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Upper Francis Pond Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 17 Google reviews · Running trail in Mill Neck, New York · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Upper Francis Pond Preserve'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.

BoardwalkScenicWaterTrailhead parking

What runners say about Upper Francis Pond Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (17 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Great views of the Francis Pond lakes and some of the mansions (private land, non park) in the area.”

Real nice hidden gem. Parking area fits about eight cars. Twenty five acres with a large pond. Very nice simple trail right off the parking lot. Mostly shade with some buggy areas. The pond with the little island is very photogenic. A little hilly but easy. Great bird watching location.

★★★★★ — Joseph , Jul 2018

Have been there a few times now. New discoveries every time. A great place to hike or fish. The only down side is limited parking slots.

★★★★★ — Evan , Jun 2021

Nice little pond with few short trails around it. Limited parking, no bathrooms. Dogs are allowed.

★★★★★ — Lenny , May 2020

Very photogenic views of the pond from the dam. Preserve is scenic not only at peak foliage season but around the year. Typically no issues with parking on weekends.

★★★★☆ — Mike , Oct 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 17 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.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 6 mentions

“Only walk few minutes to the pond and only six parking spots”

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🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“Great views of the Francis Pond lakes and some of the mansions (private land, non park) in the area.”

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🪵 Boardwalk

“Not usually busy it's very nice and I love the little boardwalk trails!”

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🚰 Water fountains

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Plan your run at Upper Francis Pond Preserve

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.
  • At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
  • Trail mapOfficial trail map
  • Websitenorthshorelandalliance.org
  • Phone(516) 922-1028
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 AM–5 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–5 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–5 PM
Thursday 8 AM–5 PM
Friday Closed
Saturday 8 AM–5 PM
Sunday 8 AM–5 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 Upper Francis Pond Preserve

29 S 03090, Mill Neck, NY 11765

Get directions

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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.