AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Blue Hills Reservation

Headquarters Path

8.2 mi · ▲ 1,028 ft · 3 hr 15 min

Headquarters Path is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Blue Hills Reservation near West Quincy, MA. It climbs 1,028 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi75 – 440 ft · steepest grade: 16%9.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 42.23947, -71.04397
Nearest town West Quincy, MA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Headquarters Path

8.2 mi · ▲ 1,028 ft · 3 hr 15 min

Elevation 76–440 ft

Out & Back · Blue Hills Reservation

Trailhead: 42.23947, -71.04397

Weather Sep 20: Drizzle, high 62°F / low 49° · precip 48% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 6:47 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  3. 150 ftBear left, heading NW.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  5. 500 ftTurn left, heading N.
  6. 200 ftBear right, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  8. 200 ftTurn right, heading N.
  9. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  10. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  11. 250 ftBear right, heading W.
  12. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  13. 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
  14. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  15. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miSharp right onto Headquarters Path, heading SE.
  18. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  19. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  20. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  21. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  24. 0.4 miTurn right onto Bouncing Brook Path, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  26. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  27. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  28. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  29. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  30. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  33. 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
  34. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  35. 250 ftBear left, heading NW.
  36. 250 ftBear right onto Headquarters Path, heading NE.
  37. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NW.
  38. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
  39. 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
  40. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  41. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  42. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  43. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  44. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  45. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  46. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  47. 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  48. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  49. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  50. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  51. 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
  52. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  53. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/headquarters-path-out-back-13-km-6907

Trail surface

27% dirt26% paved13% gravel34% unspecified

Weather

DrizzleTemperature 62°F49°
Precip48%Wind2 mphUV1Humidity91%
Rained 1.7″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°45° 3 AM: 1% rain4 AM: 2% rain6 AM: 7% rain8 AM: 4% rain9 AM: 3% rain10 AM: 4% rain11 AM: 5% rain12 PM: 17% rain1 PM: 32% rain2 PM: 43% rain3 PM: 43% rain4 PM: 48% rain5 PM: 22% rain6 PM: 32% rain7 PM: 14% rain8 PM: 20% rain9 PM: 15% rain10 PM: 19% rain11 PM: 26% rain
Sunrise 6:30 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 6:47 PM
Mon 64°57° 57%
Tue 58°53°
Wed 60°56°
Thu 61°56° 21%
Fri 61°55° 43%
Sat 56°54° 47%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 6:47 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:08 PM — 7 min before dark.

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