Description of Lands:

Newman Hill
Newman Hill is the newest trail area. A description will be posted shortly.

Marsh Island Natural Area
The Marsh Island Natural Area is located in the southeast corner of Orono, near the Penobscot River.  You can enter this 45 acre most easily by parking your car at the very end of Penobscot Street and following the narrow footpath straight ahead.   Another access is at the end of Colburn Drive. 

Trails in this area are not tagged but are easy to follow.  Most of the time you will be walking on old logging roads.  This property is heavily wooded with spruce and hemlock, but deciduous growth takes over as you near the river. 

In the spring watch for the delicately beautiful blossoming of the wild plum trees.   And, of course, do please be respectful of the abundant and impressive ant colonies.     

Sklar Park
Sklar Park is a 40-acre parcel situated at the west end of Orono, between Route 2 and I-95.  Overgrown meadowland, deep forest, and a clean, active, year-round stream make up this diverse property.

Trails are most easily accessed at the ends of Maplewood or Gibson Streets, or through the back of the Kathadin Area Council Boy Scout Headquarters on Kelly Road..

Trails are not marked and can be a little confusing, although it would be difficult to become truly "lost" in this area.  Johnny Mack Brook is crossed repeatedly by rustic wooden bridges; either the brook itself or any of the trails across it will lead you to a parking area.

The wooden bridges in Sklar Park are built and maintained by the Boy Scouts.

Jeremiah Colburn Natural Area(MAP)
The Jeremiah Colburn Natural Area:  this property in combo of private and TOWN land.  OLT oversees the property.  Trails are marked by white blazes.   Please be considerate of landowners concerns. 

This 55-acre parcel is located between Forest Avenue and Bennoch Road.  The easiest access is from the small parking area at the end of Forest Hills Terrace, just off Forest Avenue.  Other trails begin off Winterhaven Drive and from the MBNA lot in the industrial park.

The Colburn area is looped with two primary trails, marked in red and blue.  At the Forest Terrace entrance, a carved wooden map details the trails.

Walkers will enjoy the densely wooded, sloping terrain and the abundant bird life.   Chickadees here are especially bold, and will gather in small flocks in response to your imitation of their call. 

In the early spring, you are likely to encounter wet walking near the active stream that flows through the property.

The High School Land
Behind Orono High School stretches an 18-acre parcel of mixed hardwood and coniferous forest.  Although this area is in close proximity to residential areas, the paths through these woods are quiet and secluded. 

Best access to this parcel is through the school playing fields; or you may park at the end of Mountain View Road and walk into the meadow straight ahead. 

Trails are marked here with yellow paint and are easy to follow.  A pleasant destination is the water storage tank, from which there is a handsome view of the village.

Brownie's Park Trail
The Orono Land Trust also maintains a trail at "Brownie's Park", a narrow strip of undeveloped riverfront land on the west bank of the Stillwater River.  From Brownie's Park, the trail continues along the river to Stillwater Village, crossing private properties.  This is a lovely walk, but users of this trail mist be especially mindful of landowners' concerns. 

And
And we own a small parcel of Penobscot River frontage next to the Water Department on Penobscot Street.  No footpaths here.