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Peppercorn Hill Conservation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 133 Google reviews · Running trail in Upton, Massachusetts · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Peppercorn Hill Conservation Area'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.
Forested 283-acre conservation area with vistas, streams & wetlands, plus trails for hiking.
What runners say about Peppercorn Hill Conservation Area
“We just missed the sunset but apparently there were a lot of people up there to check out the beautiful view at sunset!”
“Some of the trails are hard to follow, but staying on the marked loop trail the whole way is very easy to follow!”
It’s a moderate 2.5 miles trail loop with a good view from the peppercorn hill overlook. Takes about an hour to do the loop around. Beautiful trails with a summit view. Trails are easy to follow and well marked. There are a lot of boulders, especially on decent.
Great hiking area for the Milford/Blackstone Valley region, maybe even the best when it comes to viewpoints. The summit itself is a great spot for sunsets. Some of the trails are hard to follow, but staying on the marked loop trail the whole way is very easy to follow!
An excellent local trail for hiking, walking, and trail running if you're interested in shorter hill-oriented trail running and sprint work. The main parking lot is rarely crowded with six spaces and four additional spaces along the road. A full loop on the trail with no offshoots is roughly 2.
As a local hiking area Peppercorn Hill is quite a nice place for a hike that doesn’t require a long drive. Not like being in the White Mountains but as a recurring fitness hike it does just fine. Trails are easy to follow and well marked.
Trail conditions & character
“There is one part going counter clockwise that is steep and will get you breathing, but the view is worthwhile.”
“An excellent local trail for hiking, walking, and trail running if you're interested in shorter hill-oriented trail running and sprint work.”
“Some of the trails are hard to follow, but staying on the marked loop trail the whole way is very easy to follow!”
“The main parking lot is rarely crowded with six spaces and four additional spaces along the road.”
“The trail does have some muddy spots, so proper footwear is a must.”
“Most is mostly level ground but good 500 foot elevation gain at the end over about 10 minutes definitely gets the heart pumping.”
Plan your run at Peppercorn Hill Conservation Area
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websiteuptonma.gov
- Phone(508) 529-6286
- Social Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–12 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Running trails near Upton
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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Whitehall State Park
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