Blue Hills Reservation

Headquarters Path

7.6 mi · ▲ 943 ft · 3 hr

Headquarters Path is a 7.6-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near East Milton, MA. It climbs 943 ft. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi75 – 440 ft8.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.24202, -71.04940
Nearest town East Milton, MA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Headquarters Path

7.6 mi · ▲ 943 ft · 3 hr

Elevation 76–440 ft

Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation

Trailhead: 42.24202, -71.04940

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 6:47 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  3. 200 ftBear right, heading N.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  5. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  8. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  9. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  10. 100 ftBear right, heading W.
  11. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  14. 0.3 miSharp right onto Headquarters Path, heading SE.
  15. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  16. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  17. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  18. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  21. 0.4 miTurn right onto Bouncing Brook Path, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  24. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  25. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  26. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  28. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  30. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  31. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  32. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  33. 250 ftBear right onto Headquarters Path, heading N.
  34. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  35. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  36. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  37. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  38. 0.5 miBear left, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  40. 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  41. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  42. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  43. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  44. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  45. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  46. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  47. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

29% dirt19% paved15% gravel37% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 6:47 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:27 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 6:47 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:15 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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