Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Canton, Massachusetts

At the base of Great Blue Hill lies Canton, populated by over 24,000 residents, and characterized by extensive green spaces, including reservations, ponds, historic estates, and golf courses.

The Blue Hills Reservation stretches across the northern section of the town, offering breathtaking views, hiking opportunities, and a variety of attractions from a functioning meteorological observatory to a summer beach.

In the early 19th century, Paul Revere—a pivotal figure in the American Revolutionary War—established a copperworks in Canton, which has since been revitalized into a heritage park.

Canton is also home to the museum for Mass Audubon’s extensive art collection, alongside the well-managed Trailside Museum in the adjacent Blue Hills.

1. Blue Hills Reservation

A significant portion of northern Canton is designated as a 7,000-acre state park, representing one of the largest conservation areas in Greater Boston.

The Blue Hills Reservation features the eponymous range of granite peaks that create a distinctive east-west ridge, providing stunning vistas of the Boston skyline, Boston Harbor, and a sweeping view of the South Shore.

The highest point, Great Blue Hill, partially falls within Canton’s boundaries, rising to 635 feet and serving as the highest point in the metropolitan area.

Visitors can ascend the Eliot Observation Tower (1934) for an impressive panoramic view, while the Great Blue Hill Weather Observatory (1885) pioneered meteorological science in the late 19th century.

For those seeking a challenging outdoor experience, Great Blue Hill is part of a series of summits along the blue-blazed Skyline Trail.

2. Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate

Adjacent to the Blue Hills Reservation, this graceful 90-acre country retreat was established in 1902 by Dr. Arthur Tracy Cabot.

The renowned architect Charles A. Platt (1861-1933) designed the Colonial Revival mansion, integrating modern conveniences, formal gardens, and grand carriage rides.

Subsequently, Cabot’s niece, Eleanor Cabot Bradley, along with her husband, Ralph Bradley, enhanced the property by adding a sunken camellia garden, ponds, and an art studio.

A focal attraction near the house is the Italianate walled garden, lush with dogwood, azalea, and rhododendron, along with splendid displays of tulips and lilies during the spring and summer months.

Surrounding the gardens are 60 acres of woodlands and wetlands, offering picturesque views of an operational farm. The Trustees of Reservations also host wedding ceremonies on this estate during the summer.

3. Museum of American Bird Art at Mass Audubon

Opposite Canton High School is a museum dedicated to the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s extensive art holdings, which have expanded since the organization’s inception in 1896.

Featuring a diverse array of styles and disciplines, visitors can appreciate thoughtfully curated exhibitions year-round.

The museum is also situated on a 121-acre estate along the west side of Pequit Brook, comprising two miles of trails that traverse pine-oak woodlands, meadows, red maple swamps, and vernal pools.

For birdwatchers and photography enthusiasts, a bird blind is located within the meadow.

4. TreeTop Adventures

This award-winning high ropes course in the woods of Canton attracts thrill-seekers from across Greater Boston.

TreeTop Adventures is designed for individuals aged seven and older, accommodating a wide range of skill levels from beginners to advanced climbers, featuring ten color-coded trails.

These trails are categorized akin to ski mountain runs—three beginner, four intermediate, two advanced, and one expert.

Each trail progressively rises higher above the forest floor, offering increasingly challenging obstacles, including tightropes, rolling logs, ladders, and nearly 30 zip lines.

5. Paul Revere Heritage Site

Paul Revere (1735-1818) is well-known for his Midnight Ride to alert colonists of the British advance prior to the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, and he was also an innovative industrialist. In 1801, he established North America’s inaugural rolled copper mill in this very location.

The site has been preserved as a nine-acre park alongside the Neponset River, featuring walkways, interpretive signage, a millpond, waterfalls, and two historical structures.

The restored Copper Rolling Mill and the Historic Horse Barn, both constructed by Revere’s son, Joseph Warren Revere (1777-1868), were vital to the company’s success during the 19th century.

At the time of this article’s publication, there were plans to establish the Paul Revere Museum of Discovery and Innovation at this location.

6. Canton Corner Historic District

Spanning 300 years of history, the old center of Canton extends along Washington Street from Pecunit Street in the northeast to Dedham Street in the southwest.

Washington Street was established at the turn of the 18th century, marking the location of Canton’s first meetinghouse in 1707.

The Canton Corner Historic District was designated in 2009 and showcases architecture from those early years, prominently featuring the David Tilden House (1725) located at 93 Pleasant Street.

The district’s oldest public structure is the First Parish Unitarian (1824) at 1508 Washington Street, exemplifying a blend of Federal and Gothic Revival styles.

Nearby, there is a beautifully renovated lakefront park at the Earl Newhouse Waterfront on Reservoir Pond, offering amenities for fishing, picnics, walking, and non-motorized boating.

