Home › Maine › Gorham › Nelson Preserve Trailhead

Nelson Preserve Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 7 Google reviews · Running trail in Gorham, Maine · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
28 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Nelson Preserve Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Nelson Preserve Trailhead — running trail in Gorham, ME, photo 1
Nelson Preserve Trailhead — running trail in Gorham, ME, photo 2
Nelson Preserve Trailhead — running trail in Gorham, ME, photo 3
28 mi

What runners say about Nelson Preserve Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (7 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Excellent lil' 1.1mi loop thru the woods. Feels much more rural than it truly is, which is desirable. The trail is well blazed (blue blazes) with occasional signs ensuring you're going the right direction. Parking is somewhat sparce, if it's busy you'll have to park on the shoulder.

★★★★★ — Jacob , May 2019

Great trail. Fairly well maintained. Lots to look at with a winding path that goes up small hills/slopes and back down and around. The slopes are just big enough to make my sciatica go crazy so it would be nice if there were a couple benches along the trail.

★★★★★ — Jeremy , Oct 2020

Great little trail for a 10 minute mountain bike or a nice family walk.

★★★★★ — Samuel , Jan 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 7 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+)

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Nelson Preserve Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • Distance28 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websiteprlt.org
  • Phone(207) 536-8623
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 5 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 5 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 5 AM–9 PM
Thursday 5 AM–9 PM
Friday 5 AM–9 PM
Saturday 5 AM–9 PM
Sunday 5 AM–9 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Nelson Preserve Trailhead

187-201 Flaggy Meadow Rd, Gorham, ME 04038

Get directions

Running trails near Gorham

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Frazier Preserve Trailhead

4.4 ★★★★☆ 31 reviews

Gorham, ME

28 mi

1.1 miles away

Lavoie Bike Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

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1.4 miles away

Tannery Brook Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

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2.3 miles away

Little River Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 10 reviews

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3.4 miles away

Shaw Cherry Hill Farm

4.7 ★★★★★ 78 reviews

Gorham, ME

Crushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

Wide trails with wood carvings for hiking, running, and biking.

3.9 miles away

Fuller Farm

4.7 ★★★★★ 180 reviews

Scarborough, ME

4 miLoopMixedShaded

Preserve featuring scenic trails, some leading to a waterfall, for hiking and sledding.

4.8 miles away

All running trails in Gorham, ME →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.