Things to Do in Salem, Utah

Salem is a small city in south Utah County, about 4.5 miles from Spanish Fork and 3.3 miles from Payson, with SR-198 running through town. The 2020 Census counted 9,298 residents, and new neighborhoods have kept it growing quickly since. Early settlers called it Pond Town after damming the springs here in 1851, and the spring-fed pond in the middle of town is still the heart of Salem: most of the city's best things to do happen on or near the water.

This guide covers Salem Pond and the city's parks, the big community events (Salem Days in August and Pond Town Christmas from late November through New Year's Day) and the canyons, lakes and scenic drives a short drive south and east.

Salem at a Glance

• Location: Utah County, between Spanish Fork and Payson, at about 4,610 feet.
• Population: 9,298 (2020 Census).
• ZIP code: 84653.
• Schools: Nebo School District, with Foothills, Mount Loafer and Salem elementary schools, Salem Junior High, Valley View Middle School and Salem Hills High School, which opened in 2008 and also serves Payson, Elk Ridge and Woodland Hills students.
• Hospital: Intermountain Health's Spanish Fork Hospital, with a 24-hour emergency room, is a few miles north in Spanish Fork.

Salem Pond and Knoll Park

Salem Pond (200 West 300 South) is a 17-acre spring-fed pond with two fishing piers, accessible fishing spots, a walking path around the water and restrooms. Non-motorized boats such as canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are allowed from May through October, and motorized boats need a city permit. The city says swimming is generally fine with precautions: check the state's harmful algal bloom updates first, avoid visible algae, and skip swimming for 48 hours after heavy rain. Pets are not allowed at the pond park.

Knoll Park (150 West 300 South) sits on the bank of the pond with a sandy beach for launching canoes, a rentable pavilion, a playground and a footbridge across the water. It is the main stage for Salem Days and the lighting of Pond Town Christmas, and it hosts summer concerts. Nearby Reflections Park (30 South 300 West) has a shallow wading creek fed by the pond.

More Parks and Trails in Salem

• Salem Wetland Park (70 East Salem Park Circle): a 38-acre pond and wetland area with about two miles of trails and firefly watching in May.
• Cole Park (300 West 600 South): a splash pad, pickleball courts, horseshoe pits and a walking path, plus a playground the city calls one of the best in Utah County.
• Loafer View Recreation Complex (600 East Canal Road): ball fields, batting cages and a nine-hole disc golf course.
• Salem Fields Nature Park (572 North 500 East): a boardwalk, a small beach and a half-acre fenced dog park.
• Salem Dog Park (237 West Willet Drive): a second off-leash option.

The city is also building new parks, including the Arrowhead Springs Sports Complex and a large city park in the Viridian area, so the list keeps growing.

Community Events

Salem Days (August)

Salem Days has been the town's summer celebration since 1949 and fills a week in early August, mostly around Knoll Park and the pond. Highlights include a breakfast in the park, a children's parade and the grand parade, a car show, the Cardboard Duct Tape Regatta on the pond, a Little Buckaroo Rodeo, a tractor pull, mud volleyball, a Dutch oven cook-off, a quilt show, Fair in the Square, a family fun run, a summer musical, golf, pickleball, disc golf and cornhole tournaments, and fireworks to close it out.

Pond Town Christmas (Late November to January 1)

Pond Town Christmas turns Salem Pond into a holiday light display. The season opens the day after Thanksgiving and runs through New Year's Day, with lights on and around the water each evening from 5:30 to 11 p.m. It is free. The city also hosts a Pond Town Christmas Boutique with local vendors during the season.

Farmers Market and Summer Concerts

Salem's farmers market runs on Monday evenings from late summer into fall, and summer concerts are held at Knoll Park. Check the city's events page for current dates and locations.

Canyons, Lakes and Scenic Drives Nearby

Mount Nebo Scenic Byway and Payson Canyon

The Mount Nebo Scenic Byway, often called the Nebo Loop, starts in Payson just south of Salem and climbs into the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest before dropping down to Nephi. It is a favorite fall color drive and is closed by snow in winter.

• Maple Lake: about five miles up from Payson along the byway, with a small campground and trout fishing in the creek below it.
• Payson Lakes: about 12 miles from Payson, a set of mountain lakes with swimming, non-motorized boating, a paved path around the lake and a summer campground.

Spanish Fork Canyon and Diamond Fork

East of Spanish Fork, US-6 climbs Spanish Fork Canyon. Diamond Fork Canyon branches off to the north and leads to trailheads and campgrounds, including the trail to the Fifth Water hot springs.

Golf

Salem does not have a golf course of its own; Gladstan Golf Course, an 18-hole course in neighboring Payson, is the closest option.

Shopping and Dining

Salem is mostly residential, with a few local businesses and quick-service spots. Most errands, big-box shopping and sit-down restaurants are a few minutes away in Spanish Fork and Payson, which is a trade-off residents accept for the quieter setting.

Salem History in Brief

Salem's native name was Summer Spring, and early settlers called it Pond Town after they dammed the springs in 1851. The town was renamed Salem after the hometown of settler Lyman Curtis, and the Salem Canal, finished in 1869, brought water from the Spanish Fork River to the area's farms. Salem incorporated in 1920. The old nickname lives on in Pond Town Christmas and around the pond that started it all.

Living in Salem

Salem has grown quickly, with large newer communities such as Viridian and Arrowhead Springs alongside older homes near the pond and properties with room for animals on the edges of town. Homes recently sold at a median of $521,000, typically in about 52 days, and there are 216 active listings. Browse every home for sale in Salem, see new construction in Salem or Salem homes with acreage, and read the pros and cons of living in Salem for a closer look at the commute, schools and trade-offs. Buyers often compare Salem with neighboring Payson.