From Civic Leader to Conservationist
William F. Rogers was a devoted civic leader from Braintree, Massachusetts, whose lifelong passion for the Blue Hills helped transform the reservation into a cherished public recreation area. Serving for many years as Braintree’s town moderator, Rogers earned a reputation for fairness, dedication, and deep community commitment. Beyond town governance, he became one of the region’s most persistent advocates for preserving and improving public access to the Blue Hills Reservation, believing its forests, hills, and vistas should be enjoyed by all residents of Greater Boston.
Rogers worked closely with state and regional officials to support trail development, recreational planning, and winter sports opportunities in the reservation. Although not a skier himself, he strongly promoted the growth of the Blue Hills Ski Area, originally created by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, recognizing its value as an accessible winter destination for local families. His enthusiasm and leadership helped solidify the Reservation’s role as a year-round outdoor resource.
Photo courtesy of newspapers.com
In recognition of his decades of advocacy and affection for the Blue Hills, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) formally named the ski area in 1951 the William F. Rogers Ski Slopes (now Area). Today, his legacy endures in the landscapes he championed and the generations who continue to enjoy them.
Year Round — More Than Just Skiing
The Blue Hills Ski Area sits on the northwestern slopes of Great Blue Hill (sometimes called “Big Blue”) within the Blue Hills Reservation. The CCC cleared trails, built lifts, and established one of the earliest lift-served ski areas in the Boston region. Designed to make skiing accessible to local residents, the hill quickly became a popular winter destination for families and beginners. The ski area has since been modernized (including a local brew beer hut open during ski season), and remains the downhill ski spot closest to Boston (about 11 miles from downtown with Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford a distant second at about 28 miles from the city).
Visit the FBH calendar to see what’s going on in the park right now and later this year.
In the warmer months, the slopes serve as a major recreation hub. Spring and summer are a busy time for hikers, trail runners, dog trainers, amateur filmmakers, youth athletic groups, mountain athletes, and other visitors in the park. The steep grades are excellent for conditioning; many fitness enthusiasts will do hill repeats up Big Blue with weighted packs or vests (see the blog post: How To Train for a Spartan Race — Blue Hills Style for more).
The open ski runs provide sweeping views and connect to trails that can take you across the entire 7,000-acre Reservation. Visitors also use the area for nature walks, photography, and environmental education programs — making it a year-round outdoor destination.
Finally, if you’re in the mood for something cold like ice cream, Slopeside Scoops is the summer ice cream truck operating there, featuring locally made Ashland Farm Dairy ice cream. It’s located at the entranceway where you can get a cold beverage, or a hot dog, or any number of yummy flavored homemade ice cream after those grueling hill repeats.
More than seventy years after his name was given to the slopes, William F. Rogers’ influence is still easy to see in the Blue Hills today. What began as a vision for accessible, local recreation continues to play out across every season, with families learning to ski, runners tackling hill repeats, or visitors simply taking in the view from Big Blue. The activity and energy that define this place are a direct reflection of Rogers’ belief that the Reservation should be open, welcoming, and well-used. In that way, the William F. Rogers Ski Area remains not just a namesake, but a living part of his legacy.
Featured image: “Sunset of the Ski Slope,” by Christine Ryan of Plymouth