Piney Knoll Conservation Area The Piney Knoll Conservation Area offers about 4.5 miles of easy-to-moderate walking trails that are great for families. The 57-acre property encompasses riverside marshes, lovely meadows, and pristine forest stands, including the group of tall white pines atop a knoll from which the area derives its name. Eagles, redpolls, and ducks frequent the area, making it an excellent spot for birdwatchers, while visitors may also spot snowshoe hares, deer, red foxes, Wild Turkeys, and coyotes. The Penobscot River Trail includes marked locations where a historic ferry used to land, with a steel cable spanning the river remaining as evidence. The property connects to the University of Maine’s popular cross-country skiing network and offers great Nordic trails of its own.