Quincy Quarries Reservation

State park · Quincy

Quincy Quarries Reservation

State park · Quincy

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Ricciuti Dr, Quincy, MA 02169

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Highlights

Colorful graffiti art adorns former quarry, rock climbing & views  

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Ricciuti Dr, Quincy, MA 02169 Get directions

mass.gov

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Ricciuti Dr, Quincy, MA 02169 Get directions

+1 617 727 4573
mass.gov
FriendsOfQuincyQuarries

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wheelchair accessible entrance

Last updated

Aug 23, 2025

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@atlasobscura

25 Places Reborn Through Graffiti and Street Art

"The city of Quincy made its name on its high quality stone industry, but as the economic landscape changed, the quarries that were once the lifeblood of the area simply became giant holes in the ground that were like catnip to foolish cliff divers. After decades of dumb deaths, they were filled but the site is now open as a garden of graffiti-covered boulders. Quincy Quarries was first opened in 1825 to supply granite for the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston’s historic Charlestown neighborhood and was actively mined to one degree or another until 1963, constituting the foundation of Quincy’s economy for nearly a century. Once abandoned, the Quarries slowly flooded and became a popular — if dangerous — site for cliff jumping. A number of people began to die jumping into the flooded pits, so in order to curb the practice, a number of wooden pylons were placed sticking out of the water. However, these eventually sank below the waterline, becoming invisible, and deadly. The death toll went through the roof. After being closed to the public for a number of years in response to the number of deaths, the site was reopened in the early 2000s after dirt from Boston’s “Big Dig” was used to fill in the pits. Now, Quincy Quarries is linked to the Blue Hill Reservation trail system and is open to the public. Not only an excellent site for rock climbing, it is an extremely interesting place to explore in its own right. It offers an unparalleled view of Boston, and its rock formations are adorned with a spectacular array of graffiti art. The site is best visited on a warm, dry day, as it can best be appreciated from the height of one of its rock outcroppings and these cannot be safely scaled when the stone is wet." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/25-places-reborn-through-graffiti
View Postcard for Quincy Quarries Reservation

Dean Kop

Google
Worth to check out. Sadly Palestinian flags everywhere. Very sad to see. 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 Good hike doe.

Sophia T

Google
awesome looking spot & great views! rocks can be pretty steep & sharp, so wouldn't recommend climbing too far if you have a fear of heights, since the paths have no railings. the trailheads and markings weren't always clear - one of the trails led to a lovely birds-eye view of a pond! features a bit of litter and spray paint cans left for visitors to use

Jiajia Ni

Google
I’m immensely grateful to Uncle Jason for introducing us to this offbeat graffiti spot. I absolutely fell in love with this trail; it exudes a vibrant, dynamic energy. A nature-inspired graffiti art haven. The natural graffiti creations are a true work of art, and the atmosphere is absolutely uplifting, and the design concept is truly inspiring. After the visiting , I couldn't help but feel in great spirits ! A must-visit spot!

Cbcjvm6

Google
Really fun place to explore. Great views of the city, rocks to climb and tons of great graffiti art. (Some not so great, as well) *people pick up your freaking trash!! It's not hard. Broken glass everywhere as well. Just gotta be careful where you place hands while climbing*

Godfrey Ainooson

Google
One of the best and little known attractions in Quincy. A little bit of rock climbing, a little bit of graffiti, a little bit of hiking, all add up to a great way to spend a few hours outside. And yes, while technically "illegal" to graffiti here, there are no cops or guards or staff to stop you. Regarding rock climbing, there are a lot of spots with anchors hammered in already.

Victoria Lewis

Google
Living in the Boston area all my life, I have never been to the Quincy quarries. Watching the sunset there was incredible! Will definitely be going there again and again!

Ryan A.

Google
A great place to check out! My family and I stopped here for a short visit (<1 hour). Lots of cool graffiti, nice views of the Boston skyline, fun rocks to climb. If you have little kids, keep a close eye on them as there are some precarious spots. I’d also recommend a visit right before sunset.

Garrett Kavenagh

Google
This is an awesome place to check out! There's some amazing graffiti art and some beautiful views here. There's some swear and stuff painted on some of the rocks, just a heads up if you bring children. Also you tend to find trash and broken glass throughout the area, but for anyone who loves to explore different places and likes a nice view, you should consider going here. It's pretty cool!
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Denise T.

