Old Salmon River Trail follows a scenic river with fun wading spots.

This very kid-friendly trail follows the Salmon River with five access points along the road so you can decide how long you would like to hike. If you did the hike from the first parking lot to the end, it would be five miles round trip. We usually walk about a mile down, see how the kids feel, and turn around.

The first trailhead, “Old Salmon River Trailhead” on Google maps, has room for about a dozen cars. There is a seasonal porta-potty here which is removed for the winter. There is a short downhill at the start, but other than that, the trail remains flat with gently rolling hills. There are some rocks and tree roots, so that I wouldn’t recommend a stroller. You parallel Salmon River Road and Salmon River the whole way, but the trail remains quiet, and you cannot hear the road traffic. 

My kids love this trail because there are a couple of footbridges to cross, so many areas to explore and wander, and of course, anything with water is a winner. 

Roughly a half mile down the road, a small beach area is great for sand play and wading in the water. Dogs are allowed on this trail, and they love splashing here too. If you want to walk another three-quarters of a mile, there is another good wading place. Keep your eyes open on the riverside for tucked-away beach areas. 

There is one picnic table close to the trailhead down the trail a little while. There is spotty cell reception along the way. 

If you’ve got some extra time, drive a few miles on Salmon River Road, where it dead ends at the bridge. Kids like to wander over the bridge and down to the river where you can wade and throw rocks. This is also the trailhead to the new “Salmon River Trail.” 

This hike is a doable year round. In the winter, check the road reports in the Rhododendron area to see if there is snow on the road. If so, the hike can be done with normal hiking boots or microspikes.