Explore the Bountiful Outdoor Activities in Winston-Salem, NC

Eric Waters

As a lifelong resident of Forsyth County, Chris Weavil has long enjoyed the area’s outdoor recreation opportunities. From Sunday trips to Tanglewood Park with his grandparents to weekly softball games at Union Cross Park, being outside in the fresh North Carolina air has been an important part of Weavil’s regular activities. Now, after more than 30 years working for Forsyth County Parks & Recreation, Weavil recently became the department’s director. He shares his insights on the numerous outdoor activities in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

What is one of the best things about outdoor activities in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County? 
The location. The county is about 20 miles wide and 20 miles tall, and Winston-Salem is pretty much right in the middle.

In about 15 minutes, you can drive from downtown Winston-Salem to just about any part of the county. We have some very rural areas, especially in the northern corner, and you can easily get there from downtown, which is great. 

What’s an example of something fun to do outside during each season? 
In the spring, we have an 18-hole disc golf course at Triad Park. When it opened in 2015, it was the second-longest course in North Carolina (at 7,171 feet). There’s also a course at Horizons Park. During the summer, the Peter S. Brunstetter Aquatic Center in Tanglewood Park is a very popular place. It has a pool with diving boards and slides, a lazy river and a splash pad. That’s something people flock to when it warms up.

Fall is a time for outdoor festivals. There’s usually something happening at Bailey Park (a 1.6-acre green space in the middle of the Innovation Quarter). Then during the winter, we have the Festival of Lights at Tanglewood Park, a roughly 5-mile drive-thru light show. It’s been going on for 32 years and has become a tradition for folks in this area. 

What is an underappreciated outdoor gem in Forsyth County? 
There is a 3-mile mountain bike trail at Horizons Park that has a lot of elevation changes. You go from lowland along a creek to a fairly high ridgeline and back again. It almost feels like you’re in the mountains. 

What is something outdoor related in Forsyth County that might surprise people? 
We have an RV campground in Tanglewood Park. While we get people from all over the country, a lot of the folks who stay there are from Forsyth County. It’s a place where you can get away from things and enjoy the outdoors without ever leaving the county.