From Old Salem to Salem Lake, discover Winston-Salem one mile at a time.
Stretching more than five miles through the heart of Winston-Salem, the Salem Creek Greenway is one of the city's premier outdoor destinations. Whether you're walking, running, cycling, or simply enjoying the scenery, the paved trail winds alongside Salem Creek and connects many of Winston-Salem's most beloved attractions.
Stop to wind through historic streets of Old Salem or take a side quest through downtown by diverging onto the vibrant Long Branch Trail to downtown. With connections to Washington Park, Quarry Park, and the peaceful shores of Salem Lake along the way, you can discover beautiful natural landscapes, welcoming neighborhoods, public art, and countless opportunities to experience the City of Arts and Innovation at your own pace.
History of the Salem Creek Greenway
The Salem Creek Greenway represents decades of Winston-Salem's commitment to preserving natural spaces while connecting neighborhoods, parks, and historic landmarks through a safe, accessible trail network.
Following the course of Salem Creek, the greenway links downtown with some of the city's oldest communities and most treasured outdoor destinations. As the trail system has expanded over the years, the Salem Creek Greenway has become the backbone of Winston-Salem's greenway network.
Today, it connects directly with the Downtown Strollway, the Long Branch Trail, Salem Lake Trail, and numerous parks, providing visitors and residents with miles of uninterrupted pathways for recreation and exploration.
What was once a collection of separate destinations has evolved into one of North Carolina's most connected urban trail experiences, offering easy access to historic sites, universities, recreation areas, and waterfront views, all without leaving the trail. The paved greenway now stretches approximately 5.2 miles from Marketplace Mall to Salem Lake Park, making it one of the city's most popular places to walk, run, and bike.
Headline
Frequently Asked Questions
The Salem Creek Greenway stretches approximately 5.2 miles through Winston-Salem, connecting Marketplace Mall near Peters Creek Parkway to Salem Lake Park.
Along the route, the paved greenway passes Washington Park, Quarry Park, Old Salem, historic neighborhoods, additional trail junctions, and scenic creek side landscapes, making it easy to hop on and off at several access points throughout the city.
Yes. The Salem Creek Greenway features a wide, paved asphalt surface that is popular with cyclists, runners, walkers, and families with strollers. The trail is generally flat to gently rolling, with some areas of incline, making it accessible for riders and outdoor enthusiasts of many skill levels.
The Salem Creek Greenway connects several of Winston-Salem's most popular attractions and outdoor spaces.
Highlights include Washington Park, Quarry Park with its overlook and lake, the historic district of Old Salem Museum & Gardens, scenic creek crossings, public art, wooded sections, and Salem Lake Park, one of the area's favorite destinations for walking, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife viewing.
You can also connect into additional trails for a longer experience, including the Long Branch Trail which connects to downtown and the vibrant Innovation Quarter.
You can opt to start at Salem Lake Park for beautiful scenery and lake views before heading on to explore downtown, or hop on the trail downtown and end with the scenery!
Yes! Thanks to connections between the Downtown Strollway, Long Branch Trail, and Salem Creek Greenway, visitors can enjoy an extended route linking downtown Winston-Salem with Salem Lake.
Along the way, you'll experience a unique mix of urban neighborhoods, historic landmarks, parks, public art, and natural landscapes—all without leaving the trail system. Don't miss the The Quarry at Grant Park Trails along the route, which also connects to The Quarry at Grant Park- offering stunning skyline views, a playground, and more trails.
There are several convenient parking areas along the Salem Creek Greenway, making it easy to explore different sections of the trail.
Popular access points include Washington Park, Reynolds Park, The Quarry at Grant Park, Salem Lake Park, and the western trailhead near Marketplace Mall.
With multiple public parking areas located throughout the route, visitors can choose a shorter walk or bike ride or enjoy the entire 5.2-mile greenway from end to end.