Short Hike #7: Orono Bog Boardwalk

The Orono Bog Boardwalk (all images mine)

Along with most of Massachusetts, I spent my Labor Day weekend in Maine. On a cloudy Sunday afternoon, I visited the Orono Bog in Orono, Maine. A round-trip of 1.5 miles, roughly 2/3 of the trip is on a boardwalk through the bog. Unlike many other bogs, the Orono Bog contains a wide variety of wetland types in a small area, allowing visitors to see many of the plant types common to bogs in Maine. Portions of the bog are located within the adjacent Bangor City Forest, while the remainder is on land owned by the University of Maine. Parking and access to the bog boardwalk is located in the Bangor City Forest. The boardwalk is generally open during daylight hours, but check the website (listed below) for exact hours and closure information.

Departing from the parking lot located at the end of Tripp Drive, the direct trail to the boardwalk heads northeast from the entrance road.

City Forest map

The first 1/4 mile of the hike is through woods.

Restrooms are located along a spur trail to the left.

Restrooms

Shortly after the restrooms, we arrive at the beginning of the boardwalk.

A kiosk near the boardwalk entrance contains guides and other information for the boardwalk.

Once you're ready, head out onto the boardwalk and begin your adventure. Most of the boardwalk has been reconstructed with plastic planks, but one section has the original wood.

Beginning of boardwalk

At regular intervals, interpretive signage provides information about the surrounding landscape.

1/4 mile onto the boardwalk, the path splits. The boardwalk forms a loop, with both arrows on the boardwalk and the guide suggesting you take the straight/right fork.

The plant life along the trail is quite interesting and unique.

It's a shame none of these signs are clear in the pictures

About 0.6 mile into the walk and a little over 1/10 mile past the fork, there is a sudden change in the landscape as trees give way to low plants

Exiting the forest

The next portion of the hike is through an open, exposed area. There isn't much to talk about as the trail is generally a flat boardwalk, so I'll let the pictures speak for the natural beauty of the area.

Looking back at the forested area

Roughly 1/4 of the boardwalk has not been replaced with plastic sections and remains wooden.

Back into the woods...

Pitcher plants along the boardwalk

 

At the end of the loop, turn right to return to the parking lot.

Sign directing hikers to parking lot

While short, the Orono Bog Boardwalk is a pleasant stroll through several different types of bog landscapes. If a longer hike is desired, it is easy to combine the boardwalk with a stroll through the Bangor City Forest.

Getting Here

The Orono Bog Boardwalk is located north of Bangor, Maine, adjacent to the Bangor City Forest. The forest has several parking areas, but the one most convenient for the boardwalk is off of Stillwater Avenue near the Orono town line.

External Links

Orono Bog Boardwalk: Official website
Bangor City Forest: Unofficial site with forest information, endorsed by the city.