"Gateway to the Ozark Riverways"

Old Salem Frisco Railroad - Trail
The old Salem Railroad Trail opened in the summer of 2001. A brand new trail for hiking and biking is available for public use. Starting at 3rd and Grand Avenue in Salem, the trail is an 8 foot wide asphalt path traveling north for 4,000 feet along the Old Burlington Northern Railroad bed. It ends at the old timber trestle over Spring Creek near the MFA Bulk Plant just off Hwy 19 on the north edge of Salem. Motorized vehicles are prohibited.

Blackwell Lake Hiking Trail
Blackwell Lake Trail is 0.70 miles long and is classified as a Non-Interpretive Linear Trail. Located inside Indian Trail Conservation Area, northeast of Salem on highway 19.

Katy Trail State Park
Access to Katy Trail is just 90 miles north of Salem in Jefferson City. Katy Trail State Park offers a unique opportunity for people of all ages and interests. Whether you are a bicyclist, hiker, nature lover or history buff, the trail offers opportunities for recreation, a place to enjoy nature and an avenue to discover the past.

Between Rocheport and Jefferson City, the trail follows the river as hikers and bicyclists have the opportunity to visit the towns of Hartsburg, Easley and McBaine.

Mark Twain National Forest Trails

• Blair Creek Trail
• Karkaghne Trail

Montauk State Park - Trail
Hiking one of Montauk State Park's two trails is an excellent way to view the area's natural environment. Several species of native Missouri wildflowers can be viewed around the springs and along the Current River. The 1.5 mile Pine Ridge Trail takes hikers out of the valley, through a portion of the park's natural area, and along the scenic hilltops. For a more leisurely walk, visitors can see Bluff Spring along the level 3/4 mile Montauk Lake Trail.

Offering some the the finest trout fishing in the Midwest, Montauk State Park is located at the headwaters of the famed Current River. The park's springs combine with tiny Pigeon Creek to supply 43 million gallons of water to the river each day. The cool, clear stream is an ideal home for rainbow trout, and the scenic valley is the perfect setting for camping, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Trail of Tears
People traveling east-west through Salem might be interested to know that they follow a route of one of the major "journey stories" in American history. President Andrew Jackson's forced removal of Cherokee families from their legal farmsteads in the east resulted in the "Trail of Tears." Wagon trains of people under military escort to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) passed directly through Dent County.