Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 101 !(9 !(5 !(3 !(4 !(2 !(1 !(13 !(12 !(10 !(8 !(7 !(6 !(11 !(9 !(5 !(3 !(4 !(2 !(1 !(13 !(12 !(10 !(8 !(7 !(6 !(11 & MILLER'S NECK ROAD DIRICKSON ROAD CAMP BARNES ROAD REFUGE REFUGE × OFFICE Æ 35 ACRE POND MILLER CREEK LITTLE ASSAWOMAN BAY MULBERRY LANDING MULBERRY POND STRAWBERRY LANDING SASSAFRAS LANDING 65 ACRE POND GOOSE POND ZIGZAG MARSH DIRICKSON CREEK Æ54 d[ Æ1 Ë !: Æ1 <DELAWARE STATE POLICE SUMMER YOUTH CAMP CAMP BARNES THE BOUNDARIES SHOWN ON THIS MAP ARE APPROXIMATE AND ARE ONLY TO BE USED AS A GUIDE. PLEASE OBEY ALL SIGNS POSTED IN THE AREA. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT A BOUNDARY, PLEASE CONTACT THE AREA MANAGER. 0 1,200 2,400 Feet E ! Wildlife Area Refuge Tour Stops Trail State Road Established Dirt Road !(9 The solid wood pavilion at Mulberry Landing is evidence of a 1930s Works Progress Administration economic stimulus package. pull over, park and take walks and hikes. The first side road inside the entrance, bearing off to the left, takes walkers and drivers to Sassafras Landing, midway up Miller Creek. Around a bend farther upstream, the Delaware State Police operate a summer camp for disadvantaged youth known as Camp Barnes. Bald eagles nest along Miller Creek, so be sure to scan the shoreline trees for regally perched birds with their trademark, brilliantly whitefeathered heads. Assawoman Wildlife Area also has separate areas in the region – one north of Miller Creek – where there are wilder hiking opportunities used primarily by hunters. Be aware of hunting seasons as you explore any of these areas. More information and maps for those areas are available at Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control website: www. dnrec.state.de.us. Walt Bryan photographs, Dennis Forney text.
102 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Need a helping hand? Here’s ours. Village Volunteers and South Coastal Village Volunteers offer these services to full members, up to two hours per service and up to 25 hours per month: Transportation √ Medical, rehab, therapy appointments √ Grocery shopping √ Hairdresser/ barber visits √ Many other errands Home Maintenance √ Changing light bulbs √ Checking smoke alarms √ Simple repairs √ Occasional yardwork, plant care Technology Help √ Programing cell phones, thermostats, and TV remotes √ Performing simple computer tasks √ Assisting with other electronic gadgets Friendly Calls, Visits √ Conversation and companionship √ Respite for family care givers √ Phone calls to check on well-being, personal needs, or just to chat Interested in Volunteering? Share your time, your skills, your way. Interested in Membership? Get to know us before you need us. Village Volunteers (302) 703-2568 16686 Kings Highway, Suite B, Lewes, DE 19958 [email protected] • VillageVolunteer.org Lewes, Milton, Rehoboth Beach South Coastal Village Volunteers (302) 500-1281 PO Box 1453, Bethany Beach, DE 19930 [email protected] • SouthCoastalVillageVolunteers.org Bethany Beach, Millville, Ocean View, South Bethany Helping older adults live independently. WGMD 92.7 has broadened their reach! Welcome 98.5 to the family! Live, Local, National News/Talk/Sports/Foodie/Community! Serving all of Delmarva since 1980! Scan the QR code and listen live on your ride! Business owner? We offer positive and controlled word of mouth! Advertise with us! 302.945.2050
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104 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Chattering kingfishers enliven the quiet of this pretty, peaceful path The mile-long Assawoman Canal Trail in the Bethany Beach and Ocean View area provides a sweet introduction to this quiet waterway dug decades ago. It connects - via White’s Creek at its northern end - Indian River Bay and Little Assawoman Bay. Those in small boats, canoes, kayaks and on paddleboards enjoy the quiet waters of the shallow canal and its roughly twomile length. The Assawoman Canal Trail is one of the latest in the Delaware Division of Parks extensive system of trails. A first-class trailhead on Town Road features parking and clean, well-lit restrooms. Town Road heads northward off Rt. 26 just west of the bridge over the canal. With a firm and fine gravel surface, the trail goes north from here, through quiet natural sections and residential areas. Tall loblolly pines sway over the trail and provide shade and relief from heat in the summer. A variety of shorebirds and songbirds accompany walkers and riders. The striking black, white and gray kingfishers - the size of bluejays - feed on the small fish in the canal and chatter distinctively as they flit from branch to branch celebrating their catches. The trail comes to an end on the north end where it meets the Ocean View Marina and where the canal opens up to White’s Creek. The Division of Parks would like to extend the trail farther to the south along the canal where it opens to the waters of Little Assawoman Bay and the wilds of Assawoman Wildlife Refuge. The Assawoman Canal Trail is open to the public from sunrise to sunset. ASSAWOMAN CANAL TRAIL The Assawoman Canal Trail connects Rt. 26 on the south end, and Ocean View’s Central Avenue near the north end. It parallels the recreational waterway from which it derives its name. Parking and restrooms for the Assawoman Canal Trail are available at the trailhead on Town Road near the Rt. 26 crossing of the canal.