Yelp
My friend is from Boston and while visiting here she want to go to the quarries. I thought to myself "whats the big deal we see graffiti in FL on everything " when we arrived I was surprised at the place. I found myself walking around and reading all I could, wondering how they got to the heights to do the artwork. Why they wrote or painted what they did, how long it took for all this beauty. Next trip I will be adding my name, someplace low! LOL
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Winter B.

Yelp
The Quincy Quarries reservation in Quincy is an awesome spot to hang out, hike around, and explore with friends. It's a super unique spot and has so many different parts to explore and walk around. You can even see a fantastic view of the city in most spots. It is pretty rocky so if you're planning on hiking it then I would wear good hiking boots or sneakers. It does get muddy and slippery after it rains so I would suggest going on a dry day. Definitely check this spot out.

Jimmy S.

Yelp
I use to swim n dive into the quarry it was the best place for me to escape the beach and the city. To much drinking n drama that's why they filled it in. With the express wat debris.. I wish it was still open I would have been a lifeguard for free LoL
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Madow N.

Yelp
This place is a dope hang out spot. The graffiti art is cool. The views are fantastic. Very instagramable if you're into that. Great if you're into rock climbing also. A lot of teens smoking pot but the place is big enough to be able to avoid the second hand smoke. Beware - If it's rained recently, the grassy areas will be very wet and your feet will get soaked. Boots or waterproof shoes are highly recommended if you plan to walk around. The parking lot is not huge so it does fill up when it's really nice out but I've always found a spot fairly quickly.
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Jasmin G.

Yelp
This reservation right here is a little slice of heaven! I was told about this place by a friend and I did a photo shoot here I love it so stinking much I'm going back to shoot again. This place is HUGE! And I'm sure I didn't see the whole thing. You need a couple of hours to explore , like 4 hours to check everything out. This is a mountain land here with tons of artwork everywhere , I love it! Yes there's lots of ignorant artwork and nasty words and drawings but most of it is inspirational and absolutely amazing. You can rock climb here at your own discretion! You can climb the rocks normally like a regular person hah! And you can explore and get lost in the magic world of art! I've also heard you can see the Boston skyline I didn't get that far yet but I will explore it next time. My only issue was the parking is a bit of a mess. It gets full quickly and they have a medium sized lot for maybe 30 cars ( not in spots some of them ) and then a small lot of 6 cars. They don't charge for parking which is a PLUS! Also the ground was muddy gross when I went I guess from the rain but this place also feels like this was a water zone, like a river or something. I would be super careful here as well with all the graffiti it makes the rocks slippery and wet. But overall this place is some place you have to visit to know what I'm talking about. It's photography world there. I saw a lot of people taking pictures and just in awe! You can be a lion mountain and be at the top of the rocks and see the world , or be below like the scary cat I am and see all the amazing art from below. There's art from beginning of the rocks to the end of the rocks, I think you're allowed to add art as well at your own discretion don't take my word for it , ask first BUT I would love to add to this amazing place. I'll be back!
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Enzo H.

Yelp
I give it a two star due to the fact the spot is littered with glass and broken bottles in general- people leave trash here and there how disappointing don't we care enough? As muc as we might expect the park to take care of itself it doesn't seem like there is ANY staff that ever is on hand to monitor and or to clean the place up- Me and my kids occasionally come here voluntarily to pick up the litter and then we'll hike around the spot and enjoy it for what it is
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Jennifer N.

Yelp
I love graffiti art but I also believe in preserving nature so I was a little torn about coming here. The artwork was cool but I wished the artists would clean after themselves. I found many empty paint cans. And trash scattered in the field. I didn't get to climb or hike as I had my 1.5 year old with me. But people were on the rocks and it looked like fun.
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David C.

Yelp
Me and a couple of friends decided to visit this place based on a recommendation by none other than YELP! It was very easy to find and all trails from the parking lot will lead you to the quarry. We're not professional rock climbers, so we climbed what we could as a shortcut or used the trails to go up. Although, there were a few groups that had a team climbing day there! Also, don't be an asshole and break your beer bottles there. It's a nice place, so don't ruin it for everyone else. I was climbing and my hand landed on a piece. Secondly, ease up on the the spray paint, it makes it quite slippery for my footing.
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Olivia T.

