Bangs says it’s worth it. “The view from the top is one of the best around because you’re gazing out at the Atlantic Ocean,” he said.
Borderland State Par k , Easton/Sharon: Of all the hills at Borderland State Park, one behind the Ames Mansion is the most popular for sledding and tubing. 508-238-6566 or borderland.park@state.ma.us
Higashi School , Randolph: This hill in front of the Higashi School is popular with children, offering a not-too-steep descent with plenty of room for sleds to come to a stop at the bottom.
Pierce Playground Hill , Middleborough: This spot offers an expanse of sledding hills ranging from short slopes appropriate for younger children to steeper ones for the older and more adventurous.
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South Shore Country Club , Hingham: A steep hill along Old New Bridge Street is extremely popular with older children and teenagers and is usually full of sledders. The hill is often icy and is definitely a “sled at your own risk” place; not recommended for young children.
Borden Colony Hill, Raynham : The Borden Colony Recreation Area off Thrasher Street plays host to a popular sledding hill with a fairly steep slope.
D.W. Field Park, Brockton : There are trees on both sides of this hill, which ends in a wide open area.
Skating
Yardley-Wood Rink , Easton: The free outdoor rink offers atmosphere as well as fun, with a large stone fireplace that’s usually burning and hot cocoa for sale. The rink does not offer skate rentals.
Armstrong Arena , Plymouth: Admission is $5 and rental skates are $5 at Armstrong Arena, an indoor skating rink that has public skating sessions every day and offers “Frozen Friday DJ Skate” on Friday evenings. 508-746-8825
Patriot Place , Foxborough: Winter Skate at Patriot Place, a professionally maintained outdoor rink, is open seven days a week right next to the many stores and restaurants in the busy shopping center. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors. Skate rentals are $4. 508-203-2100 or winterskate@patriot-place.com
Connell Rink , Weymouth: Run by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, this outdoor rink holds public skating hours from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 2 to 4 p.m. on weekends. 781-335-2090
Metropolis Skating Rink , Canton: Run by the Canton Recreation Department, this rink features both public hockey and public skating sessions. Admission is cheap — $3 for adults and $2 for children — but there aren’t skate rentals available. 781-821-5030
Shea Memorial Skating Rink, Quincy: Besides playing host to many youth hockey leagues, Shea has public skate times scheduled on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays throughout the winter. Skate rentals are available. 617-512-802
Asiaf Arena, Brockton: Skate rentals here are $5 on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s public skating everyday except Saturday and, on Fridays, Frozen Friday DJ Skate. 508-583-6804
The Bog Ice Arena, Kingston: Popular with locals, the Bog holds both public skating and public hockey times. Skate rentals aren’t available. 781-585-2111
Emily Sweeney can be reached at emily.sweeney@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @emilysweeney.