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 105 • Wills and Trusts • Powers of Attorney • Health Care Directives • Miller Trusts • Elder Law • Medicaid Planning • Asset Protection/Planning for Long-Term Care • Probate Administration • Guardianships Providing Compassionate and Comprehensive Legal Services for Over 30 Years Committed to Helping Our Clients Achieve Their Estate Planning Goals 33718B Wescoats Road | Lewes, Delaware 19958 302-644-7181 | [email protected] Wills and Trusts Powers of Attorney Health Care Directives Miller Trusts Elder Law Medicaid Planning Asset Protection/Planning for Long-Term Care Probate Administration Guardianships Providing Compassionate and Comprehensive Legal Services for Over 30 Years 33576 Crossing Avenue, Unit 2 Lewes, Delaware 19958 302-644-7181 [email protected]
106 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 107 REHOBOTH BEACH 246 Rehoboth Avenue Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 office: 302-227-3883 LEWES 1240 Kings Highway Lewes, DE 19958 office: 302-645-2207 MILLSBORO 28442 Dupont Boulevard Millsboro, DE 19966 office: 302-934-3970 FIND YOUR ADVENTURE VISIT DELAWARE’S MANY WALKING TRAILS jacklingo.com
108 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Meander through boardwalked woods to beach and marsh views The James Farm Ecological Preserve is an oasis of wild land in Ocean View, Delaware located along the southern shore of Indian River Bay just a short drive from Bethany Beach. In 1992, the Preserve property was given to Sussex County by the late Mary Lighthipe, a descendant of the James family who farmed the land for generations. This generous donation was made in memory of her son, Harold, on the condition that the property be used for educational and recreational purposes. The Preserve has been managed by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays on behalf of Sussex County since 1998. At this 150-acre retreat, you can relax on calm bayside beach, observe native plants and animals, and hike a variety of trails through seven different habitats. Near the parking area, the meadow hosts native milkweed that is aflutter each fall with migrating monarchs. In the nearby maritime forest, whitetailed deer and foxes make their home among the loblolly pines and American holly. Interspersed within, small patches of hardwood forest feature hickories, oaks and wild black cherry. Small freshwater wetlands absorb flood water during storms, while bayside salt marshes support salt marsh cordgrass, glasswort, and mussels. Sandy beaches are critical nesting habitats for Diamondback Terrpins and Horseshoe Crabs, and are feedJAMES FARM • Distance: Six different trails cover approximately 2.5 miles. • Calories burned: About 225 walking. • Parking: From Route 1 south of Indian River Inlet, turn west on Fred Hudson Road and then north on Cedar Neck Road. Turn left into James Farm Ecological Preserve and parking will be immediately evident. • Trail Highlights: Hikers will find a variety of coastal habitats to explore at James Farm with wellmarked trails and educational signs. One of the trails ends at an Inland Bays beach where clear water reveals a number of oyster farming experiments in progress. Birdwatchers will appreciate elevated blinds that look over forest and marsh. Dogs are welcome and must be on leash. Please pick up after your dog. James Farm is equipped with restrooms, and it is a carry in-carry out preserve. JAMES FARM ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE Well-marked and maintained trails give great natural access to this special place donated to the people and visitors of Sussex County by Mary Lighthipe and managed by the Center for the Inland Bays. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 109 ing grounds for shorebirds. In the mud of the adjacent intertidal flats, fiddler crabs, mollusks, and shrimp are adpated to the harsh environment that is overwashed by salty tides twice daily. The Inland Bays support 100+ species of fish and 40+ species of shellfish. These three bays are a brackish estuary, receiving fresh water from rivers and creeks and saltwater from the Atlantic. In 2021, the Center launched a major campaign to expand the organizations mission to enhance and preserve Delaware’s Inland Bays and educate the public about recreational and environmental benefits of these amazing natural resources. Learn more at www.inlandbays.org. 0 200 400 Feet Boardwalk Pasture Point Cove Indian River Bay Education Area Info Kiosk Beach Cove Event Area Beach Red Trail Orange Trail Green Trail Yellow Trail Blue Trail Purple Trail Unmarked Trail Parking Areas Lookout Platforms Restrooms An observation platform gives visitors a birds-eye view of the marsh. Mark Carter contributed this article. He is currently the Director of Development at inlandbays.org.
