Quarries Foot Path & Quincy Quarries (Blue Hills Reservation)

Quarries Foot Path & Quincy Quarries (Blue Hills Reservation)

Hike Type: Spaghetti Loop

Distance: 4.13 miles

Elevation: 449 feet

My Time: 1 hour, 39 minutes

Book Time: 2 hours, 17 minutes

Parking: Room for one car at pull-off at 4223.
Hiking Challenges: Trail Trace the Blue Hills

The Hike 

'Twas the Tuesday after Memorial Day and I only had a few trails left of the Blue Hills to hike for my patch, so I took a deep breath and had a dreadfully sleepy drive to the Quarries after school. I was simply not excited about this hike, but this and Braintree Triangle were all I had left! It was a warm day in the low 80s, I forgot to bring a wicking t-shrit so I was stuck in an awful cotton shirt, I applied my bug spray, and got to work!

Things actually got off to a wonderful start when I saw blazes! I remembered reading that the Friends of the Blue Hills got approval to blaze the trail - I was hoping for paint blazes, but instead they blazed the trail with laminated papers with a geometric "Q" stapled to trees.

One minute in and I was already fully covered in spiderwebs. I hiked past some yellow star grass (thank you, Seek!) and made my way into the woods, up and over a longtime annoying blowdown, and soon approached the famous confusing slabby part. There was some nice stone work leading up to the scramble. The blazes had been clear up until this point, but it was again unclear of how to get up. I went up the way that I always have, and it seems that I had been doing it the right way?

There was a lull in the blazing for a minute with only a few traces of flagging tape (which is why I think paint blazes would have been a better move). This whole area is so cool. If they could clean it up, maintain the trail, and somehow change the culture around partying in this area, it would be a really wonderful area.

I learned that the way to stay on-route is to just follow the high ridge until a viewpoint, and then veer left to descend (there was a blaze on a tree here). I successfully got the spur to Adams Path and then the spur that looped back upon the Quarries Foot Path. I was actually feeling good!

I was feeling very good except for the hellscape that was the soaking wet cardboard-esc cotton on my skin. I made my way over to that awfully grown-in meadow, and was rewarded with a deer! There were also a comical amount of orange moths simply... making love. I made my way back to the Quarries Foot Path and then the final loopty loop nearest 4238, which was mostly marked with flagging tape (thankfully). I finished out the Quarries Foot Path, which appeared to now cross Riccuiti Drive, which had a sign! The sign on the opposite side of Riccuiti Drive read: "The Quarry Trail winds through an area previously dotted with granite quarries. Between 1815 and 1956, numerous quarry pits operated in this area. The Quincy granite industry led to innovations in quarrying techniques. Famous for its quality, Quincy granite was shipped throughout the United States and the world. Laborers came to Quincy from northern New England and from Europe to work in the quarries, transforming Quincy from an agricultural community to a major industrial center. From 1997 to 2001, the largest quarries were filled with dirt from the Big Dig project in Boston."

I hit the bits of trail on the western edge of this side and then worked my along toward the spur path that led to the main Quincy Quarries parking area, passing some interesting looking folks on the way. The main quarry area was super cool per usual - the graffiti has transformed from "crime" to real art, and the view from the top is really cool! There was a guy at the tippy top, so I left him alone. I had to be careful, though, because the paint-covered granite was slippery. 

Now I was going to work my way around this area clockwise, starting by following the path around the flooded quarry near the road, which had a spray-painted metal sign with the geometric "Q" on it! There were a few mallards on the algae-filled pool. I worked my way up the trail, passing another metal "Q" and a small green sign high up on a tree - it's clear they've put some work into this area. 

The trails in the northeast corner were almost painfully overgrown, but I got them done! I followed the trail around the flooded tall quarry in the northeast corner of the park, enjoying the views on the way! The trail turned left off of the high wall just before a slight uphill to the highest point.

In the back section, I am always interested in the trails that are not on the map, but I was not ready to be exploring! I made my way down to the Incline Railway and read the following message:

"Quarry Museum Open June

The Quincy Quarry and granite Workers Museum will be open on Saturday, June 6th and Sunday, June 7th from 11 to 4 for a self-guided walking tour at the Lyons Turning Mill and museum located on 20 Quarry Hills Drive, West Quincy. Historic pictures of the granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. The museum will be open to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Come visit our indoor, outdoor and geology museums. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-Shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. The quarry museum, Lyons Turning Mill and geology building is open the first full weekend and 3rd Saturday each month through November. Come visit an learn Quincy's granite history Free admission"

I wrapped up this upper portion of the quarries, crossed Riccuiti Drive again, and continued my journey, circling around another quarry and hitting the unfortunately overgrown loop near Douglas Street. For the last couple of minutes in this loop, I also had the distinct pleasure of following a turkey that simply would not get off of the trail. It gobbled at me initially, but wouldn't do it again for the camera. It eventually ducked out right at the close of the loop to join it's turkey friends, and then I made my way onto the Adams Path and then Bunker Hill Lane! This was the most successful trip to the quarries ever! I decided I'd reluctantly drive to the Braintree Triangle to finish out my map. It was a nice day, and I think I'm calling out sick tomorrow...

Step-by-Step

- Park at 4223.

- Start hike on Quarries Foot Path (blazed with Q).

- Round the wide corner by the "t" on the map, and hike the. mini loop.

- After, hike the trail that connects to Adams Path.

- At Adams Path, turn around.

- Continue on Quarries Foot Path, hiking next mini loop and spur to 4236.

- At 4236, turn left.

- At terminus, turn around.

- Return to Quarries Foot Path.

- At second junction (before 4238), turn right.

- Follow flagging and AllTrails to hike path.

- At terminus, turn right onto Quarries Foot Path.

- At 4238, hike triangle and turn right.

- At terminus, turn left.

- At terminus, turn around.

- At Ricciuti Drive, turn around.

- At jct., turn left.

- At 4238, turn left onto Quarries Foot Path.

- At Ricciuti Drive, turn around.

- At 4238, turn left.

- At jct., turn left and cross Riccuiti Drive.

- First, hike to top of Bunker Hill Quarry (easternmost).

- Then, go back to pavement and hike Quarry Trail around pond.

- Hike trails on west side, then hike to 4229.

- At 4229, turn left.

- At terminus at Granite Railway Museum, turn around.

- Return to Riccuiti Drive and cross at same spot.

- At terminus, turn left.

- At jct., turn left onto Adams Path.

- At road, turn around and then turn left.

- Hike mini loop near Douglas St.

- At end of loop, turn left onto Adams Path.

- Follow Adams Path to 4235.

- Continue onto Bunker Hill Lane.

- Turn right onto Furnace Brook Parkway to end hike.

Blue Hills Reservation Map

Photo Album