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Braintree Pass Path

Blue Hills Trails

An easy 3-mile loop past hemlocks, mountain laurel, a cedar swamp, and an old homestead, on the Milton and Quincy line.

Aerial view of the Blue Hills range south of Boston

Braintree Pass Path is one of the hidden gems of the Blue Hills. This easy loop on the eastern side of the reservation passes tall hemlocks, slopes of mountain laurel, an Atlantic cedar swamp, and the cellar hole of an old farmstead.

DistanceAbout 3 miles
Time2 to 2.5 hours
DifficultyEasy
StartRoute 28 and Chickatawbut Rd, Milton and Quincy line

Trailhead parking

Directions to Braintree Pass Path trailhead →

The route

  1. Park in the small pull-off at intersection #3024, near Route 28 and Chickatawbut Road.
  2. Walk past the bulletin board and down Braintree Pass Path, past intersection #3072.
  3. Bear left at #3090 and continue downhill to #3121.
  4. Turn left again. The path follows the edge of the Great Cedar Swamp on your right.
  5. At #3130, turn left onto Bouncing Brook Path and follow the red markers back to Braintree Pass Path and your car.
Want more challenge? DCR’s Braintree Pass Red Dot route, about 3.4 miles and 1.5 to 2 hours, starts at the same lot. It begins easy and rolling, then climbs over rocky ground around Kitchamakin Hill on Sassaman Notch and Slide Notch before returning on Braintree Pass Path. DCR rates it moderately difficult.

What you’ll see

Hemlocks and laurel

Shady stands of hemlock and hillsides covered in mountain laurel.

The Great Cedar Swamp

An Atlantic cedar swamp along the return leg.

Glover Homestead

A cellar hole left from a farm settled here centuries ago.

Then go higher

For views, pair this with a climb up Great Blue Hill to the Observatory on the western end of the range.

Before you go

  • If you get lost or hurt, call 911. Give the dispatcher the four-digit number on the nearest intersection post. Those numbers match the DCR map and help responders find you. For non-emergency park concerns, DCR’s 24-hour dispatch is (508) 820-1428.
  • Before you go, share your phone’s location with a friend, and tell someone your route and when you plan to be back.
  • Carry the DCR trail map. Many intersections have a white post with a four-digit number that matches the map. If you get turned around, find the nearest number.
  • Bring water, and dress for wind on the summits.
  • The reservation is open dawn to dusk. Dogs must be leashed. Carry out everything you bring in.
  • Timber rattlesnakes and copperheads live in the Blue Hills. They are shy. Stay on the trail and give them space.

FAQ

How long is the Braintree Pass Path loop?

DCR lists it at about 3 miles, taking 2 to 2.5 hours.

Where does Braintree Pass Path start?

At a small pull-off near the intersection of Route 28 and Chickatawbut Road on the Milton and Quincy line, at intersection 3024 on the DCR map.

Is Braintree Pass Path easy?

Yes. DCR lists it among its easy hikes.

What is the Glover Homestead?

An old cellar hole along the trail that marks where farmers settled hundreds of years ago.

Guided hikes

Add a guided summit hike

Our staff lead groups up Great Blue Hill, connecting the trail to the landscape, the climate record, and 141 years of daily observation. Every guided hike ends inside the Observatory.

Staff-led · By appointment, any day, year-round · Observatory tour included · From $250 per group, members save

See guided hikes

Route details are based on the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s recommended Blue Hills hikes. Trails and markers change, so carry the DCR map and confirm conditions with DCR at 617-698-1802.

Pair it with the summit

Finish your day on Great Blue Hill, where Blue Hill Observatory has recorded the weather every day since 1885.

Plan your visit See the summit now