110 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 The long distance hiker, a breed set apart, From the likes of the usual pack. He’ll shoulder his gear, be hittin’ the trail; Long gone, long ‘fore he’ll be back. – M.J. Eberhart Time spent amongst trees is never time wasted. – Katrina Mayer The goal is to discover your nature and nature helps you do it. – Maxime Lagacé Our minds, as well as our bodies, have need of the out-of-doors. Our spirits, too, need simple things, elemental things, the sun and the wind and the rain, moonlight, and starlight, sunrise and misty and mossy forest trails, the perfumes of dawn and the smell of fresh-turned earth and the ancient music of wind among the trees. – Edwin Way Teale Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. – Anthony J. D’Angelo I found far more answers in the woods than I ever did in the city. – Mary Davis Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known. – Carl Sagan Walking GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE Wisdom NEW CUSTOMERS 25% OFF DEEP CLEANING PLUS Receive 20% off Recurring services for three months when paid in full in advance We also offer Meticulous Home Services Honey-Do List · Remodels · Small Additions Call 302.858.3143 Check out our 5 Star Ratings • No Memberships Required • 1-to-1 Attention in Private Studio • Convenient Location - Free Parking • Senior Fitness Certified • First Session FREE with this Ad CHRISTOPHER SELITTO 302-362-3333 • 1521 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958 302.313.5435 17370 Coastal Hwy. Lewes, DE 19958 www.flowersonsavannah.com Paul Miller, owner [email protected] Flowers on Savannah
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112 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 This long and easy trail passes through bald cypress swamps The Boundary Trail at Trap Pond State Park, near Laurel in western Sussex County is, at 4.8 miles, one of the longer trails in the county. It starts near the large picnic and pond area at the western end of the park and then heads southeast around the southern side of the cypress-studded pond. Near the beginning of the trail, make sure to stop into the nice nature center, an impressive structure designed by state employees and constructed from native woods. The trail, which includes long, winding stretches through hardwood forest, also skirts Wootten and Whaley’s roads at the park’s eastern end, crossing a scenic dam at Raccoon Pond. Bethesda Church and its associated cemetery along Whaley’s Road are worth a stop and a closer look, especially for the headstones that feature artwork from a century gone by. A few hundred yards past the church, the trail dives back into the forest off of Whaley’s Road and leads eventually to the 130-site Trap Pond camping area where visitors will find tent sites, yurts and cabins for rent on a nightly basis or for up to two consecutive weeks between May and the end of November. Just before the camping area, the Boundary Trail goes past Cypress Point where there are good views of the extensive stands of bald cypress trees, which thrive in the freshwater of the 90-acre pond. Birdwatchers should keep their eyes and ears out for the elusive but grand pileated woodpeckers that inhabit freshwater marshes with stands of cypress. Walter Lantz fashioned his Woody the Woodpecker character after pileated woodpeckers. Those with a good ear for rhythm and sound may hear the pileated’s distinctive song, which Lantz also copied for his character. The size of a large crow, the pileated woodpecker hammers into the bark of cypress and other trees with the deep, resonating thumping of a jackhammer. If you see a large black bird winging through the trees with white flashes on its wings, take a closer look and follow its flight. If you see it land on the side of a tree, you will be rewarded with the unforgettable sight of its huge, red-crested head. The Boundary Trail continues through the campground, and then skirts around the western end of Trap Pond and another larger and scenic dam before turning back into the picnic area where it started. Walkers should count on an hour and a half to complete the circuit while bicyclists can make their way around in less than an hour. The trail has an excellent walking and riding surface. Boardwalk bridges in places provide a closer view of the freshwater swamp that gives way in places to the pond. Those who walk this trail and the trails in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge will gain a better appreciation for the difference between saltwa- BOUNDARY TRAIL ter marshes and freshwater swamps. • Distance: 4.8 miles. • Calories burned: 400 walking, 250 biking. • Parking: Picnic area or campground area, Trap Pond State Park. • Tour Highlights: Trap Pond State Park is located in southwestern Sussex County, just off Route 24 east of Laurel. The Boundary Trail encircles Trap Pond, home of the northernmost, natural stand of bald cypress trees in the U.S. The freshwater swamp studded with these stately trees is home to the elusive pileated woodpecker. The park also features a marked canoe trail on one of the waterways flowing into the pond. The park offers camping with cabins and yurts from May through November. Jason Beach is named for Dr. William C. Jason, former president of Delaware State University. Known for decades as Cypress Point, in 2022 Governor John Carney formally renamed the site in recognition of its historic significance. TRAP POND STATE PARK • BOUNDARY TRAIL
