Boston Common to Blue Hills Reservation
How to get from Boston Common to Blue Hills Reservation on public transit, with the stops, times and the last trip of the night.
Boston Common to Blue Hills Reservation
- Red Line
- Mattapan Trolley
- Bus 716
- Walk about 4 min to Park StreetFrom Boston Common
- Take the Red LineToward Ashmont9 stops, about 19 min
- Change at Ashmont
- Take the Mattapan TrolleyToward Mattapan7 stops, about 10 min
- Change at Mattapan
- Take bus 716Toward Canton Village Shoppes8 stops, about 16 min
- Get off at Canton Ave opp Blue Hills Ski AreaThe stop after Blue Hill Ave from Milton St to Green St
- Walk about 4 min to Blue Hills Reservation
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Walk about 4 min to Park Street, then take the Red Line to Ashmont, the Mattapan Trolley to Mattapan, then bus 716 to Canton Ave opp Blue Hills Ski Area, and walk about 4 min. The trip takes about 72 minutes (68-80 min depending on the connection). On weekdays bus 716 runs about every 40 min during the day.
Get the live route from Boston Common to the Blue Hills
Step by step
- From Boston Common, walk about 4 min to Park Street.
- At Park Street, take the Red Line toward Ashmont.
- Ride 9 stops, about 19 min. Get off at Ashmont, the stop after Shawmut.
- At Ashmont, change to the Mattapan Trolley toward Mattapan.
- Ride 7 stops, about 10 min, through Cedar Grove, Butler, Milton, Central Avenue, Valley Road and Capen Street, and get off at Mattapan.
- At Mattapan, change to bus 716 toward Canton Village Shoppes.
- Ride 8 stops, about 16 min. Get off at Canton Ave opp Blue Hills Ski Area, the stop after Blue Hill Ave from Milton St to Green St.
- Walk about 4 min to Blue Hills Reservation.
Other ways to go
- Walk about 6 min to Downtown Crossing, then take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Ruggles, the Providence/Stoughton Line toward Providence to Canton Junction, then bus 716 to Washington St from Royal St to Canton Ave: about 76 min.
- Walk about 4 min to Park Street, then take the Red Line to Ashmont, bus 24 to Mattapan, then bus 716 to Canton Ave opp Blue Hills Ski Area, and walk about 4 min: about 77 min.
Which one is faster depends on when you leave. Cobblehop compares them with live times and gives you the one that gets you there first.
Times and frequency
| Day | First trip | Last trip | How often (daytime) | Trip time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday-Friday | 5:10 am | 7:21 pm | About every 40 min | About 72 min |
| Saturday | 7:11 am | 5:47 pm | About every 45 min | About 63 min |
| Sunday | 7:09 am | 5:45 pm | About every 45 min | About 67 min |
First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves Park Street, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for bus 716 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Park Street at 7:21 pm and gets to Blue Hills Reservation around 8:32 pm, using Orange Line and bus 31 and bus 716. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 5:47 pm, and on Sunday nights at 5:45 pm. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.
Tips for this trip
- Check the Red Line branch. Trains to Braintree don't go to Ashmont. Look for Ashmont on the train sign.
- Know your stop. Get to the door after Blue Hill Ave from Milton St to Green St. The next stop is Canton Ave opp Blue Hills Ski Area. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Changing at Ashmont. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for Mattapan Trolley.
- The Trailside Museum on Canton Avenue (Route 138) in Milton is the main visitor stop in the Blue Hills.
Step-free access
MBTA data lists every station on this route (Park Street, Ashmont and Mattapan) as accessible. Park Street has 6 elevators in MBTA data. Elevators do break, so check the MBTA's elevator alerts before you go.
What it costs
- Subway and bus. The subway is $2.40 one way, and a local bus is $1.70. Under an MBTA pilot that started September 1, 2026, you can change between bus and subway within 2 hours of your first tap and pay only the highest fare, if you use the same card or phone each time.
- How to pay. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, phone or watch at the fare gate or bus door, or use a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket.
- Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.
Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's fares page before you ride.
Boston Common to Blue Hills Reservation: common questions
How do I get from Boston Common to Blue Hills Reservation by public transit?
Walk about 4 min to Park Street, then take the Red Line to Ashmont, the Mattapan Trolley to Mattapan, then bus 716 to Canton Ave opp Blue Hills Ski Area, and walk about 4 min. The trip takes about 72 minutes (68-80 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Boston Common to Blue Hills Reservation?
About 72 minutes on the main route, or 68-80 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Ashmont and Mattapan. Walk about 4 min to Park Street, then take the Red Line to Ashmont, the Mattapan Trolley to Mattapan, then bus 716 to Canton Ave opp Blue Hills Ski Area, and walk about 4 min.
How often does bus 716 run?
About every 40 min on weekdays during the day, about every 45 min on Saturdays and about every 45 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Boston Common to Blue Hills Reservation?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Park Street at 7:21 pm and gets to Blue Hills Reservation around 8:32 pm, using Orange Line and bus 31 and bus 716. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 5:47 pm, and on Sunday nights at 5:45 pm.
Related routes
- Boston Common to Legacy Place
- Boston Common to Boston Nature Center
- South Station to Blue Hills Reservation
- North Station to Blue Hills Reservation
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Boston Common
- Boston Common to Forest Hills Cemetery
- Boston Common to Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital
- Boston Common to Arnold Arboretum
- Boston Common to Franklin Park Zoo
- Boston Common to White Stadium
- All routes from Boston Common
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Schedules on this page come from MBTA/MassDOT public data. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:
- MBTA: Red Line
- MBTA: bus None
- MBTA: bus 716
- MBTA: Park Street station
- MBTA: Ashmont station
- MBTA: Mattapan station
- MBTA: fares
- MBTA: elevator and accessibility alerts
Published October 30, 2026. Times were computed from the fall 2026 MBTA schedule (2026-11-04 for weekdays). Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
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