Women on bridge Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries.
Women on bridge Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries.
Man with a gray Mass Audubon shirt and blue glove holding a peregrine falcon.
Blue Hills Trailside Museum, Milton

Blue Hills Trailside Museum

  • Milton

Plan Your Visit

Operated in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Blue Hills Trailside Museum is the welcome center for the 7,000-acre Blue Hills Reservation, featuring a natural history museum and indoor and outdoor live animal exhibits of non-releasable native wildlife.

Directions to Blue Hills Trailside Museum
Hours
Museum
  • Wednesday-Sunday
  • 9:00 am-4:00 pm
  • Monday Holidays & Vacation Weeks
  • 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Outdoor Exhibits
  • Daily
  • 9:00 am-4:00 pm
See Trail Maps

Connect with Blue Hills Trailside Museum

Property Regulations

  • Foot travel only; please stay on trails (day passes are available for powered mobility devices)
  • Dog walking and horseback riding are prohibited; please leave all animals and pets at home (service animals welcome)
  • Camping, collecting, smoking, hunting, fishing, releasing of animals, and feeding wildlife is prohibited.
  • Commercial photography needs prior approval; please see all photography guidelines.

Facilities

  • Parking
    Parking
  • Nature Center/Museum, Universally Accessible
    Nature Center/Museum, Universally Accessible
  • Trail, Universally Accessible
    Trail, Universally Accessible
  • Restrooms, Universally Accessible
    Restrooms, Universally Accessible
  • Picnic Tables
    Picnic Tables

Explore Blue Hills Trailside Museum

  • A Red Fox standing in green vegetation, looking at kids viewing it through a glass panel.
    Blue Hills Trailside Museum, Milton
  • Woman with a gray Mass Audubon shirt and orange glove holding a white and black owl.
    Blue Hills Trailside Museum, Milton
  • An indoor play and learning area for children. The ceilings are painted a sky blue, trees are painted on the walls with different interactive exhibits around the room.
    Blue Hills Trailside Museum, Milton
  • A wet river otter laying down on a rock surrounded by water.
    Blue Hills Trailside Museum, Milton
  • A Snow Owl stands on a log with snow on it. The bird is inside a large enclosure with snow-covered trees in the background.
    Blue Hills Trailside Museum, Milton

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Upcoming Programs

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Museum History

Trailside Museum first opened its doors in 1959. Mass Audubon took over management in 1974. Since then, the museum continues to evolve, reaching 300,000 people each year.

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Partnership with the State

Blue Hills Trailside Museum, which serves as the interpretation center for the state-owned Blue Hills Reservation, is owned by the state and managed by Mass Audubon. 

What This Means