THRU-HIKING THE BBT

Since the launch of the Boston Boundless Trail, a lot of people have asked us if it’s possible to “thru-hike” the entire 90.9-mile trail in one go. The term thru-hiking refers to completing an entire long-distance trail in one sustained push. This usually involves tent camping, on traditional trails like the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. But in Greater Boston, thru-hiking is going to look a little different.

Since tent camping is sadly illegal in the green spaces utilized by the BBT, hiking the entire trail in one go and sleeping in various places along the way requires more creativity, planning, and wiggle room. BUT there are a couple methods with which a BBT thru-hike can be done! We’ve laid them out below:

OPTION #1: THE BOSTON BASECAMP METHOD
The simplest and most frugal approach to thru-hiking the BBT is going to be using Boston as a basecamp for your hike and utilizing public transit or a rideshare to reach the trail each morning. And at the end of the day, you’ll return to the city to rest up and recharge fo the next section of your thru-hike on the BBT.

The upside of the Boston basecamp approach is that you can choose from a much wider spectrum of lodgings. It could be your apartment or house, if you live in Boston! Or maybe a friend’s place. It might be an Airbnb or a hotel that has a special on stays of more than a few days. And while you won’t get the feeling of sustained immersion that comes with traditional thru-hiking, you will get the chance to enjoy the amenities of the city at the start and end of each day. And take it from us: After a long, sweaty day of urban hiking, stepping onto an outdoor dining patio or into a movie theater can feel extra delicious.

Think of the Boston Boundless Trail as the wheel of a bicycle, and the public transit connections from Boston to the trail’s 12 sections as the spokes. If you choose the Boston Basecamp Method for hiking the whole BBT, the spokes of the wheel are your means of getting on and off the trail, segment by segment. And remember, public transit connections are included in the directions for each segment of the trail.

OPTION #2: THRU-HIKING, THE REAL-ISH DEAL
If you’d prefer to hike the Boston Boundless Trail without shuttling in and out of Boston each day. . .and if you’re willing to take some detours from the BBT route, on foot. . .you can experience a version of on-trail thru—hiking. It’s going to lengthen your journey and it will most likely cost more. But still, it could be fun.

This alternative approach to thru-hiking the BBT will involve staying in various lodgings alongside the trail or somewhat close to it. In the latter case, you will have to venture off of the BBT route to reach the closest hotel and then backtrack to pick up the trail again the next day (by foot, rideshare, or in some cases, public transit.) Below, we have compiled a list of hotels located along or close to each section of the BBT. Since Airbnb listings are prone to changing often, you will need to investigate this on your own. For the trail-adjacent lodging options that require an off-trail detour, we will soon be publishing some additional navigational resources that will show how you can undertake each of these detours on foot.

SECTION 1: LONG WHARF NORTH TO SAVIN HILL BEACH (7.8 MILES)
Trailside Lodging
- Boston Marriott Long Wharf: Mile 0
- Boston Harbor Hotel: Mile 0.8
- The Envoy Hotel: Mile 1.1
- Global Luxury Suites South Boston: Mile 1.9
- YOTEL Boston: Mile 2
- Seaport Hotel: Mile 2.2
- Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport: Mile 2.5
- The Westin Boston Seaport District: Mile 2.6
- Homewood Suites Boston Seaport District: Mile 2.9
- The Nolan House B&B: Mile 3.6
- Thatch Quarters on Dorchester Street: Mile 3.6
- DoubleTree by Hilton Boston Bayside: Mile 5

