Delaware’s hiking gets overlooked, but there are many trails in the state that will show you the best of our small wonder. From stunning river views, to historic ruins, to diverse displays of wildlife, there’s a trail for everyone to enjoy. Try out some of these, all in our Delaware state parks, and take your spring and summer from boring to extraordinary.
- Alapocas Woods to Pawpaw Trail, Alapocas Run State Park
Facebook / Kim Holtson - Wilmington DE This is a quick, one mile trail that takes you from an easy, paved slope onto packed earth. As you loop out through the Pawpaw trail, you will be treated to stunning views of the Brandywine from the rock outcroppings.
- Hidden Pond Trail, Brandywine Creek State Park
Facebook / Brandywine Creek State Park Hidden Pond is one of my favorite spots in the state. This fun Delaware hike starts behind the Brandywine Creek Nature Center. You’ll stroll through the Tulip Tree Woods Nature Preserve out to open fields that show off the well known stone walls in the park. These survey lines delinated borders, fields, and more on the DuPont Estates. You’ll hike up and down rocky grades along the Brandywine Creek until you see the small creek that leads to Hidden Pond. Spend some time here enjoying the quiet, serene scene before heading back up to the Nature Center. It’s technically 2.8 miles of trail, but with so much to explore, you’ll log at least 3 miles here.
- Bryan’s Field Trail, White Clay Creek State Park
Flickr / Dwight Sipler This historic loop trail crosses meadows and winds through hardwood forests. Don’t miss the Post Mark Trail, which is a short offshoot that takes you to the “Post Mark’d West”, a monument to the first stones of the Mason-Dixon line.
Connector trails from Bryan’s Field Trail lead to many other trails and hiking spots, such as Thompson Station Road and Middle Run Natural Area at Paper Mill Road.
Flickr / Phil Moyer
- Twin Valley Trail, White Clay Creek State Park
Flickr / Brian Henderson This long trail (nearly 4 miles!) takes you through stunning tulip forests and beech trees as you climb and descend along the watershed. Along the way, you’ll pass the Arc Corner Monumne,t where Delaware and Pennsylvania meet - the end of the famous “12 Mile Circle”.
- River View Trail, Fort DuPont
Flickr / amdougherty The River View Trail at Fort DuPont will take you all around this historic plot of land. Fort DuPont was an active military base up until World War II, and old ruins line the way. Be warned, the abandoned bunkers are restricted areas.
- Loblolly Trail, Trap Pond State Park
Flickr / Lee Cannon Pick any point along the Loblolly Trail that passes the park office, campground, and the incredible Baldcypress Nature Center, which is one of the best in the state. You’ll love the elevated bridge that brings you over tidal marshland where you’ll find some of the best birding spots in Delaware.
- Burton Island Trail, Delaware Seashore State Park
Flickr / Mike Mahaffie Start off at the Indian River Marina causeway and head south through forest and over boardwalks. You’ll find stunning views of the salt marshes, Rehoboth Bay, and Indian River bay. Be sure to stay on the trail, this is a sensitive wildlife area. It’s best visited during cooler days.
- Pinelands Trail, Cape Henlopen State Park
Flickr / Mr. T. in DC This is an easy two mile trail, but it’s such a fun Delaware trail! You’ll see at least four species of pine trees, old cranberry bogs, tons of plants, lots of wildlife, and artillery bunkers and military equipment. You’ll stumble upon Fort Miles, a World War II era Fort that protected the Delaware way. You can even climb an observation tower and look out over the ocean! This trail is so diverse and interesting that it was named Delaware’s first National Recreation Trail.
The First State sure has some great scenery, and so many ways to enjoy it! If you love getting out and about, you might want to grab a bike and set off for an afternoon on Delaware’s most beautiful trail that takes you between two of our best cities. Learn more about the Junction and Breakwater Trail here.
Facebook / Kim Holtson - Wilmington DE
This is a quick, one mile trail that takes you from an easy, paved slope onto packed earth. As you loop out through the Pawpaw trail, you will be treated to stunning views of the Brandywine from the rock outcroppings.
Facebook / Brandywine Creek State Park
Hidden Pond is one of my favorite spots in the state. This fun Delaware hike starts behind the Brandywine Creek Nature Center. You’ll stroll through the Tulip Tree Woods Nature Preserve out to open fields that show off the well known stone walls in the park. These survey lines delinated borders, fields, and more on the DuPont Estates. You’ll hike up and down rocky grades along the Brandywine Creek until you see the small creek that leads to Hidden Pond. Spend some time here enjoying the quiet, serene scene before heading back up to the Nature Center. It’s technically 2.8 miles of trail, but with so much to explore, you’ll log at least 3 miles here.
Flickr / Dwight Sipler
This historic loop trail crosses meadows and winds through hardwood forests. Don’t miss the Post Mark Trail, which is a short offshoot that takes you to the “Post Mark’d West”, a monument to the first stones of the Mason-Dixon line.
Flickr / Phil Moyer
Flickr / Brian Henderson
This long trail (nearly 4 miles!) takes you through stunning tulip forests and beech trees as you climb and descend along the watershed. Along the way, you’ll pass the Arc Corner Monumne,t where Delaware and Pennsylvania meet - the end of the famous “12 Mile Circle”.
Flickr / amdougherty
The River View Trail at Fort DuPont will take you all around this historic plot of land. Fort DuPont was an active military base up until World War II, and old ruins line the way. Be warned, the abandoned bunkers are restricted areas.
Flickr / Lee Cannon
Pick any point along the Loblolly Trail that passes the park office, campground, and the incredible Baldcypress Nature Center, which is one of the best in the state. You’ll love the elevated bridge that brings you over tidal marshland where you’ll find some of the best birding spots in Delaware.
Flickr / Mike Mahaffie
Start off at the Indian River Marina causeway and head south through forest and over boardwalks. You’ll find stunning views of the salt marshes, Rehoboth Bay, and Indian River bay. Be sure to stay on the trail, this is a sensitive wildlife area. It’s best visited during cooler days.
Flickr / Mr. T. in DC
This is an easy two mile trail, but it’s such a fun Delaware trail! You’ll see at least four species of pine trees, old cranberry bogs, tons of plants, lots of wildlife, and artillery bunkers and military equipment. You’ll stumble upon Fort Miles, a World War II era Fort that protected the Delaware way. You can even climb an observation tower and look out over the ocean! This trail is so diverse and interesting that it was named Delaware’s first National Recreation Trail.
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