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Print Friendly MapAs its name suggests, the Winston-Salem Strollway presents the perfect setting for a leisurely walk. Completed in 1988, the popular rail-trail links Winston-Salem's modern business district with historic Old Salem. The 1.2-mile Strollway is 8ft wide with a paved and pea gravel surface.
From its northern end on W Fourth Street by Merschel Park (122 W 4th St, Winston-Salem), the Strollway threads though several engaging downtown blocks. It uses a sidewalk connector along Town Run Lane NW until crossing Second Street. At it passes Corpening Plaza, it runs along partially a closed one-way road until it crosses First Street, where it becomes an off-road pathway.
The Strollway crosses over Salem Parkway via a pedestrian bridge. As you approach the bridge, the cityscape gives way to green spaces, fragrant magnolias and residential neighborhoods.
Almost a mile south from the bridge, the Old Salem Museums & Garden (900 Old Salem Rd)—which includes the Old Salem Visitor Center—is next to the trail on the west side. The Old Salem Covered Bridge provides a connection to the restored Old Salem historic district. Cross the bridge to reach additional museums (924 S Main St) and to explore the historic district. Established in 1766 by Moravian craftsmen, it grew into a thriving trading center and reputable source of high-quality handicrafts. Today it's one of the country's most authentic and best documented colonial sites, boasting 100 restored and reconstructed buildings.
Continue south along the Strollway to W Salem Avenue, where there is a roughly 250ft section of widened sidewalk west along W Salem Avenue. The Strollway briefly continues south as an off-road pathway until it connects to the Salem Creek Greenway at its pedestrian bridge over the creek.
The intersection of S Main Street and Waughtown Street provides access to the southern end of the Strollway. From the intersection, follow a short section of the Greenway to the bridge and head north along the Strollway.
For a longer adventure, continue west along the Salem Creek Greenway through Washington Park for roughly a mile to reach the Greenway's western trailhead. Alternatively, continue east for about 4 miles to reach the scenic Salem Lake and the Greenway's eastern trailhead.
The central business district trailhead is on Fourth between Cherry and Trade. Limited street parking is available, or you can use the public parking garage on Cherry between Fourth and Fifth.
Additional parking is available at the Old Salem Visitor Center (900 Old Salem Road) and in several shopping complex parking lots by the southern end of the trail.
The city's transit system (WSTA) provides access to the trail via a number of bus stops. Visit the TrailLink map for all locations, transit options, and detailed directions.
It could be a great way to move around downtown but the surface of the trail is broken and rough. For biking it is smoother to roll on the road that runs parallel to the road. I think if you were walking on it you would have to look down to make sure you don't trip over the broken surface.
"Nice area trail. This paved trail starts in the parking lot of the Marketplace mall, winding its way through Washington Park for about 3/4 mile. Then there is a 1/4 mile section where the trail is poorly marked as it crosses Broad and Main Streets. Follow the pea gravel sidewalk to Central Park. From here the trail runs without interruption or street crossing for 3.5 miles, all the way to Salem Lake. The beginning is a bit run down, but the scenery improves dramatically as you approach the lake. The lake has a seven mile dirt trail around it, which is beautiful. You can also rent canoes and picnic. Salem Creek Trail is perfect for biking, rollerblading, walking, and running. Salem Lake Trail is excellent for mountain biking, walking, running, and even horseback riding (before 10:00am only). "
"This trail connects the historic restored Moravian village of Old Salem with downtown Winston-Salem (about 1 mile one-way). The leafy trail, roughly parallel to and one to two blocks west of, S. Main St., is wide and constructed of an excellent solidly-packed stone surface (small river stone, not gravel!). It is suitable for bicycles, strollers and foot travel. Ample parking is available (and recommended) across S. Main St. at the Old Salem Visitors Center. (While in Old Salem, be sure to visit the many historic exhibits, God's Acre cemetery, and the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts. The campus of Salem College is located in Old Salem.) Other parking is available at access points on the way north to downtown. In downtown, there is limited on-street parking at the trailhead, or in the parking deck on Cherry St. betwen 4th and 5th St. From the Old Salem Visitors Center, you can cycle (or walk) one block east to the center of Old Salem and turn right (south) on S. Main Street. Go to the end of the road and cross Salem Avenue, angling to the left, where you will see public tennis courts. Here, the Winston-Salem (Salem Creek) Greenway continues east about 2-1/2 miles on a paved path to Salem Lake (and connecting to a 6.7 mile unpaved path around the shoreline of the lake and suitable for jogging, walking or wide-tired bicycles) or west on a paved path 2 miles to Marketplace Mall. Many cyclists like to start at Salem Lake and cycle to Old Salem and back. "
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