The Incredible Hike In Massachusetts That Leads To A Fascinating Abandoned Ski Area
By Kim Falchek|Published December 01, 2023
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Kim Falchek
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Kim Falchek has been exploring the towns, trails, and hidden gems of Massachusetts since her college days in Boston. When not writing, Kim enjoys photography, going on road trips, and spending time at the beach. Kim has previously been a contributing writer for LA Family Travel, Global Munchkins, and Latched Mama. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts where she and her family embrace all things Halloween!
I’m always excited when I set out to explore a new place and unexpectedly find out that the spot is filled with an interesting or colorful past. This very experience happened to me just a few months back, when my husband and I found ourselves with a free day off. The weather was beautiful and it was the perfect day for a morning hike. We headed to the city of Waltham and followed the OIYS Waltham day trip recommendations, starting with a stop at beautiful Prospect Hill Park. We quickly learned there was more to the park than first meets the eye!
Waltham’s Prospect Hill Park (not to be confused with Prospect Hill in Worcester ) is a spectacular public outdoor recreation area. The park has a ton of activities for all ages, including a picnic area, playground, spray park, pickleball court, basketball court, kiddie area, and hiking trails.
Photo by Kimberly Falchek
The park was also once home to the Prospect Hill Ski Area.
The Prospect Hill Park hike is a 2.9-mile loop trail that takes about an hour and a half to complete. The trail is open to visitors year-round.
Photo by Kimberly Falchek
We picked up the trail near the kiddie amusement area (definitely check this out if you have little ones). Although the trail is classified by AllTrails as a popular hike, we only passed a few people along the way.
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The loop trail is considered to be moderately challenging. The steep uphill climb at the beginning was the hardest part of the hike. Once you get past this part, the hiking gets easier.
Photo by Kimberly Falchek
I have to admit that I was breathing hard for a few minutes there.
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The trail (which includes intersecting paths) was very well-kept and nice and clean. There were lots of trail markers along the way and we also had strong internet service so we could download a map.
One of the most interesting parts of this hike was discovering these old graffitied buildings. They appear to be lift operation shacks left over from the days when the ski area was in use.
Photo by Kimberly Falchek
The Prospect Hill Ski Area operated from the late 1940s until 1990. It was just a short drive from Boston and a popular spot to visit. The ski area went through several changes, updates, and different owners over the years. There were once multiple T-bar lifts, a rope tow, several ski runs of various degrees of difficulty, and a lodge. There were also lights for night skiing.
Photo by Kimberly Falchek
The ski area was eventually overcome with financial difficulty and closed for good in 1990. While it would be nice to have a current-day ski mountain so easily accessible from Boston, we are lucky to have such a beautiful place to hike today.
This hike also contains many points of interest that aren’t related to the abandoned ski area. While we walked, we passed by a water tower, fireplaces, old stone walls, and a former radar station.
Photo by Kimberly Falchek
And when we reached the summit, we were rewarded with some beautiful city views.
Photo by Kimberly Falchek
Have you hiked up Prospect Hill? Or maybe you remember skiing there as a child. We would love to know all about your experience. More information about visiting or hiking Prospect Hill can be found on the city of Waltham’s official website. If you enjoy discovering abandoned places, you should definitely attempt the Ford’s Folly hike in Waltham and the trails at Maudslay State Park in Newbury. I also recommend checking out the book Abandoned Massachusetts: Lost Treasures of the Bay State.
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