Salem

Hike Salem, CT

(Part of New London County)

If you’re looking for the best hiking trails in Salem this is the complete guide to all the long trails, hidden cars, and history it has to offer.

Links

• 2012 Plan of Conservation and Development
  • 2007 Open Space Plan
• Salem Conservation Commission
• Salem Historical Society
• CTMQ’s Guide to Salem

Explore

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Coming Soon!

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Town Parks

• Salem Nature Trail – Unexplored
• Salem Community Park – Unexplored

Land Trust

• Salem Land Trust
  • Ahnert Preserve –★– No trails – Small area to explore along the brook (Parking Link)
  • Big Brook Gorge Preserve –★★– .6 miles — A short trail that dead ends in a gorge with an option to climb its high bank
  • Bingham Preserve –★★– .5 miles – A short trail with a view of a beaver pond at the back side
  • Darling Road Preserve –★★★– 3 miles – The loop requires a bit of a roadwalk but also has a section of the Richard Goodwin Trail and the tri-town marker
  • Salem Riverside Preserve –★★– .25 miles – A short well maintained lollipop loop with a view of the Eightmile River
  • Smuggler’s Rock Preserve –★★– 1.8 miles – Short trails climb to a balanced rock and a seasonal view
  • Tatson’s Woods –★– 1.2 miles – A seldom used trail to old farm fields and the remains of a grand old oak
  • Walden Preserve –★★★– 6 miles – Formerly a Nature Conservancy property with a hidden Pierce Arrow car and great varied trails
  • Woodland Warbler Preserve –★★– 2.6 miles – The trust’s newest property!
  • Zemko Sawmill Preserve –★★– 2.2 miles – Expanded trails now explore either side of Whittlesey Swamp

State Parks / Forest

• Gardner Lake State Park –★★– No trails – Boat launch and small beach area
• Minnie Island State Park –★★– Footpaths – A tiny island in Gardner Lake
• Zemko Pond Wildlife Management Area –★★– 1 mile – Not much for trails, but a picnic area and pond for fishing
• Nehantic State Forest –★★– 5 miles – Many unexplored trails in this large block of the state forest

The Rest

• Richard H. Goodwin Trail – 13 miles
  • Salem’s portion of this long trail is in the Darling Road Preserve
• Salem Woods Disc Golf Course

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• Gardner Lake

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• Fox Farm Brewery

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Coming Soon!

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Now go out and hike Salem, CT!