Orono Land Trust Mountain Biking Trails

The Orono Land Trust offers an abundant network of trails linked directly to downtown Orono. Parking near the local bike shop, Rose Bike, provides quick access to trails and convenient après-bike food and drink - or bike repair.

There are three general areas to ride: Piney Knoll Conservation Area, Jeremiah Colburn Natural Area, and Skylar Park, the latter two of which connect with Orono High School trails.

From downtown head east on Route 2 toward the high school and into a terrific network of fast, loamy, and just slightly rooty singletrack. Here you can access a network of wider and smoother trails in these woods. From the highest point head north towards Jeremiah Colburn Natural Area or south towards Skylar Park. Heading south towards Skylar offers more of the same loamy soil with fun twists, turns, and dips. Riding north instead takes you down one of the most fun, technical descents in the the area before crossing over Forest Avenue and climbing into Jeremiah Colburn.

Jeremiah offers its own cluster of singletrack, most of it technically challenging due to the abundance of roots. Don't let that deter you: the trails are also fun and fast. Ride up towards the highway and race the northbound cars on the "I-95" trail downhill towards the industrial park. Turn eastward and a bit of pavement leads you back onto dirt and down to the Stillwater River Trail. From here head south back to town or north towards the University of Maine trail system. Back in town cross over the Stillwater River onto Marsh Island and point your wheels toward Piney Knoll, which offers several miles of singletrack and doubletrack. The terrain is generally rocky and rooty, but offers spectacular views of the Penobscot River. Explore the area carefully and you might also find a real treat: the dirt roller coaster trail hidden in the woods. For more information and maps, visit www.oronolandtrust.org.

—Erik daSilva