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 113 Trap Pond State Park offers a canoe trail for those who want to explore from the waterside and there are also horse trails for those who arrive with equine friends. Not far from Trap Pond is Trussom Pond which, opposed to the more open Trap Pond, is filled with the curious bald cypress trees. Those who take the time to visit Trussom Pond will think they have crossed the border into a far more southern state. Trap and Trussom ponds feature the northernmost natural stands of bald cypress in the United States. Both ponds have landing areas where people can launch canoes and kayaks for intimate exploring. Trap Pond was created in the late 1700s to power a sawmill for processing large bald cypress cut from the area. The Federal Government later purchased the pond and surrounding farmland during the 1930s and the Civilian Conservation Corps began to develop the area for recreation. Trap Pond became one of Delaware’s first state parks, in 1951. Maps and park information are available in the Bald Cypress Nature Center at the park. Walt Bryan contributed this article and photographs. The Boundary Trail is marked in red on this map, courtesy of Delaware’s Division of Parks. Canoe, paddle board, kayak on Trap Pond and enjoy the wildlife, or walk or cycle on the great trails to enjoy a wonderful outdoors experience.
114 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • • Dr. Gary Morgan Dr. Crystal Crate Dr. Lauren Hitchens Dr. Andrew Riddle Dr. Meg Van de Loo Dr. Cliff Renyo ACA-DE.com 302-422-3100 • BCBS • Auto Insurance • Medicare • Workers Comp • Medicaid All Major Insurances Accepted Neck & Back Pain Relief Auto & Work Injury Treatment Pediatric & Pregnancy Care Licensed Massage Therapy Active Rehabilitation Class IV Therapy Jaw & TMJ Treatment Sciatica & Leg Pain Relief Neuropathy & Arm Pain Relief Lifestyle & Nutrition Consults LASER
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116 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 This low-maintenance park offers western Sussex hiking and biking Sussex County opened a new park at the site of a former par-3 golf course near Woodland about five miles southwest of Seaford in July of 2015. The 20-acre park near the Nanticoke River and the Woodland Ferry crossing features nearly a mile of trails, two ponds, and is open dawn to dusk. The land was purchased for $580,000 in 2010 by the county as a spoils site for the Nanticoke River dredge project. Only 21 acres of the total parcel were needed for the dredge spoils. County council then approved $143,000 to construct the park which is on the site of the former Woodland Golf Park. The park’s design, with its emphasis on passive recreation such as hiking and birdwatching, is intended to keep maintenance costs low. No golfing facilities remain and most of the park’s design is being left up to nature. There is no fee charged for use of the Woodland Park and parking is available near the entrance area. The nearby Woodland Ferry, also free, provides a crossing of the Nanticoke River for those who want to add a fun twist to their explorations of the westernmost reaches of Sussex County. Woodland Park offers a great opportunity for a hiking and biking adventure including the park trail, the Woodland Ferry and flat, peaceful roads. Those roads carry south along the river and westward into the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The only other county-owned park in Sussex County is the James Farm Preserve located near Ocean View, which is managed by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays. (See an article elsewhere in this guide about the James Farm Preserve.) WESTERN SUSSEX • WOODLAND PARK Entranceway to Woodland Park trail, not far from the historic Woodland Ferry and the new kayak launch and fishing pier on the Nanticoke River. WOODLAND PARK NEAR THE NANTICOKE RIVER • Distance: One mile. • Calories burned: Walk the onemile trail three times at a moderate pace and burn more than 300 calories. • Parking: Free parking near entrance on Woodland Road. • Trail Highlights: This low-maintenance, passive recreation area is one of only two county-owned parks in Sussex. Located just north of the riverside hamlet of Woodland.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 117 MOORE & RUTT, P.A. GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW J. Everett Moore, Jr. ● David N. Rutt Scott G. Wilcox ● James P. Sharp Dorian R. Kleinstuber ● Ryan T. Adams Anne L. Barnett ● Matthew J. Coolbaugh* 830 S. DuPont Highway 122 W. Market Street 1007 N. Orange St., Ste. 446 Milford, DE 19963 Georgetown, DE 19947 Wilmington, DE 19801 (302) 424-2240 (302) 856-9568 (302) 463-7537 Announcing the opening of our new location in Lewes 1201 B Savannah Road Lewes, DE 19958 (302) 644-3668 YOUR LOCAL LAW FIRM Real Estate Estate Administration Wills and Trusts Powers of Attorney Estate Litigation Landlord/Tenant Business & Corporate Guardianships Civil Litigation Municipal Zoning Homeowners Association The listing of areas of practice does not represent official certification as a specialist in those areas. *Delaware Bar Admission Pending
