• Informational kiosk at Gateway Nature Preserve

    Visit Gateway

    Gateway Nature Preserve is open year-round during daylight hours per Winston-Salem guidelines.

    "Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty."

    — John Ruskin
    Adult and child hiking on trails at Gateway Nature Preserve

    Explore Trails

    Immerse yourself in the quiet beauty of the woods and take a hike on the Forest Discovery Trail. The seven stations along the half-mile trail offers insight into more than 25 tree species, how the forest supports wildlife, health benefits of nature, and more.

    Caterpillars in the Gateway pollinator garden

    Visit the Pollinator Garden

    With over 120 native trees, shrubs, and perennials, our Pollinator Garden provides a much-needed habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, whose numbers have been depleted by development and by commercial agricultural practices. Check out the insect hotels that provide places for bees to lay their eggs.

    Kids exploring Salem Creek

    Romp and Stomp at Salem Creek

    A path off the Greenway leads down to a sandy beach at the edge of Salem Creek. The creek provides water for wildlife and habitat for macroinvertebrates that are important to the food web. It’s also a great place to bring your dog, stomp in the creek, or skip rocks across the water.

    Kids playing on stumps at the Gateway Story Circle

    Gather at the Story Circle

    Bordering Salem Creek Greenway is our Story Circle. It serves as an outdoor classroom and gathering place. Hop along the log stumps or gather with a group of friends to share stories and
    good times.

    Directions and Parking

    The Gateway Nature Preserve is located next to Washington Park, south of downtown Winston-Salem. Salem Creek runs through it, separating a forested area on the north side (with Salem Creek Greenway) from an open floodplain to the south, between the Washington Park parking lot and Broad Street.