Wilson Mountain, at 213 acres, is the largest remaining piece of open space in Dedham and offers a variety of habitats to explore, from woods and wetlands to swamps and rocky ledges. Two trail options start from the parking lot: Red Dot Trail is a short hike, less than 1 mile, whereas Blue Blaze Trail is 2 miles long and offers a lot more variety.

Along Blue Blaze Trail, you’ll come to an irresistible formation of boulders (begging to be climbed by most kids) and boardwalks crossing over marshes. Various trees make up the mixed woods: pine, birch, ash, maple, oak, hemlock, and more. A few sections of the hike are challenging, with some steep hills, but overall the trail is easy enough for older kids, and is good for snowshoeing in winter.

Along the trail, some forest birds you may spot are tufted titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, and flickers. At the summit of Wilson Mountain, you can enjoy great views of Boston. This hike is so close to the highway that sometimes you can hear cars rushing by, but rather than disturbing the peace of the hike, the sound is a reminder of how lucky we are that places like this are so accessible to urban dwellers.

Remember: Keep your dog on a leash and clean up after it.

Stony Brook Reservation (Trip 15) in Hyde Park is less than 5 miles away and offers hiking trails, playgrounds, swimming, fishing, and much more on 475 acres.

A variety of dining establishments are in Dedham Center, on High Street, and on Boston–Providence Turnpike.