Are there any outdoorsy hikes accessible from the T in the Boston area, preferably (but not necessarily) actually in Boston or Cambridge

Question

Because of illness in my family, I cannot travel far from home for awhile, and have to be able to return quickly if necessary. However, I will be in Boston at the end of February visiting MIT and would like to have the illusion that I am in TGO for one or two half-days, (a) preferably, but not necessarily, actually in Boston or Cambridge; and (b) preferably but not necessarily accessible by the T. (Do they still call the rapid transit the T?)

I am very familiar with the area around MIT, but it has been years since I was anyplace in the Boston/Cambridge area outside of the MIT/Boston Commons axis. By "the illusion that I am the TGO" I mean, at a minimum, that the sounds and sights of traffic are at least greatly muted and there is no-one walking in high heels. Walking along the Charles or in the Public Gardens/Commons is pleasant, but it is unmistakably in the city.

Answer 1

At closest, your options are probably Hammond Pond in Newton (right off the green line) or Arnold Arboretum in Forest Hills (right off the orange line). Hammond pond is more of a walk a little down the trial, turn off and find a secluded spot and sit and relax. As the area is really small and surrounded by roads, it would be hard to get lost so you could wander around the woods off the trails for an afternoon if that is what you want. Arnold Arboretum is much bigger and you could conceivably spend an afternoon on trails (or you could find a secluded spot and sit).

A little further out, but still inside RT 128, are Quincy Quarries/Blue Hills Reservation, Middlesex Fells, and Lynn Woods. You can definitely spend 1/2 a day wandering the trails in these parks. Middlesex Fells and Blue Hills are more T accessible than Lynn Woods. All would be easy (and reasonably affordable) to get to via Uber (or T and then Uber) Of the 3 I like Lynn Woods more, but that is probably because I used to bike there as a child.

Places like Walden Pond, Hopkington State Park (the start of the Boston marathon), and others are outside RT 128, but still inside I495. They are pretty hard to access by the T, but an Uber would be expensive, but easy.

Answer 2

Middlesex Fells is a great location just north of the city. It's fairly T-accessible and is as close to TGO as you'll get in metro Boston. Trail Map and info

Answer 3

I’ll let you do the mapping but you’ve got a couple of good options. The Arnold Arboretum is walking distance from Forest Hills Station (directions by different methods, including Forest Hills Station are provided here), and while it’s more of a very large park and you’ve got to get off the main paved paths for any solitude, it can be done. For real wilderness Blue Hills Reservation in Milton is more of a schlep with multiple transfers but the fire tower view from the summit is impressive and some of the trails feel quite remote.