HomeMassachusettsSalem › Forest River Park

Forest River Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 825 Google reviews · Running trail in Salem, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Forest River Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ShadedScenic

This riverfront park with beaches, picnic areas & a playground also offers a living history museum.

What runners say about Forest River Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (825 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 12 mentions

“Beautiful location to have a barbecue Walk around and ground yourself on the grass”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“It’s got a nice little beach area, perfect for the kids and shaded grassy areas where you can sit, grill, blast music.”

From pool to ocean this place has it all!!! Next time I go, I’m definitely gonna be one of those ones on the paddleboard :-) Me and one of my friend went for a walk around the grounds. If you go around a couple of times, you get a great workout in will be in cool with that ocean breeze.

★★★★★ — Jean , Jul 2023

Such a beautiful coastal park. Has plenty of walkways that are paved and easy to walk. Right along plenty of beaches, coasts and filled with trees and endless beautiful views. Very nice and brisk walk, highly recommend if you are in the area.

★★★★★ — Kyle , Oct 2024

Great place to relax and take some pictures. Come at low tide to walk on the beach see the tide pools the rocks create.

★★★★★ — Magdalena , Feb 2020

We love the pool and the playground. Some of the lifeguards are a little too strict when it comes to the kids playing. I completely understand that there’s rules for a reason but let’s keep them the same across the board. Also if the parent is there with the child let the parents enforce the rules.

★★★★☆ — Michael , Jul 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 825 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 17 mentions

“Beautiful location to have a barbecue Walk around and ground yourself on the grass”

More trails like this →

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“It’s got a nice little beach area, perfect for the kids and shaded grassy areas where you can sit, grill, blast music.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Forest River Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • Websitesalem.org

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 1–6 PM
Wednesday 12–7 PM
Thursday 1–6 PM
Friday 1–6 PM
Saturday 12–6 PM
Sunday 12–6 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Forest River Park

32 Clifton Ave, Salem, MA 01970

Get directions

Running trails near Salem

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Marblehead Rail Trail

4.3 ★★★★☆ 3 reviews

Salem, MA

under a mile away

Marblehead Rail Trail

3.5 ★★★★☆ 2 reviews

Salem, MA

under a mile away

Wyman Woods

4.6 ★★★★★ 80 reviews

Marblehead, MA

ScenicDog-friendly

Park offering trails for hiking and biking, plus fields with wildflowers.

under a mile away

Hawthorn Pond Conservation Area

5 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Marblehead, MA

under a mile away

Axelrod Walkway Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 18 reviews

Salem, MA

1.0 miles away

Forest River Trails

5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

Marblehead, MA

1.1 miles away

All running trails in Salem, MA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.