Lace up your hiking boots. We’ve compiled a curated hiking guide for the Winston-Salem area with 15 trails and routes to help you plan your next adventure.
Note: Before heading out, we recommend checking park websites for further info, current trail conditions, and safest practices for the area. Remember that dogs in city parks must be leashed.
Key: Easy = 🥾| Moderate = 🥾🥾 | Hard = 🥾🥾🥾
Hikes with history
Bethabara Greenway, 2147 Bethabara Rd.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.7 miles point-to-point
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Walk through Historic Bethabara Park on this trail that’s paved, gravel, and single-track dirt in different portions. The trail connects to various spots like Crown Oaks Apartments and the Reynolda Commons Shopping Center.
Salem Creek Greenway, 2101 Peters Creek Pkwy.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 5.2 miles point-to-point
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Explore the southern side of Winston-Salem. The flat paved trail connects historic neighborhoods like Old Salem, Happy Hill, and Washington Park.
Black Walnut Bottoms Trail, 5393 Ham Horton Ln., Bethania
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.4-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Explore the restored 1790s Wolff-Moser House and 1894 Alpha Chapel before enjoying a walk on this trail that takes ~30 minutes to complete. Pro tip: The best times to visit are April through December.
Wildlife walks
Stuart & Emma Thomas Memorial Trail, 1001 Reynolda Rd.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.5 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, with leash
This trail will take you to the Winston-Salem skyline from the high points along the trail. Keep an eye out for the many varieties of birds flitting around — you can spot cows and goats, too. Move over to one of the connecting loops to extend your hike.
Little Walden Nature Trail, Nature Trail Dr., Clemmons
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 0.9-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
If you want to go off the beaten path, reader Tracy S. says that this trail has a lovely small pond and is located behind the administration office. Pro tip: GPS may direct you to the back of the park, which is inaccessible — the main park entrance is located off US Route 158.
Washington Park Walking Trail, 1490 S. Broad St.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1 mile-loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: No
This 75-acre park features a one-mile trail with off-street trail access and also connects to the Salem Creek Greenway. Pro tip: Fido isn’t allowed on the trail, but you can explore the dog park that is also on-site.
Best for a workout
Hobby Park Trail, 2301 W. Clemmonsville Rd.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 2.8-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
This moderately-challenging course is perfect for a quick outdoor hike to get your blood pumping, with several bumps and rocks along the way. This trail is also popular with mountain bikers, so stay on the lookout.
Salem Lake Trail, 815 Salem Lake Rd.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 7-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions; The trail surface is 8-ft wide and features pavement and dirt.
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
There’s plenty to do at this lake, including fishing, boating, or taking on this trail with a scenic view. You’ll likely find other people out exercising on the trail — it’s popular among walkers, runners, and bikers.
Pilot Mountain State Park, 1721 Pilot Knob Park Rd., Pinnacle
- Difficulty: Varies
- Length: Varies
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
This Surry County gem (~30 minutes outside of downtown Winston-Salem) has multiple trails you can choose from, all ranging in difficulty level. For a good workout, we recommend the Grindstone Trail — a 3.5-mile strenuous hike that climbs uphill.
Hanes Park Walking Trail, 1404 W. Northwest Blvd.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 0.25-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Located across from RJ Reynolds High School, this trail is perfect for squeezing in a quick workout. Pro tip: Plan to park on Hawthorne and Reynolda Roads as parking spaces tend to fill up in during the school year.
Picture-perfect views
Reynolda Village Trail, 114 Reynolda Village Way
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 3.9-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions; 3 miles of this trail are paved
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
While any of the five trails at Reynolda will be worth your trip thanks to the wetlands, woodlands, and meadow located on the grounds, the Reynolda Village Trail includes a waterfall sighting.
Stone Mountain Loop Trail, 3042 Frank Pkwy., Roaring Gap
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
- Length: 4.5-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Located ~60 minutes outside of downtown Winston-Salem, this hike will give you a breathtaking view of the high country landscape with beautiful waterfalls and winding creeks. Explore more Stone Mountain trails.
Hanging Rock Upper Cascades Trail, 1790 Hanging Rock Park Rd., Danbury
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 0.4 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
You don’t have to work up a major sweat for beautiful views. Located in Stokes County (~40 minutes outside of downtown Winston-Salem), this trail allows you to experience the picturesque waterfalls from an observation deck or the bottom of the falls.
Urban oases
Long Branch Trail, 401 4th St. E.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.7 miles point-to-point
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
The paved landscape runs from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive through the Innovation Quarter in downtown Winston-Salem. Check out the trail’s various access points to plan your trip.
Muddy Creek Greenway, 285 Meadowlark Dr.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.9 miles point-to-point
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
This 10-ft wide paved trail runs from Country Club Road and ends at the bridge to the Summerfield Development opposite of Jefferson Elementary School.
Get the right gear
Get the most out of your trip with comfortable, handy, and helpful hiking gear:
- This extra roomy fanny pack — from Chattanooga, TN-based company Burlaep — can carry all the gadgets and accessories you need for your hike.
- For the best footwear, check out Nordstrom Rack’s sneaker edit for hiking.
- If your trail demands a proper hiking boot, we like Columbia’s collection on Amazon.
- For apparel that’s both flattering and functional, we turn to small business Aesthetic Built. We love the oversized scuba hoodies for women and the muscle scallop tees for men.
- Sweat sustainably with SEAAV. Their activewear is not only performance-driven but also planet-friendly.
- Travel light (but still have room for snacks) with lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag.
- Get a good bulk deal on Perfect Bars, Clif Bars, or Kind Bars at a warehouse store like Sam’s Club.
- Whether it’s the Active Essentials Kit or the Vegan Victory Set, Fuel Goods delivers the goods to keep you going.
- Don’t forget to bring a compact, portable phone charger (you’ll thank us later).
- Bringing along your 4-legged friend? Hike in style with a new collar and leash.
- We like this Teton hiking backpack.
- We like this lightweight water bottle.
- Sweat sustainably with SEAAV. Their activewear is not only performance-driven but also planet-friendly.
- Whether it’s the Active Essentials Kit or the Vegan Victory Set, Fuel Goods delivers the goods to keep you going.
Psst — to be ultra-prepared, here are the 10 items you should never enter a national park without, according to the National Park Service.
