HomeMaineOrono › Piney Knoll Conservation Area

Piney Knoll Conservation Area

4.3 ★★★★☆ 47 Google reviews · Running trail in Orono, Maine · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Boardwalk
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Piney Knoll 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.

BoardwalkScenicMile markers

Hiking, cross-country skiing & birdwatching are popular activities in this riverside nature area.

What runners say about Piney Knoll Conservation Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (47 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“So absolutely beautiful the trees are so tall especially the pines and the trails are so well kept what a beautiful walk!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“So absolutely beautiful the trees are so tall especially the pines and the trails are so well kept what a beautiful walk!”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“Nice secluded woodsy trails but they are not well marked.”

Trails and woods, close to town, great trail running, hiking, mt biking, skiing.

★★★★★ — Erik , Nov 2016

Place is beautiful, clean, and easily accessible. There is bow hunting allowed close to trails Which is worrisome if you are walking your dog but also is nice if you are a hunter. There is a dense population of wildlife and calming.

★★★★☆ — Michael , Sep 2018

Nice secluded woodsy trails but they are not well marked. Was not sure where to park or what trails to take. Some of the trails looked like they hadn't been maintained in awhile.

★★★★☆ — Kirkpatrick , Jun 2019

I explored a trail last weekend when I discovered this area down behind where I live. I am planning to explore more this weekend.

★★★★★ — Shannon , Apr 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 47 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“So absolutely beautiful the trees are so tall especially the pines and the trails are so well kept what a beautiful walk!”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“Nice secluded woodsy trails but they are not well marked.”

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🪵 Boardwalk

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Plan your run at Piney Knoll Conservation Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • 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.
  • Trail mapOfficial trail map
  • Websiteoronolandtrust.org
  • Phone(207) 866-3854
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 5 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 5 AM–10 PM
Thursday 5 AM–10 PM
Friday 5 AM–10 PM
Saturday 6 AM–10 PM
Sunday 5 AM–10 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 Piney Knoll Conservation Area

Colburn Dr, Orono, ME 04473

Get directions

Running trails near Orono

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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Perkins Avenue Park

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Park with a playground and swings, plus picnic tables and a basketball court.

2.3 miles away

Sklar Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 20 reviews

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Boardwalk

2.5 miles away

Orono Bog Boardwalk

4.9 ★★★★★ 305 reviews

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1 miLoopBoardwalkScenic

Scenic place featuring a boardwalk that traverses a bog habitat, plus trails and benches.

4.2 miles away

All running trails in Orono, 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.