Salt Springs State Park

Hiking

14.85 miles of trails

The trails pass through old growth forest, overlook the gorge, and meander through various habitats.

Trail Definitions

Difficulty Ratings

Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.

Trail Route Type

Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.

Border Trail

1.9 miles | More difficult hiking | Connector trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

Because of its elevation changes, this is a challenging hike. From the north, it is accessed from the West Meadow. It runs parallel to a ridge while overlooking Silver Creek. After a some steep climbs, it end at Wetlands Trail.

Bunny Trail

1.5 miles | More difficult hiking | Loop trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

This loop is best accessed from a small parking lot on Buckley Road, east of where Fall Brook crosses the road. The trail passes a small clearing which was once a log landing before continuing through hardwood forest and old fields with some excellent views.

Cliff Trail

1.5 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

This trail can be reached from either Bunny Trail or from the Friends Parking Lot. It follows the contours of the land on southwest corner of the property which has an interesting spring area and Frog Pond. From the pond, the trail follows an old logging road descending back towards the main parking lot.

All along this section are boulders and cliffs worth exploring for ferns and wildflowers.

Fall Brook Trail

0.8 mile | More difficult hiking | Connector trail | Red blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

Access this trail from the end of Hemlock Trail above the waterfalls. It follows Fall Brook south across Buckley Road, joining and then leaving Bunny Trail until it ends at another intersection with Bunny Trail.

Friends Trail

1.7 miles | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | White blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

This trail is accessed from the Friends Land Parking Lot on Buckley Road or from Hardwood Trail. The trail travels through forested and meadow lands and ends at Summit Trail near the highest point in the park.

Gorge Trail

0.4 mile | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

The trail runs south from the Wheaton House. After a steep but short ascent, it levels out and parallels the gorge. It goes through remnants of an old flagstone quarry and along a meadow's edge before returning to the woods and ending at Buckley Road.

To avoid the steep ascent, an alternative starting point is located a short distance up Salt Springs Road.

Gorge Spur Trail

0.2 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

Gorge Trail Spur connects Gorge Trail with Salt Springs Road.

Hardwood Trail

0.5 mile | More difficult hiking | Connector trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

Access this trail at the northeast end of the picnic area, past the Salt Spring. After ascending the moderate slope along the edge of the hill, the trail swings south and climbs through mixed hardwoods before leveling out and turning west to intersects Woodland Trail.

Hemlock Trail

0.4 mile | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | White blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

Access this trail at the northeast end of the picnic area, past the Salt Spring. Follow right and climb steeply up the hill into the old-growth hemlock forest. Just past the intersection with Woodland Trail, Hemlock Trail becomes a raised boardwalk.

It follows the east rim of the gorge past Penny Rock to where a right spur leads to an observation platform overlooking the falls. Use extreme caution near cliffs and steep drop-offs. The trail continues, passing Overlook Trail and ends at Fall Brook Trail.

Meadow Trail

1.0 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

Accessed from either Buckley Road or Silver Creek Trail, this flat trail passes by meadows, old foundations, stone walls, and an interesting shale outcropping. Picnicking is encouraged at a mid-point rock formation that resembles chairs and tables.

North Creek Trail

0.6 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Red blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

The trail begins behind the Williams Picnic Pavilion, crosses Silver Creek (no bridge), and runs west through meadows and wild apple trees along the meandering creek, which creates scenic views.

On the north side of the creek, the trail is marked with metal posts. After re-crossing Silver Creek (no bridge), it joins Silver Creek Trail and Border Trail.

Overlook Trail

0.2 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

This family-friendly trail leads to a boardwalk and observation platform nestled in a grove of Hemlock trees overlooking the Fall Brook Creek. This area was inducted into the Old Growth Forest Network in 2021.

Silver Creek Trail

1.0 mile | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Red blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

This trail is accessed from behind the barn or from Meadow Trail near where it meets Border Trail Spur. From the barn access point, it follows the creek, climbing gradually through mixed hardwoods, then continues up a steep climb before joining Meadow Trail.

Two old stone walls along the path provide interesting rest stops.

Spruce Trail

0.4 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | White blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

This trail begins on Border Trail at the far western edge of the park, south of where Border Trail crosses Buckley Road. The trail follows an easy grade through a magnificent grove of towering spruce trees planted during a reforestation project. It ends at Border Trail just north of Salt Springs Road.

The trail can also be accessed from Salt Springs Road or via the Spruce Trail Spur on Buckley Road.

Summit Trail

1.0 mile | More difficult hiking | Loop trail | Red blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

This loop starts with a short climb of about 0.3 mile from Frog Pond to the highest point on the Friends of Salt Springs' property. The summit is a relatively flat area, with large, widely spaced trees. Here the trail turns north to intersect Cliff Trail. It then turns southwest, along with Cliff Trail, returning to Frog Pond.

Upland Trail

0.5 mile | More difficult hiking | Connector trail | No blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

This trail extends the loop of Hardwood Trail, climbing steadily up the mountain through mixed hardwoods, before circling back down.

Wetland Trail

0.6 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking
Trailhead amenities: none

This trail starts just west of the Buckley Road bridge and traverses the wetlands on the northwest bank of Fall Brook. Signs of beaver activity and wetland plants and shrubs can be seen along this trail. It ends at Salt Springs Road just after passing an old homestead foundation.

Woodland Trail