118 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023
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120 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Nanticoke Conservancy protecting land, providing four miles of trails For over 30 years, the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy has been working to preserve important natural lands in the huge Nanticoke River watershed. That watershed drains almost a quarter of Delaware’s total landmass, primarily in western Sussex County. The Nanticoke starts in Delaware and crosses over into Maryland before making its ways southwestward into Tangier Sound and Chesapeake Bay. The river is considered one of the most pristine rivers on the Delmarva Peninsula. In the heart of the watershed, just west of Seaford, the Nanticoke Conservancy manages the 300-acre Chapel Branch complex of woods, meadows and wetlands. From its parking lot at 492 Woodland Road, the Conservancy maintains a four-mile system of intersecting trails. Some cross meadows, others work their way along the clean waterway known as Chapel Branch that flows southward before emptying into the Nanticoke. In 1991 the DuPont Company, which operated a major nylon plant in Seaford, announced it planned to timber the Chapel Branch acreage. That spurred the formation of the Nanticoke Conservancy which raised money to match what DuPont would have earned from timber sales. The conservancy then entered into a perpetual conservation and management easement for the property. The trails of Chapel Branch are both well-established and developing. Some have been used as a cross country course by area schools for decades. Others are being added and expanded by volunteers who love being outdoors and the camaraderie of working together. Marlene Mervine, executive director of the Nanticoke Conservancy, said in 2018 eight and a half acres of pollinator meadows were prepared and seeded with a National Fish and Wildlife Service grant. They are part of a contiguous 19-acre parcel on the west side of Chapel Branch where chicken houses once stood. The trail surfaces are cleared and natural with directional signs provided by volunteers. An observation deck with a bench is constructed over the clear waters of Chapel Branch. In the early spring, river herring can be seen in the shallow waters there making their annual spawning run. Hikers of all ages will enjoy the beautiful upland terrain with three ponds and much more. CHAPEL BRANCH NATURE AREA This map gives a sense of the trail system in the Chapel Branch Nature Area. Google Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy for information. Bench Locations Woodland Road 5K Beaver Pond Trail Beech Tree Trail Chapel Branch Trail Service Road Three Ponds Upland Trail Parking Lot Chapel Branch N 500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 ft Made by Colton H. Phillips for Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy November 14, 2018 Chapel Branch Nature Area is marked by this sign donated by Dogfish Head Brewery. River herring spawning in the clean waters of Chapel Branch.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 121 Milford Skill Development Center, 301 N. Rehoboth Blvd., Milford, DE 19963 Southern Campus, 5 Academy St., Georgetown, DE 19947 be the possability Like us on Facebook. www.facebook.com/KSIworks Be part of their journeys to abilities. When people with disabilities are given the opportunity to discover their abilities, it’s a life-changing experience. That’s what KSI tries to facilitate every day–helping people reach their greatest potential. Whether an individual wants to prepare for participating in the workforce, or equip themselves for more independent inclusion into their community, KSI provides programs and experiences to help them achieve their goals. And KSI can only achieve our goals with the support of generous individuals, businesses and community organizations, like Lewes-Rehoboth Beach Rotary Club, that see the vision of creating better lives for people with disabilities. Whether through joining together for volunteer and community experiences, or through donations to support KSI’s programs, our community partners help make great things happen every day for the people we serve. Become a partner for abilities today. Contact KSI at 302-422-4014, or visit www.ksiinc.org and click on “Donate Now.”
