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Longwood Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 680 Google reviews · Running trail in Salem, Virginia · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Longwood 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.

ScenicStroller / ADAFlat & fastHillyRestroomsTrailhead parking

Scenic city park with play structures, trails, covered picnic tables & outdoor performances.

What runners say about Longwood Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (680 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“Spacious and safe park for the kids to play, wish they will put more playground equipments but the fact that its free and CLEAN im ok with it.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Enjoyed the park and hills with beautiful trees and sitting on a bench watching the sunset with my love sunset.”

A great city park with plenty of places to walk and picnic, a stage, and more. The kids play area is great - my 7yo keeps going down the slide and saying "best slide ever!".

★★★★★ — Nathaniel , Jun 2023

Enjoyed the park and hills with beautiful trees and sitting on a bench watching the sunset with my love sunset. The neighborhood was peaceful and quite too! It was nice relaxing and watched the squirrels run up the trees.

★★★★★ — Julie , Jan 2021

Always clean and so much space. Playground equipment for all ages? Yep. Pave path for riding /walking? Yep. Picnic tables? Open grassy spaces? Basketball court? Yep yep yep.

★★★★★ — John , Jan 2019

Beautiful park for Relay for Life. Great for kids, nice layout with bathrooms and stage locations. The track was relatively flat. The only drawback is that parking is limited, an afterthought, really. Scoring a space there is lucky and still a hike to get into the park proper from the lot.

★★★★☆ — Marj1St , Jun 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 680 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 7 mentions

“This particular location is up on the hill in Salem so you can oversee some of the town and mountains that surround for a nice view.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 5 mentions

“there is a steep grassy hill behind the basketball court that our dogs were rolling down because they couldn't figure out how to apply their brakes.”

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🚻 Restrooms 5 mentions

“Bathrooms are stainless steel but have real plumbing and are gender inclusive.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“The only drawback is that parking is limited, an afterthought, really.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“Everyone was so nice that was the extra level we needed as we drove through Salem.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

“Parking is spacious and very accessible.”

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Plan your run at Longwood 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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitesalemva.gov
  • Phone+1 540-375-3057
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 am–8 pm
Tuesday 8 am–8 pm
Wednesday 8 am–8 pm
Thursday 8 am–8 pm
Friday 8 am–8 pm
Saturday 8 am–8 pm
Sunday 8 am–8 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 Longwood Park

Longwood Park, 601 E Main St, Salem, VA 24153

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.

Riverside Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 26 reviews

Salem, VA

1.7 miles away

Salem Rotary Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 271 reviews

Salem, VA

Natural surfaceDog-friendly

Peaceful recreation area offering swimming, fishing, a walking trail and picnics.

1.9 miles away

Green Hill Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,236 reviews

Salem, VA

PavedScenic

Expansive park with an open field, riverfront area, walking trails, picnic shelters & playgrounds.

3.9 miles away

Pawpaw Trail

5 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Salem, VA

4.0 miles away

Happy Hollow Gardens Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 208 reviews

Roanoke, VA

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring a boardwalk and trails through blooming azaleas.

4.9 miles away

Vic Thomas Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 178 reviews

Roanoke, VA

LoopPavedDog-friendly

Linear recreational space with a river path, plus sculptures and exercise stations.

5.0 miles away

All running trails in Salem, VA →

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.