Salem Lake

Salem Lake is a 365-acre municipal reservoir on the east side of Winston-Salem, NC — the largest body of water located entirely within Forsyth County, and the centerpiece of a 1,400-acre park that sits less than ten minutes from downtown. The City of Winston-Salem calls it the “hidden diamond in the city,” and the nickname holds up: the lake supplies roughly 30% of Winston-Salem’s drinking water while also anchoring one of the best outdoor recreation destinations anywhere in the Piedmont Triad.

The signature feature is the seven-mile Salem Lake Trail, a mostly shaded, primarily natural-surface loop that follows the shoreline the entire way around. Beyond the trail, the lake offers pier and boat fishing, boat and kayak rentals through the Salem Lake Marina Center, picnic shelters, and a playground — with wildlife watching (turtles sunning on driftwood, herons working the shallows, and a substantial year-round bird population) adding another layer to almost any visit.

Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for Salem Lake before you go — or to relive the visit after.

The Reservoir — 1911 Dam to Winston-Salem’s Drinking Water Supply

Salem Lake began as a municipal water project. The original dam across Salem Creek was built in 1911, creating the first version of the reservoir. The lake reached its current form in 1931, when a third dam was completed — the structure still in operation today, holding back roughly one billion gallons of water.

That working-reservoir status shapes the visitor experience in ways worth knowing before you go. Because Salem Lake remains an active drinking water source for the city, swimming is not permitted anywhere on the lake, and boating regulations are stricter than at purely recreational lakes — pleasure cruising in motorized boats isn’t allowed, and all boaters and anglers need to check in at the marina office before heading out.

The lake’s depths run from shoreline shallows to about 30 feet, and the fishery has earned a substantial regional reputation. The largemouth bass population at Salem Lake has long been considered among the best in North Carolina, and anglers also pull crappie, bream, catfish, and perch from the water. Fishing is allowed from the pier or from a boat only — bank fishing is prohibited — and anyone 16 or older needs a North Carolina state fishing license.

The Seven-Mile Salem Lake Trail

The Salem Lake Trail is the reason most visitors come. The seven-mile loop follows the perimeter of the lake on a primarily natural surface, staying mostly shaded and keeping the water in view for nearly the entire distance. It’s a multi-use trail — walkers, runners, cyclists, and occasionally equestrians all share it — and mile markers along the route help you track your progress.

Counterclockwise is the easier direction to travel due to the trail’s grade. Starting from the Salem Lake Marina Center, the brightly colored Salem Lake Playground comes into view at about the 0.3-mile mark, with parking, restrooms, and drinking fountains available there. Around the one-mile point, the trail climbs roughly 35 feet at an 8% grade — the most substantial hill on the loop — and a bench at the top rewards the effort with a wide view across the lake. The Linville Parking Area on the east end is about 3.4 miles away, marking roughly the halfway point, with another restroom and drinking fountain.

For visitors who need accessible options, approximately 1 mile of the trail near the marina and playground area is wheelchair-accessible. Benches appear regularly along the full loop, and the trail’s mix of flat stretches and gentle grades makes it manageable for a wide range of fitness levels.

The Salem Lake Trail also connects into the broader Winston-Salem greenway network, with access to trails leading toward The Quarry at Grant Park, the Marketplace Mall area, and out toward Kernersville — making longer routes possible for anyone wanting to extend the day.

Good to Know

• Location: 815 Salem Lake Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27107
• Phone: 336-650-7677
• Email: salemlake@cityofws.org
• Operating hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; pier and lake access end at 6:30 p.m.; gate locks nightly at 7:00 p.m. (check the City of Winston-Salem website for current seasonal hours)
• Trail note: The lake and trail close 30 minutes before the park closes; park outside the main gates if you plan to be on the trail near closing time
• Admission: Free to walk the trail; fees apply for fishing and boating
• Lake size: 365 acres; surrounded by a 1,400-acre park
• The trail: Seven-mile multi-use loop; primarily natural surface; mostly shaded; mile markers visible traveling counterclockwise (the easier direction); approximately one mile of wheelchair-accessible trail near the marina and playground
• Fishing: Pier and boat fishing only (no bank fishing); largemouth bass, crappie, bream, catfish, and perch; NC state fishing license required for anyone 16 or older; fees apply
• Boating: Jon boats and kayak rentals available at the Salem Lake Marina Center; all boaters must check in at the marina office first; no swimming permitted (active drinking water reservoir)
• Amenities: Salem Lake Marina Center (lake offices, fishing station, bait shop, rental space), playground, picnic shelters, restrooms, drinking fountains
• Best for: Trail runners and long-distance walkers, cyclists, anglers (particularly largemouth bass), kayakers and paddlers, birders, families with children (playground + picnic areas), and anyone looking for a substantial outdoor escape close to downtown Winston-Salem
• Pair with: The full Winston-Salem attractions cluster; The Quarry at Grant Park via the connecting greenway network; Historic Bethabara Park for another substantial Winston-Salem trail system; or the Reynolda Estate trails for a shorter, more historic walking option

A Winston-Salem Highlight

Seven miles of shaded shoreline trail, less than ten minutes from downtown. That’s the pitch, and it’s a good one. Salem Lake gives Winston-Salem something most cities its size don’t have — a substantial outdoor recreation destination that feels genuinely removed from the city while sitting right inside it.

The trail is the main event, and it rewards however much you want to give it. Walk a mile out and back from the marina for a quick outing, take the wheelchair-accessible section near the playground with kids, or commit to the full seven-mile loop for a proper half-day. Counterclockwise is the easier direction, and the hill around mile one is the only real climb — with a bench at the top and a view worth the stop.

For anglers, the largemouth bass fishery here has a substantial statewide reputation, and the marina makes a boat or kayak day easy to put together. For everyone else, the turtles on the driftwood, the herons in the shallows, and the mile markers ticking by under a mostly shaded canopy are reason enough to come back.

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Resources

Salem Lake Website

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Location

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Social Media

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