SECTION 2: SAVIN HILL BEACH TO EAST MILTON SQUARE (7.8 MILES)
Trailside Lodging
- Ramada by Wyndham Boston: Mile 1.9
- Holiday Inn Express Boston-Quincy: Mile 6
Off-Trail Lodging
- Best Western Adams Inn Quincy-Boston: Mile 3.4 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 3: EAST MILTON SQUARE TO BLUE HILLS TRAILSIDE MUSEUM (9.7 MILES)
Off-Trail Lodging
- Hampton Inn Boston-Braintree: Mile 5.3 (TK-mile detour)
- Sonesta Simply Suites Boston-Braintree: Mile 5.3 (TK-mile detour)
- Best Western Braintree Inn: Mile 5.3 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 4: BLUE HILLS TRAILSIDE MUSEUM TO RIVERDALE PARK (11.1 MILES)
Off-Trail Lodging
- Homewood Suites Boston-Canton: Mile 0.7 (TK-mile detour)
- Hilton Garden Inn Boston-Canton: Mile 0.7 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 5: RIVERDALE PARK TO WABAN STATION (8.9 MILES)
Off-Trail Lodging
- Residence Inn Boston-Needham: Mile 4.7 (TK-mile detour)
- Homewood Suites Needham-Boston: Mile 4.7 (TK-mile detour)
- Sheraton Boston-Needham Hotel: Mile 4.7 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 6: WABAN STATION TO OAK SQUARE (7.1 MILES)
Off-Trail Lodging
- A Village Bed & Breakfast: Mile 1 (TK-mile detour)
- The Inn at Newton Highlands: Mile 1 (TK-mile detour)
- Alderwood Bed & Breakfast: Mile 4 (TK-mile detour)
- AC Hotel Boston Cleveland Circle: Mile 5.4 (TK-mile detour)
- Natalie House: Mile 6.4 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 7: OAK SQUARE TO DAVIS SQUARE (7.8 MILES)
Trailside Lodging
- Homewood Suites Boston-Cambridge-Arlington: Mile 6.9
Off-Trail Lodging
- The Perthshire House: Mile 0 (TK-mile detour)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Watertown-Boston: Mile 1.9 (TK-mile detour)
- Residence Inn Boston-Watertown: Mile 1.9 (TK-mile detour)
- Freepoint Hotel Cambridge: Mile 4.4 (TK-mile detour)
- AC Hotel Boston-Cambridge: Mile 6.3 (TK-mile detour)
- A Cambridge House Inn at Porter: Mile 7.3 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 8: DAVIS SQUARE TO BUNKER HILL MONUMENT (5.6 MILES)
Off-Trail Lodging
- The Davis Square Inn: Mile 0.2 (TK-mile detour)
- Morrison House Bed and Breakfast: Mile 0.2 (TK-mile detour)
- Holiday Inn Boston-Cambridge Area: Mile 2.4 (TK-mile detour)
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Boston-Cambridge: Mile 3.5 (TK-mile detour)
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Boston-Cambridge: Mile 3.5 (TK-mile detour)
- Hampton Inn Boston-Cambridge: Mile 4.2 (TK-mile detour)
- Residence Inn Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf: Mile 5 (TK-mile detour)
- Bed & Breakfast Afloat: Mile 5 (TK-mile detour)
- Courtyard by Marriott Boston Downtown-North Station: Mile 5 (Tk-mile detour)
- citizenM Boston North Station: Mile 5 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 9: BUNKER HILL MONUMENT TO CHELSEA SQUARE (8.2 MILES)
Trailside Lodging
- Moroccan Boutique Guest House: Mile 0.3
- Encore Boston Harbor: Mile 2.5
Off-Trail Lodging
- The Row Hotel at Assembly Row: Mile 1.9 (TK-mile detour)
- AC Hotel Boston North: Mile 4 (TK-mile detour)
- Fairfield by Marriott Boston-Medford: Mile 4 (TK-mile detour)
- TownePlace Suites Boston-Medford: Mile 4 (TK-mile detour)
- Backpackers Hostel & Pub: Mile 5.1 (TK-mile detour)
- Broadway and Main Hotel: Mile 5.1 (TK-mile detour)
- enVision Hotel Boston-Everett: Mile 5.9 (TK-mile detour)
- Hampton Inn Boston Logan Airport: Mile 6.5 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 10: CHELSEA SQUARE TO REVERE BEACH (5.3 MILES)
Trailside Lodging
- Holiday Inn Boston Logan Airport-Chelsea: Mile 3.3
Off-Trail Lodging
- TownePlace Suites Boston Logan Airport-Chelsea: Mile 0.4 (TK-mile detour)
- DoubleTree Boston Logan Airport-Chelsea: Mile 2 (TK-mile detour)
- Homewood Suites Boston Logan Airport-Chelsea: Mile 2 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 11: REVERE BEACH TO BEACHMONT STATION (4.7 MILES)
Trailside Lodging
- Winthrop Arms Hotel & Restaurant: Mile 2.5
Off-Trail Lodging
- SpringHill Suites Boston Logan Airport-Revere Beach: Mile 0 (TK-mile detour)

SECTION 12: BEACHMONT STATION TO LEWIS MALL WHARF (6.7 MILES)
Off-Trail Lodging
- StayBridge Suites Boston Logan Airport-Revere: Mile 0 (TK-mile detour)
- Holiday Inn Express Boston Logan Airport-Revere: Mile 0 (TK-mile detour)
- Hilton Garden Inn Boston Logan Airport: Mile 2.5 (TK-mile detour)
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Boston at Logan Airport: Mile 5.7 (TK-mile detour)