Yelp
I love the quarries. The colorful rocks make me so happy!! My friends and I have rock climbed here on a few occasions and I would definitely recommend it to any person with the right equipment. There are a number of climbs with varying difficulty so climbing here is great for people of varying climbing ability
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Shana S.

Yelp
This place is dope. I only remember this place from back in the day when folks would jump off the rocks and to their death. They stopped that years ago.. I never knew that it turned into this. Very cool place. My kids love it!
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Emma H.

Yelp
The history of Quincy Quarries is a pretty dark one. It was originally the spot of Old Rail Quarry and then it was later abandoned. Due to flooding, it became a popular spot for cliff jumpers. It was later, in the 90's, a popular spot to dispose of dead bodies. Due to all the dead bodies found in the quarry, the water was drained and it was filled. It became a popular spot for rock climbers and then turned into a tagging hub. Dark history aside, Quincy Quarries is one giant canvas of rocks for anyones disposable. In the summers, it is very popular spot for rock climbers and drone drivers. Almost every piece of rock is decked out in some colorful and beautiful mural. There are a bunch of big quarries that you can climb on the top of. It's a pretty good view of the city. You can still see where the train tracks were, when it was a railroad back in the 1800's which is dope. If you don't want to walk on the rocks, there are hiking trails too. I've probably been here about 20 times since living in Boston and I just keep coming back for how awesome it is. I would bring shoes that are durable. Some climbs are not for the faint of heart. It can also get pretty muddy in the winter or after a rainstorm. Parking can be crazy on the weekends and in the summer, so plan accordingly.
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Jullie L.

Yelp
A surprising and cool spot with some interesting history. Love the views from the top. Easy walk or more adventurous short hike. The colors are great! We watched rock climbers and took lots of pics.
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Peavey L.

Yelp
This is another Boston gem that has a rich history. I happened upon this place by shear accident searching for a day hiking spot. Thrilled with my find. I opted to bring a camera. Upon arrival, I was blown away by the vastness of this place. The time, effort and the risk taken to bomb in hard to reach places. This place is good for the following: Day hikes. Casual strolls. Picnics. Photography. Bouldering. Trail running. Though not billed as a park for this, I found it to be perfect for technical runner. Disclaimer: I don't endorse the following, as I can't speak to the legality of this activities. Tagging Rock climbing (hooks installed appear to be climbing routes). There are no amenities or restrooms here.

Kevin S.

Yelp
Was looking for a nice place to take a walk outside and heard about this place in the past. Was disappointed to see graffiti laden pictures of this place and decided not to visit. It's a shame natural beauty can't stand on its own.
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Lane B.

Yelp
Fun times! This was great to admire, however, I did not find the hiking that great. I'm not a fan of paved paths and the other ones were underwhelming. If I had the equipment (or experience with outdoor) I'd love to rock climb here. It seems like more of a haven for rock climbers than hikers. It doesn't suck - just for hiking, I grew bored rather quickly.
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Tom K.

Yelp
Ever since Boston drained the main quarries, removed a bunch of cars and bodies, and filled it with Big Dig dirt ... it's become quite a nice place! This is my favorite local spot (within 30 min. of Boston) to rock climb. It's great to have a place right in the metro area with so many routes to get strong on and meet other climbers. Everything I know of can be top-roped here. The routes are either bolted at the top, or there are trees, boulders or inch-thick iron rods fixed to the rock from the quarry days. There is crack, face, and sloper climbing ... so there is a lot of opportunity to work on your technique. There are some good bouldering problems too, for days when you are without a climbing partner. Overall; the climbing is solid and really fun, the climbers are always extremely friendly, and you have beautiful views of the Boston skyline and the sunset from the top.
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Lauren K.

