The first time I hiked the Headquarters Trail, I couldn’t get together a mental map of how all the trails fit together. Even now, I have to keep track of which portion of the trail I’m on. Experience has solidified the trail details in my head, but first-timers should definitely have a map on hand. Out of necessity for my own navigation, I put together a trail map. There is a network of ski trails near the Tie-City TH that I have never explored since it looks vast and extensive. I’m convinced that once you go in, you’ll never come out. Since the Headquarters trail is the closest trail to home, we have hiked it quite a number of times.

The entire area was once a military training ground, and signs at trailheads warn against touching any unexploded ordinance. I’ve never seen any. From the eastern TH, the path starts out at a gentle uphill grade and goes past a spring that Makenzie always takes a dunk in. From there the trail leads uphill and takes a switchback through lodgepole pine towards an open ridge, crossing a rail fence via a metal gate, whereupon the trail splits and you can continue west via Browns Landing, or on the Headquarters Trail, which both meet up again a couple of miles west. Also from the ridge, you can bushwhack to the south and pick up the Crawford Point Trail which leads along the spine of the Sherman Mts to the south.

The Headquarters Trail leads back into lodgepole pine and Douglas fir, heading downhill, until it hits the Summit Loop, an independent loop that intersects the HQ Trail and Browns Landing Trail, and thus serves as the chief confounding factor for navigation.  Turn left and you can quickly reach the Browns Landing Trail, turn right and you can continue on the Headquarters Trail after a quick left turn, or continue on the Summit Loop, which eventually brings you back around to where you started.  It was in this area that Mom and I came upon a lost jogger in October 2004. Her leg and lip were bleeding, she was wearing only shorts and a T-shirt, it was getting dark and she was lost. She was trying to find the Tie City TH, but was closer to the Blair-Wallis TH. Since we were heading back to the car, we offered her a ride, and ended up driving her to the other TH where she met up with her friend. 

The Summit Loop leads up to granite knobs that are always a nice place to take a lunch break, though the wind is often a nuisance. Mountain bikers really like this trail, and the Summit Loop seems to offer the most challenging terrain. I’ve never ridden this one myself, but it looks like fun.

The Headquarters Trail continues for 0.4 miles to a junction of the Summit Loop with the Browns Landing Trail. This is the intersection that had me confused for awhile. The main Headquarters trail presses on for 1.5 miles through pleasant forest with little elevation change, and passes by a spur trail that leads to a nice open spot that overlooks Crow Creek valley and I-80 in the distance. The trail ends (or begins?) at the Lincoln Monument, which marks the highest point of the Old Lincoln Highway (now I-80). The Lincoln Monument sits at the Happy Jack Exit off of I-80. On the way, the trail passes by an offshoot to the Tie City TH. Since I’m a well-known miser, I never park at the Tie City TH because it costs money to do so.