Peter’s Brook Trail and Penny Preserve, Blue Hill

You can do a few loops at this wooded preserve, which is bisected by the charismatic Peter’s Brook. A particularly nice one is the loop around Peter’s Brook that encompasses the falls. If you start at the first parking area you reach along East Blue Hill Road going east, away from town, you can make a roughly 1.5-mile loop up along the brook to the waterfall and back down. (It’s about 0.5 miles to the falls if you go directly there.)

Half of the loop, on the east side of the brook, follows a wide, fairly easy trail up to the fabulous falls. The Blue Hill Heritage Trust says the pool below is good for swimming! The other part of the trail, on the west side of the brook, is well built, with a couple of beautiful wooden bridges.

From the waterfall, you can head over to the trails on Penny’s Preserve. Expect some hills. A couple of the paths follow the pretty brook. When I visited in the winter of 2019, there were no bridges over the stream, and it was somewhat difficult to cross.

Close to Route 176, there is the remains of an old granite quarry that is interesting to check out.

Directions: Parking for Peters Brook is on the East Blue Hill Road, 0.6 mile from its intersection with Rte. 172 in Blue Hill. Park at the little lot at the end of the cove (enjoy the view!), and walk across the road bridge about 100 feet or so to the trailhead on the left. You’ll see the kiosk in the woods. Continue up the road just a bit for the second three-vehicle parking area for the rest of the trail system.