Yelp
I always knew there were quarries in Quincy, but this past weekend was the first time I actually went to check them out. Boy, am I glad I did! I went early Saturday morning with my two dogs so we could all get a little exercise and enjoy the beautiful weather we were having. Right off of Ricciuti Drive, there is a parking lot with plenty of spaces. My dogs and I went up a short trail and found ourselves at the top of one of the sides of the main quarry. The rocks were covered in graffiti, all of which was very colorful. Below I could see that the filled-in quarry had become a field. I was a little nervous having my dogs up that high with a sheer rock face in front of us, so I took another trail and we made our way to the bottom of the quarry. The sight was breathtaking. Who knew a gem like this existed in Quincy? The quarry walls were covered in beautiful graffiti art, and the field before us was just asking to be ran through. Since there was no one around, I let the dogs run off leash and they loved it! There were also some rock climbers at the top of one of the walls getting ready to start their climbing for the day. So cool! We took some other trails through the woods, up and around the smaller quarries, and it was the perfect easy hike. The Boston skyline which is visible from the top of the main quarry was spectacular! I definitely will be coming back here this summer to do some more exploring without the dogs. AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE: teens use the quarries as a party place during the summer, and unfortunately leave broken bottles and glass on the ground. You'll see this as you make your way up the rocks.) Be mindful of your feet, children, and pets' paws getting cut! (Thankfully my pups suffered no glass injuries!)
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Henry V.

Yelp
We came here to celebrate our anniversary and it was a great experience. We came in the weekend and walked around a bit. If you just want to merely browse, it will be a quick experience for you. Please be aware that you will have to step over small steps and rocks to get around and you may get your shoes dirty.
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Sarah A.

Yelp
This place is very cool and definitely worth a visit. I came on a super nice day around 11AM and had trouble finding a parking spot in the lots near the quarries, so I drove a little further up the street and parked at the lot associated with a baseball field, then walked down the hill, back to the street and over to the quarries. Note that this baseball lot also has a great view of the city, if you're looking to take photos of the Boston skyline. When I arrived at the quarries, there were lots of people setting up their gear and climbing the rocks as well as families walking around on the paths and even one guy who had set up his own huge bean bag chair and was sunning himself in the open field. The overall vibe was really safe, so I would not be too concerned about coming here alone in broad daylight and walking around. Everyone I encountered was very polite and people stepped to the side responsibly at some of the points on the trails where only one person could pass through at a time. Even though it hadn't rained in a few days, there were areas that were kind of muddy and wet, so I do not recommend coming here after any significant rainfall. I am a huge fan of street art and was really impressed by all the cool graffiti. Most of it is pretty amateurish but it's still fun, aside from a couple tags with truly offensive, racist messages. However, I did see an attempt by one of the taggers to police the others, warning them to "F* the racist graffiti". Overall, though, it's really fun and most of the tags are cool and light hearted like one I spotted on a trail in the woods:"F* Your Couch!". This might not be a great place to bring your kids though, because some of the graffiti is pretty vulgar and might provoke some awkward questions and discussions. I definitely recommend wearing sneakers with good tread and traction or even work or hiking boots because there's a lot of broken glass from all the beer bottles. Also, I climbed over a bunch of rocks around a little pond to get a better look at some of the tags and noticed a lot of discarded spray paint cans in the water, which is kind of sad. It would be cool to organize a group to volunteer to pick up some of the trash. However, I don't want to make it sound dirty; aside from the broken glass and occasional clusters of spray cans, it's very nice and I loved taking photos that showed off both the beauty of nature and the graffiti. The skyline views are really impressive. I was a little confused as to where the hiking trails are here. I picked up what I thought might be a trail only for it to end at a fence and have to turn back. I was hoping to get a good hike in here, but I spent most of my time walking around taking photos instead of actively exercising. Not that that's such a bad thing, but if you're really looking for an energetic hike, I'd go to the Blue Hills instead. Also, I didn't notice any trail maps or signs indicating trails. Maybe I was in the wrong area. Next time, I'll try to park closer and see if I can see anything in the lots that would help direct me. Really unique and fun place. It would be cool to bring friends who are visiting Boston here.
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Bichen Z.

Yelp
This place may be better for summer. During the winter, there is not a lot to explore. I would not recommend to come during the winter, especially after rain, since lot of places become muddy. If the weather is good, you may see the city skyline from the rock.
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Joylene I.

Yelp
If you love art, this place is the place for you! Almost every inch on every rock here is filled with art. A great place to take photo shoots or just hang around. Love it here, would definitely love to come again. Hopefully soon!
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Amanda L.

Yelp
Yeah.. I'm not a hiker.. I just like escaping from the world and I enjoy nice views. So that's what I did the other day. I stopped by with a friend and we just made our way up and found ourselves staring at the Boston skyline. It's definitely a gorgeous view. Even with the graffiti everywhere. It's a beautiful sight.
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C F.