122 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 NANTICOKE WILDLIFE AREA More than 4,500 acres offer lots of opportunities to get outside The Nanticoke Wildlife Area’s 4,510 acres on both sides of the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek west of Laurel and southwest of Seaford offer extensive opportunities for outdoor activities including hunting, hiking, boating, canoeing, kayaking, birdwatching and more. For those who enjoy history, the Phillips Landing picnic, fishing and launching area near the confluence of Broad Creek and the Nanticoke River presents an impressive stone marker commemorating the early 1600s exploration of this area by Capt. John Smith. This is one of the few places in Sussex County and Delaware where visitors get a Chesapeake Bay perspective. The Nanticoke River drains all of western Sussex County and empties into the Chesapeake between Maryland’s Dorchester and Wicomico counties. Studded with dozens of osprey and bald eagle nests, the Nanticoke is considered the most pristine river in the gigantic Chesapeake watershed. Seaford stands near the headwaters of the Nanticoke, Laurel at the headwaters of Broad Creek and the historic shipbuilding village of Bethel lies along Broad Creek between Laurel and the mouth of the creek. In the midst of it all is the free Woodland Ferry which crosses the Nanticoke while remaining connected to a thick, braided metal cable to help it stay on course whilst fighting the strong ebbing and flooding tides. Area headquarters for Nanticoke Wildlife Area is located along the Old Sharptown Road which runs west from Laurel. It is located in what is known as the south area of the wildlife area. The west section of the Nanticoke Wildlife Area lies on the other side of the river. Most of the trails and hunting and fishing opportunities lie along both sides of Broad Creek. A dirt-road multi-use trail used by horseback riders, bicyclists and walkers winds its way through the woods and cutover feed plots between the Old Sharptown Road and Phillips Landing Road. This road had been open to drivers but due to vandalism and illegal dumping it has now been gated off and closed to motorized vehicle traffic. A number of deer-stand trails branch off this multi-use trail. Check Delaware hunting regulations to determine which might be the best times to hike in the Nanticoke Wildlife Area public lands. Other than for spring turkey season, hunting seasons are also closed from March 1 through Aug. 31 although special hunting seasons such as the conservation order to help thin the snow goose population can also be Visitors to the Nanticoke Wildlife Area may want to include a crossing of the Woodland Ferry in their trip. A commemorative marker to Capt. John Smith’s visit to Broad Creek in the late 1600s.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 123 in effect. When in doubt, it’s best to contact the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife at 302-739-9912 for further information on when it’s best to access these wild lands. There is ample parking at Phillips Landing and limited parking at gates and along the multi-use trail. There are picnic areas at Phillips Landing and the smaller but no less beautiful Edward Koch Wildlife Area. They are both along Broad Creek and offer scenic views of the creek beneath towering loblolly pines. The hard banks of the creek also offer good fishing opportunities. Much of the Nanticoke Wildlife Area was dedicated in 1988 to honor the hard and fruitful work of Robert L. Graham of the Division of Fish and Wildlife and formerly of the Delaware Fish and Game Commission. Graham spent many years working to acquire the Nanticoke lands for the state and is also credited with reintroducing the wild turkey in Delaware. Nanticoke Wildlife Area is open to the public from sunrise to sunset except for those lawfully engaged in hunting or fishing. In nearby downtown Laurel, a picturesque waterfront park with a pleasant walkway runs along the headwaters of Broad Creek.
