About us
Welcome to the Hiking/Backpacking (HB) Committee of the Boston Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). AMC connects people to the outdoors. We offer a variety of volunteer-led hikes year-round, including: shorter hikes, easy to strenuous day hikes, introductory instructional programs, and overnight trips (hut and cabin trips and backpacks). While we lead trips throughout New England, our trips are most frequently located in the greater Boston area / MA and NH. AMC offers a structure for leadership training and peer-approved leaders so that we can operate safe and well-organized hikes. Our hikes are open to everyone based on ability (and requisite gear as applicable), although participants on backcountry trips are usually screened to ensure a good fit. You don't need to be a AMC member to join us for most trips, though we encourage you to support AMC’s work by becoming a member. We look forward to hiking with you!
Please read the full trip description first, not just the trip titles, before registering for the trip on the AMC website. Thank you.
Sign up for HB Announce, our newsletter that advertises our upcoming hikes twice per month.
Check out AMC’s activities, the official site for all AMC trip postings, for the Hiking/Backpacking Committee hikes and for trips from other committees.
Upcoming events
30
Wednesday at Wachusset Conditioning Hike
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 4 - Moderate
Trip Leader(s): Linda Haines
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX0000015ShR
Audience: AdultsDescription: Join us on Wednesday, April 22 for a scenic conditioning hike to Mt Wachussets. Ready to get your winter legs into hiking shape? We’ll hike approximately 6 miles with +/- 1100-1500 feet of elevation gain with typical New England rocky, rooty, slippery, and possibly muddy conditions. We’ll hike up to the summit, stopping to climb the tower for possible views from Boston to Mt Monadnock. We’ll descend via Mountain House Trail to Bicentennial to Echo Lake and return around the mountain, possibly summiting again pending the weather and group preference. We exp.ect to move at a moderate-fast pace (1.5-2 mph), taking only brief breaks to delayer/hydrate or get a snack from our packs with a bit longer for a lunch/snack break. We'll stay together as a group.
This hike is suitable for experienced hikers familiar with rocky, rooty terrain who've maintained enough fitness to comfortably hike 6 miles in 3-3.5 hours with brief stops and possibly 1-2 recent hikes of similar length/elevation.
Once you register, you will be contacted by a hike leader to discuss additional details if needed and confirm your participation. Car pooling is encouraged for the environment but there is plenty of parking at the ski area. A couple of days prior to the hike, confirmed participants will receive final trip logistics. NOTE: the specific trail start location will be provided in this e-mail.Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendeeExplore and trail Trace the Old128 section of the Blue Hill
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 5 - Vigorous
Trip Leader(s): John Schepis
Registration Type: Registration
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX0000016HLl
Audience: EveryoneDescription: This hike will bring us to the Old 128 section of the Blue Hills, It will take us approximately 4 hours and we will cover about 8.5 miles with a little over 600 feet of elevation. As in the title we will do every trail in this section including in and outs. If you did the winter trail trace, we will be using Map #12
Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendeeBoston Area Conditioning Hike Series: Trail Trace Wachusett Mt
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 6 - Strenuous
Trip Leader(s): Holly Riehl, Julie Huber
Registration Type: Registration
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX0000012Tq9
Register By: 4/15/2026
Audience: AdultsDescription: Wondering about what to do during mud season? Julie and Holly have curated 3 hikes near Boston that will keep you in shape for summer hiking. Join us for one, two or all three hikes.
You probably know the “Waa Waa Wachusett Mountain” advertising jingle. Did you also know that Mount Wachusett rises above the surrounding forest to a height of 2006 ft and boosts 17 miles of trails?
For the 3 rd hike in the series and the capstone, we will trail trace the Reservations at a steady moderate pace (average 2.0-2.5 mph) completing ~ 17 miles of hiking trails (non-roads), summiting not once but twice and reaching an elevation gain of ~ 4400 ft. From the summit on a clear day we will be rewarded by 360 degree views including Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire, the Berkshires to the west, and the Boston skyline to the east. The 3,000-acre Wachusett Mountain State Reservation surrounds the summit and includes forests, alpine meadows, ponds, streams, fields, and even a perched bog. Our moving time will be 8-9 hours with a total time of 10-11 hours. Participants should be in good shape and able to hike at a pace of 2.0-2.5 mph for 8-9 hours. Please bring plenty of snacks. We will take a few short breaks and a slightly longer break for lunch. A suggestion for how much water to bring will be made a couple of days prior to the hike depending on the temperature that day, as will the recommendations for rain gear and layering.
This hike is part of a 3 hike conditioning series. Join us for 1, 2 or all 3 hikes. The other 2 hikes are: April 9: Trail Trace Crane Estate, Ipswich MA , ~ 14 miles and ~800 ft gain April 13 (rain date April 14): Hike to almost every corner of the Winchester, Medford, and Melrose Fells, ~ 14 mile conditioning hike with ~ 3000 ft gainReminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendeeMoat Mountains - the Best of the 52 with a View
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 6 - Strenuous
Trip Leader(s): Peter Monnes, Dennis Bouthillier
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX0000013bYj
Register By: 4/18/2026
Audience: EveryoneDescription: This hike will achieve two of the "52 With a View" summits, arguably two of the best. North Moat is one of only 6 that have achieved a "view rating" of 10/10. Both afford 360 views including Mt Washington Valley (Conway) and the Presidentials. They Moats are the peaks that appear in North Conway postcards, providing an inspiring backdrop to the North Conway Village and train station. The hike will be an out and back route from the South, along the ridge between South, Middle and North Moats. The path along the ridge itself will have several view points with the same sweeping views. The hike will be approximately 10 miles and over 3000 feet of elevation gain. The duration should be about 8 hours depending upon trail conditions, the fitness of the team and the weather. The terrain is rough, with some rocky scrambles and potentially slippery sloping ledges. Participants should have comfortably completed recent comparable hikes (this year) of at least 6-8 miles with over 2,000 feet elevation gain. Winter conditions occur occasionally this time of year in the mountains, gear on the AMC winter gear list is required https://hb.amcboston.org/images/docs/Gear_lists/Winter_Dayhike_equip.pdf . Further details will be provided to participants the week prior to the hike. In the case of severe weather or other issue with the Moats hike, the alternate hike will be White Horse and Cathedral Ledge in North Conway.
Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendee
Past events
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