Yelp
I started to work in Quincy recently, and I suddenly found myself immersed in references to granite, quarries, and monuments, not to mention more than a few actual monuments. Even the Donut King has one. So I had to investigate why. The search led me here, where I sat and pondered and labored for days (okay, two lunch hours) over my Yelp Ode to Granite. I wove my words into a wondrous thread, which I spun into a fabulous fabric telling the storied tale of Quincy's illustrious history, revered among stonemasons, then the quarry's infamous history as a depot of wasted youth and unsolved crime, until the town filled in the lake with Big Dig dirt (and removed most of the abandoned cars and hazardous waste and unidentified bodies) and turned it into what it is today, a glorious rock climbing getaway in the middle of Quincy, with a variety of top-roping routes...though it remains a graffiti-clad haven for wasted youth, depriving it of its precious fifth star. But alas, in a tragic earthquake, my Ode was buried in a granite landslide. Okay, y'know what? Odes are tough. And I have to go back to work. You want poem? Here's poem. Inspired by my learning to rock climb here in the quarry: Now, see, I can finally grok Quincy's raging wood for rock.
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Michael N.

Yelp
Quincy Quarries - you're awesome. No really, I'm not just buttering you up because I want you to bless me with good weather and open routes the next time I visit. Though if you did that'd be pretty cool of you. Sure - you're not perfect. You can be really crowded, and the local hooligans covering you in spray paint make me sad. I mean, the last time I visited you the bottoms of my shoes ended up silver!!! You have a pretty good number of bolts, though I'd always appreciate more. After all, tying off to trees and rocks is a bit sketchy. Most of the people that visit you rock. Ughhh that wasn't an attempt at a pun I swear. Don't look at me like that! Sure some sketchy people come as well - like those kids last time who had never climbed in their lives - inside or out - and just about killed themselves. So - Quincy Quarries - you rock (still not a pun). Don't change. Well, except maybe in a way to scare off the spray paint wielding hooligans.

Joseph G.

Yelp
I mean its rocks covered in awesome art. What's not to love. It's also constantly evolving.
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Miguel A.

Yelp
Went here when I was a teenager so now that it's so called park we went back and were totally blown away at how awesome this place has become. You can hike up rocks that have some truly great graffiti on them, then when you get to the top of them you can see fantastic views of Boston. There's even a golf course up the road! Yes I miss jumping into the water but man its so much fun climbing the rocks here! Visit once and you will want to go again and again and again its that much FUN!
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Stephanie B.

Yelp
Big fan, as this is the first place I tried outdoor climbing. But the rock is def slippery here, what with being granite and not to mention the multiple applications of graffiti in some areas. Sure is colorful! Beautiful views of the city and friendly fellow climbers make for a great day, though.
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Katie R.

Yelp
This place is really neat. On decent days there are people rock climbing but if that's not your thing there are a ton of trails you can take around and up the quarries. Great graffiti to look at and some pretty cool wildlife spotting can happen as well. This is one of my favorite parks in Quincy.
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Ana L.

Yelp
This place is beautiful. I usually go hiking in the woods, but this place definitely captured my soul and attention.
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Marc H.

Yelp
An absolutely fascinating place, and one that often gets overlooked by hikers who tend to opt for the main sections of the Blue Hills nearby. But the views from the quarries are at least as stunning, and the huge rock faces are totally unique to the Boston area. Some of the trails that head away from the quarries themselves are great, including a narrow and rocky path that heads down to the Shea Rink. If you're a hiker, you don't want to miss this area.
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Jay K.

Yelp
This place is fantastic. Go as hard as you want with climbing and full body exercise, or take it as easy as you want by strolling along the drained quarries or through the well worn trails in the woods. Fantastic views of Boston and some of the harbor. Not sure why it took me so long to check this place out, I guess I thought it was going to be a bit sketchy. But it's not, it's colorful and beautiful. Saw some climbers in full equipment out today too. Will be spending a lot of time here as the weather gets better.
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Meghan M.

Yelp
We only went to check it out. The graffiti is pretty cool. Sites of Boston panorama are amazing. We did not do trails but will go back and explore more. I think this place has alot to offer.

C C.

Yelp
Love this place. Beautiful. Breathtaking. Amazing place to go to look at the art or just chill out ..