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Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 125 Residential and Commercial Landscaping Services Hardscaping Custom Landscape Design Irrigation & Lighting Full Service Maintenance Plant Health OUR SERVICES: CONTACT US: www.rsclandscaping.com 302.945.5853 [email protected]
126 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Three walking trails, playground, waterfront views and history The City of Seaford has four walking trails within city limits. The Seaford Sports Complex Walking Path has two sidewalk trails of one-quarter mile and one-half mile lengths. The trails are located next to athletic fields, the popular Jay’s Nest playground, the Seaford District Library and the historic Gov. Ross Mansion. The trail is located off Virginia Avenue and Pine Street Ext. The Soroptimist Park Walking Trail is one-quarter mile of crushed gravel in a park that includes playground equipment, a pavilion and great views of William’s Pond. The trail is located off Middleford Road. The Hooper’s Landing Fitness Trail is the longest of the city’s trails and is popular with runners and cyclists as well as walkers. The 1.8-mile trail goes around Hooper’s Landing Golf Course in the middle of the city. The trail includes sections of newly installed sidewalk and roads that have marked shoulders. Williams Pond Park is located off Stein Highway, about ¼ mile East of Nutter Park. It is primarily used in the Spring and Summer seasons to host youth baseball and softball games for the Nanticoke Little League. Surrounding the fields is an access road for vehicles, but can also be used as a track for walkers/joggers. Ron MacArthur contributed this article and photographs. CITY OF SEAFORD • WALKING AND BIKING The City of Seaford uses this Google Earth map to show the layout of the Hooper’s Landing Trail. Seaford’s three trails are marked with signs detailing the course and mileage. The Acorn Club of Seaford sponsors this trail.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 127 Celebrating 39 Years In Business In 2023! Open 7 Days A Week!
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130 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 DE Cape Region continues to embrace trail culture Over recent decades, trails have been constructed and improved to provide a network linking Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes and Rehoboth. The paved trails we enjoy are not cheap, at about $1 million a mile. It’s taken the efforts of some risk-taking champions who set it all in motion. Leading the way was former Gov. Jack Markell, who seized on an opportunity presented by the passage of Walkable Bikeable Delaware in 2011 by the General Assembly, followed up with the announcement of the First State Trails and Pathways Initiative. Delaware and Sussex County went from having a few trails here and there to an actual expanding network. Two state agencies, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Department of Transportation, spearhead projects, and provide maintenance. For example, the Junction & Breakwater Trail is a DNREC project, while the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail is a mostly a DelDOT initiative. But even before any of those, the Junction & Breakwater Trail between Lewes and Rehoboth set the standard for future trails. The openings were the culmination of years and years of negotiations and planning. Thanks to land donations by the Lingo and Townsend families, the project got a big push. Former DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara acted as mediator to support the construction of the Gordons Pond Trai, which links Cape Henlopen State Park to Rehoboth. Former state Rep. John Schroeder, who was a champion of trails in the Cape Region, spearheaded an effort in 2001 to build part of an improved trail along the pond’s western perimeter, which eventually turned into the 3.2- mile Gordons Pond Trail 13 years later. That trail section created what cyclists call the loop, a 16-mile pathway linking Lewes and Rehoboth. It’s become a bicycle and pedestrian superhighway used nearly every day of the year. Our trails are special, and we need to keep in mind those forward-thinking champions who had the vision and made the dream become a reality. Ron MacArthur contributed this article. He offers local insights in his column Around Sussex, available in the Cape Gazette. TRAIL LENGTHS • Cape Henlopen loop – 3.3 miles The park has 16 miles of paved and unpaved trails • Junction & Breakwater – 6 miles • Lewes-to-Georgetown – 8 miles of a planned 17 miles • Gordons Pond – 3.2 miles
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132 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 302.601.4171 NexthomeTomorrowRealty.com Each office is independently owned and operated. TOMORROW REALTY We know what’s Next in the real estate market NEXTHOME TOMORROW REALTY John J. Williams Hwy., Lewes, DE ErinAnn Beebe REALTOR® / ASSOCIATE BROKER Craig Beebe REALTOR® / OWNER .. ErinAnnBeebeRealtor.com Each office is independently owned and operated
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134 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 135 Enjoy the Lewes-Georgetown Trail Including the kiosk Dedicated in the Memory of Thomas H. Draper 1941-2017
136 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 302 Fitness .....................................................................42 360 Property Solutions ...................................................16 Abraxas Studio of Art......................................................87 All Mobility Store ............................................................54 Atlantic Aluminum...........................................................46 Atlantic Chiropractic Associates....................................114 Atlantic Liquors.............................................................127 Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning . ......................65 Avery W Hall Insurance Agency ......................................64 Backyard Works............................................................115 Baird Mandalas Brockstedt Federico & Cardea ..............27 Baker Petroleum .............................................................50 Bayhealth ........................................................................69 Beach Time Distilling.......................................................70 Beebe Healthcare ............................................................17 Bethany Beach-Fenwick Island Chamber of Commerce 111 Blue Water House ...........................................................11 Bonnie Benson, PA........................................................105 