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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Go Birding at the Meadow
Recently completed, the Accessible Birding Platform offers visitors with an opportunity to observe wildlife and watch the sunset at the meadow. You can also walk our new trail system, which connects the meadow to the pollinator garden, for a deeper exploration of the meadow habitat.
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.