11 Must-Do Outdoor Activities in Winston-Salem, NC
Enjoy natural beauty in and around the region.
Whether it’s hiking or paddling or just sitting around soaking in the sunshine, there are plenty of ways to enjoy outdoor recreation in the region. Here are 11 outdoor activities in the Winston-Salem, NC area for you to check off your list.
In This Article
1. Check Out the Quarry at Grant Park
Enjoy a walk – and the view – at the Quarry at Grant Park. After nearly 50 years of operation, the old Piedmont Quarry site was donated by Vulcan Materials to the City of Winston-Salem, which turned the land into a 200-acre park. The highlight is an elevated pier that extends above the eastern edge of the water-filled, 12-acre quarry, providing panoramic views of the surrounding 130-feet-tall bluffs, with the downtown skyline in the distance.
2. SUP on Salem Lake
Located less than 5 miles east of downtown, the 365-acre Salem Lake is a convenient location for fishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. Back on land, more scenic views of the lake are available along a 7-mile trail.
3. Hit the Links
Gather your friends for a round of golf at Winston Lake Golf Course. The original nine holes of this course opened in 1956 and remain available for public play. But the course has expanded and improved greatly since those early days, including making recent upgrades to the greens and improving sight lines from the tee boxes. After your round of golf, food and drinks are available at Papa Lee’s Grill in the clubhouse.
4. Learn the Ropes
Explore the ropes courses at Miracle Heights Adventures at Crossnore Communities for Children. In addition to providing programs and services for in-need children, Crossnore has the only ropes courses in Winston-Salem. Options include a 33-element aerial adventure park, with a 600-foot zip line, a giant swing and two climbing walls. The Aerial Teams Course is geared toward promoting group collaboration, while a low ropes course provides opportunities for all abilities.
5. Picnic at Reynolda Gardens
Just bring a blanket and a basket and Reynolda Gardens will provide the rest. Adjacent to Wake Forest University’s campus, this 134-acre setting provides a colorful horticultural backdrop for peaceful picnics. The landscape is particularly lush each spring when the azaleas and cherry trees are in bloom. A walking trail and waterfall only add to the beauty.
6. Play Tennis at Hanes Park
With nearly two dozen tennis courts, you can volley or play a full match at Hanes Park, which is on the western edge of downtown. The park also has three baseball/softball diamonds, a large children’s playground, two open fields, two walking tracks and an approximately one-mile walking trail.
7. Take the Reins
A short drive in the car will lead to horsepower of a different type at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons. Guided horseback rides are available at the 1,100-acre park on a trail that runs alongside the Yadkin River. Hayrides and horse-drawn carriages are also offered, along with pony rides for young children.
8. Enjoy the Water
Tanglewood Park also has one of the access points to the Yadkin Pee Dee River Trail, a 125-mile paddling trail that runs along the western border of Forsyth County. Kayaks and canoes can easily navigate the river, which is mostly flat with a few Class I and II rapids thrown in for fun.
9. Roll Out Your Yoga Mat
For a calmer outdoor activity, head to Bailey Park in Winston-Salem’s Innovation District for the free, all-level community yoga series held from April through October. The 1.6-acre greenspace is also used throughout the year for movies, food trucks and festivals, and the park’s natural amphitheater and lawn seating make it ideal for musical performances.
10. Hit the Trail
Not far from Bailey Park, you can access the 1.7-mile Long Branch Trail, a 10-foot-wide paved greenway running south from Fourth Street to Salem Creek. That is where the trail connects to the Salem Creek Greenway, creating a 20-mile loop from the north end of the Innovation Quarter to Salem Lake and back.
11. Explore the City’s New Park
Winston-Salem’s downtown welcomed a new urban oasis in April 2023, with the opening of the $5.23 million Merschel Park. Located at Fourth and Trade streets, the park is named for the late Wanda Merschel, who served on the Winston-Salem City Council for 16 years and was an advocate for downtown revitalization.
Merschel, who died in 2020, was a fan of outdoor sculptures and public art works that decorate downtown areas.
“Balancing Act,” a large kinetic sculpture at one of the park’s entrances, features 16 elevated stainless-steel orbs with silver spinners that spin when the wind hits them. The 16 orbs represent Merschel’s 16 years of public service.
Developers say “Balancing Act” represents busy women in Winston-Salem who find clever and fruitful ways to balance their lives. The piece was created by Lyman Whitaker, a renowned Utah-based sculptor who has produced handmade kinetic sculptures for more than 50 years. His wind sculptures are on display at places like Disney World, Apple TV, Dallas Arboretum, Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, throughout Boston, and in private collections worldwide.
Merschel Park is designed to be a gathering place to hold small concerts, dance performances, arts and crafts fairs, cultural festivals and other events. On weekdays, it is an ideal spot for downtown office workers to have lunch or just get away from their desks and into the fresh air.
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