7. Blue Hills Trailside Museum

Numerous attractions await visitors in the Blue Hills, notably the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, which has been managed by Mass Audubon since its establishment in 1957. This modern, interactive facility offers an engaging introduction to the area’s wildlife and natural history.

A particular highlight for families is the collection of enclosures housing live animals, including red foxes, an otter, and various birds of prey, all of which have been rehabilitated and cannot return to the wild.

The museum hosts programs and special events suitable for all ages, alongside a popular summer camp and an accessible trail equipped with a rope guide and educational resources available in multiple formats, including audio and Braille.

8. Trillium Brewing Company

Established in 2017, this craft brewing brand from Boston inaugurated a second location in Canton, utilizing a spacious 16,000-square-foot facility that includes a 30 bbl brewhouse, taproom, restaurant, and patio.

Trillium is renowned for its high-quality artisanal beers, particularly its hop-forward pale ales, with at least a dozen available among the 30+ taps at the time of this writing.

The upscale menu features a variety of shareable dishes and wood-fired pizzas, using ingredients sourced from Trillium’s own farm in North Stonington, CT, promoting sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.

9. Ponkapoag Pond

Spanning over 216 acres, this shallow reservoir marks the boundary between Canton and Randolph in the southern part of the Blue Hills Reservation.

Given its marshy surroundings, the shores of Ponkapoag Pond remain largely undeveloped, with the exception of the camp operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club on its eastern bank.

Accessing from Canton, one can follow the Ponkapoag Pond Trail starting at the YMCA center, where a rustic and narrow boardwalk meanders through the cedar evergreen forest and open marshland, eventually connecting with a trail encircling the pond.

10. Signal Hill

Situated to the west of Canton, Signal Hill rises 188 feet above I-95 and the Neponset River within a preserve managed by the Trustees of Reservations.

From these rugged outcroppings, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of Great Blue Hill in the foreground and the Boston skyline in the distance. The ascent is relatively light, following an unpaved cart path that winds through meadows and wooded areas.

Birdwatching is rewarding here, as hawks can be seen gliding on thermals between the river and the Blue Hills, while archaeological significance arises from paleolithic charcoal remnants left by pre-Columbian inhabitants around 12,000 years ago at the conclusion of the last Ice Age.

11. Houghton’s Pond Recreation Area

A remarkable natural feature within the Blue Hills Reservation is this 24-acre kettle hole pond, sustained by springs and formed around 10,000 years ago at the close of the last Ice Age.

Houghton’s Pond is enveloped by a mixed forest and is named for a British settler who resided along its shores at the beginning of the 18th century, marking the start of the Houghton farming legacy. In the summertime, visitors frequent the sandy beach along the northern shore for sunbathing and swimming.

There are five picnic areas around the pond, a concessions pavilion near the parking area, and facilities for active recreation to the southeast.

12. Blue Hills Ski Area

Located just within Canton’s boundaries, the Blue Hills Ski Area has proven to be a favored destination for winter sports enthusiasts in the Boston area since its inception in 1950. Over time, several generations of families have initiated their skiing journey on this approachable mountain.

Blue Hills provides ski education programs for all ages and ability levels, along with options for private instruction.

Season extension is supported by progressively enhanced snowmaking facilities. Covering 60 acres, the area includes 16 trails serviced by four lifts, as well as a terrain park and night skiing capabilities.

13. Global Flight Adventures

If you have ever been curious about the experience of piloting an airliner, this can be safely accomplished at a state-of-the-art flight simulator in Canton.

Global Flight Adventures features a Boeing 737NG simulator that closely resembles real cockpit conditions. Following an informative briefing, beginners will have the opportunity to execute at least one takeoff and one landing.

Student pilots can utilize the simulator to rehearse various maneuvers, while certified pilots can engage in IFR flights and approaches.

Additionally, a Cessna 172 simulator with 4K digital displays provides an introduction to single-engine flying.

14. Brookmeadow Country Club

Ranked among the finest public courses on the South Shore, Brookmeadow Country Club is an 18-hole par 72 track that has been operational for over 50 years.

Set against a rolling terrain at the foot of the Blue Hills, some holes on this course may play a full club longer than they appear due to the inclines—most notably the 7th, 11th, and the long par 4 18th hole.

The club features a well-appointed practice facility, which includes a driving range with targets at 50 to 250 yards, and an expansive putting green for honing skills.

The Grille Room offers meals and drinks post-round, in addition to a Halfway House positioned between the 9th and 10th holes for a rejuvenating stop.

15. Canton Ice House

This contemporary ice facility, which opened in 2016, serves as the home rink for various local high school teams and hosts a multitude of men’s, women’s, and youth hockey and skating programs.

The Canton Ice House features two NHL-size rinks, as well as a cafe located on the upper level, providing views of both rinks.

The venue is equipped to host regional hockey and figure skating competitions, along with countless local league games and practice sessions each week.

Despite its busy schedule, Canton Ice House accommodates public skating, freestyle sessions, and structured hockey practices throughout the year.