The Best Walking Trails In Winston-Salem

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Have you ever felt the need to walk to clear your mind or relieve stress? Maybe you wanted to get out in the fresh air on a peaceful path and take in nature. Your body knew what it needed! Walking will relax and calm your mind, improve your mood, and reduce stress by releasing feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It also burns calories, improves heart health, protects bones, and improves overall health. It is an easy-to-do exercise with many benefits.

Winston-Salem residents are fortunate to have plenty of walking trails around the city. Look at our list below and find one that sounds like a path you would enjoy traveling.

The Stuart & Emma Thomas Memorial Trail

• 1001 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem
• Enter at the gravel farm road entrance from Reynolda Road or from the end of Gillete Street

This natural walking trail, which is open to the public and close to the city, is owned by Crossnore Communities for Children. The 3-mile trail features forested areas, pastures, and views of the city’s skyline from the higher elevations. It is a peaceful walk on a natural surface with beautiful views and some hills and dips, with the enjoyment of bird watching along the way. As of July 10, 2023, the south loop of the trail is closed due to cows in the pasture. See the Thomas Trail Map.

Graylyn Estate

• 1900 Reynolda Road, Winston Salem
• Several paths on the property

The Graylyn Estate sits on 55 acres of spectacular property with several paved and unpaved paths. Admire the historic mansion with its beautiful stone architecture, walk through lovely meadows, see charming cottages, cross stone bridges, and stop by sparkling ponds. Walk for as long or as little as you like on the paths. If you wish to extend your walk, you could continue across the road to Reynolda.

Reynolda Trails

• 2250 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem
• Several options; start at the bottom lot at Reynolda Village

The Reynolda Walking Trail, a 0.25-mile walk, begins at the bottom lot and goes up the hill toward the Wake Forest University campus. The paved pathway leads through the woods, into a wetlands area, over Lake Katherine Bridge, and past the waterfall. There is also a 1.7-mile-long Perimeter Trail, a dirt trail through the woods that loops around the 130-acre estate. For a shorter stroll, enjoy a walk through the beautiful gardens.

Trails Of Historic Bethania

• 5393 Ham Horton Lane, Winston-Salem
• Several trails in the vicinity of the Visitor’s Center

Bethania features four trails of varying lengths that loop through the historic village. Black Walnut Bottoms Trail is 1.4 miles long and begins near the Visitor’s Center beside Alpha Chapel. It runs along Muddy Creek through forest and farmlands and is flat and easy to walk. Reuter Trail is 1.42 miles long and starts off Bethania-Rural Hall Road. It is a loop that is a moderate forest walk with a climb to a high ridge and bluff above Muddy Creek and then a descent into woods. Graveyard Trail is 0.7 miles long and starts in the Mill Shoppes parking lot and loops behind God’s Acre. It is a nice trail, with an old cemetery. Orchard Trail, 0.8 miles long, begins at Bethania-Rural Hall Road, uphill through the woods to a field, and loops through the Old Orchards preserve land. Download a PDF map of all trails.

Downtown Strollway

• 237 W 1st Street, Winston-Salem
• Start the trail at Corpening Plaza and head south

This 1.2-mile trail runs through the southernmost portion of downtown. Beginning at Corpening Plaza, just a few blocks from all the restaurants and shops, you will pass over Salem Parkway, along the shaded strollway past historic homes built in the 18th century. The path parallels Marshall Street and eventually leads you to the Old Salem Visitor’s Center. At this point, you can cross the bridge and extend your short trip by walking through the streets of Old Salem, or you can continue south for a longer walk to connect to the Salem Creek Greenway.

Long Branch Trail

• Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Winston-Salem
• Enter the trail on your right just before Research Parkway

Long Branch is a 2.2-mile urban Greenway that runs through Innovation Quarter. The path winds around Bailey Park, under Salem Parkway, and over several old train trestles. You will experience some of the city’s artwork and skyline views along the trail, and at dusk, the lit overpasses are lovely, too. The trail ends at the Salem Creek Greenway.

Salem Lake Trail

• 815 Salem Lake Road
• Enter at Marina or at Linville Road

Salem Lake Trail is a beautiful path for a long walk. It is a 7.1-mile loop around Salem Lake. It is primarily a dirt path but an easy walk with some incline. It is completely wooded, with glimpses of the lake the entire way. It is a popular trail, and you will share it with runners, bikers, and other walkers, but it is a wide path, so that is helpful. Dogs on leashes are permitted. There are bathrooms at the playground, marina, the Linville Road entrance, and benches along the trail. “Kids in Parks” signs along the path provide facts about plants and animals at Salem Lake Park. For a shorter walk, leave walking counter-clockwise from the marina and turn around at the first nine tributaries.

Walking Trails At City Of Winston Salem Parks

Winston-Salem has many walking trails in its parks, providing safe and comfortable walking throughout the city. The locations and lengths of those trails are listed below. Dogs are not allowed on walking trails in city parks.

• Hanes Park – 1.1 miles long – 1404 W Northwest Boulevard
• Harambee Park – 0.17 mile long – 1515 E 14th Street
• Leinbach Park – 0.5 miles long – 3635 Sally Kirk Road
• Little Creek Park – 0.77 miles long – 600 Foxtrot Drive
• Miller Park – 0.5 miles long & 1 mile long – 400 Leisure Lane
• Oak Summit Park – 0.22 miles long – 370 Oak Summit Road
• Old Town Park – 0.5 miles long – 4550 Shattalon Drive
• Parkland Park – 0.33 miles long – 1660 Brewer Road
• Piney Grove Park – 0.55 miles long – 4725 Indiana Avenue
• Speas Park – 0.4 miles long – 1850 Polo Road
• Washington Park – 2.7 miles long – 1490 S Broad Street
• Winston Lake Park – 2.4 miles long – 1344 Winston Park Drive

Extend Your Walk To A Hike

Immerse yourself in nature and venture out on one of the many beautiful trails in the Winston-Salem area. There are easy trails for beginners and more strenuous ones for seasoned hikers. Read about the best hiking trails in the area to find one you would like to explore.

Where do you enjoy walking? Tell us in the comments.