Brandywine Senior Living ...............................................34 Brendon Warfel Construction..........................................64 Bryton Homes of Delaware ...............................................7 Capstone Homes.............................................................19 Chesapeake Wealth Advisors ..........................................46 Christine Macysyn - Oldfather Group..............................22 City of Lewes ..................................................................75 Clendaniel’s Plumbing & Heating . ..................................65 Coldwell Banker Premier.................................................30 Community Bank Delaware ...............................................5 Crab House .....................................................................58 The Cultured Pearl ..........................................................93 Delaware Center for the Inland Bays ...............................58 Delaware Beach Book......................................................72 Delaware Electric Cooperative.........................................72 Delaware Public Media....................................................84 Delaware River & Bay Authority ......................................85 Dogfish Head ..................................................... 106 & 134 Draper Media ................................................................135 DryZone ..........................................................................92 Eagle’s Nest Fellowship Church.......................................35 F&S Power Washing .......................................................88 Fairfield Inn & Suites.........................................................9 Fifer Orchards .................................................................50 Fitwell Personal Training ...............................................110 Flowers on Savannah....................................................110 Georgetown Chamber of Commerce ...............................51 Graulich Builders.............................................................23 Henlopen Homes...........................................................124 Historic Lewes Farmers Market.......................................68 Hudson Management........................................................9 Hyatt House - Lewes .......................................................68 Inn at Canal Square.........................................................42 The Insurance Market .....................................................97 Irish Eyes ......................................................................103 Jack Lingo Realtor ........................................................107 Jeanine O’Donnell - State Farm.......................................12 Jimmy’s Grille ...............................................................140 John Li - Ameriprise Financial Services .........................22 Johnny Janosik World of Furniture .................................38 Just Comfort Shoes ............................................... 76 & 99 Kent Sussex Industries ................................................121 Lane Builders, ................................................................34 The LeeAnn Wilkinson Group - Berkshire Hathaway .....139 Lewes Board Of Public Works.........................................80 Lewes Chamber of Commerce ........................................73 Lewes Cycle Sports.........................................................61 Meineke Lewes .................................................................2 The Meoli Companies......................................................30 Meticulous Ladies Cleaning ..........................................110 Milton Mercantile ............................................................80 Moore & Rutt, PA..........................................................117 Morris James..................................................................33 Moving Xperience ...........................................................76 Nassau Valley Vineyards .................................................54 Next Home Tomorrow Realty ........................................132 Nitan Soni Group - Northrop Realty, Compass RE ..........95 Ocean Atlantic Sothebys ...............................................119 Old World Breads................................................... 22 & 70 Parcel Plus......................................................................16 Passwaters Landscaping...............................................118 Pat Campbell-White, Ocean Atlantic Sothebys ................13 PenFed Realty - Berkshire Hathaway ..............................43 Preston Automotive Group..............................................37 Paul Santumo - Prime Lending .......................................96 Procino Wells & Woodland ............................................38 Rääs................................................................................77 Race 4 Warriors ..............................................................39 Races 2 Run....................................................................12 Redner’s Fresh Market ....................................................81 Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber .............................................89 Rehoboth Beach Dental...................................................96 Roseville Wealth Management Group ............................55 RSC Landscaping..........................................................125 SchagrinGas....................................................................59 Schell Brothers ...............................................................26 Sherman Heating and Oil ................................................99 The Starboard ...............................................................129 Stockley Materials...........................................................95 Techno Goober..............................................................110 Think SecureNet............................................................131 TidalHealth ........................................................................3 Touch of Italy ..................................................................47 Towers Signs ................................................................130 Tunnell & Raysor, PA.....................................................133 Val Ellenberger - Compass RE.......................................137 Village Volunteers .........................................................102 Warrior Community Connect.........................................128 Weller’s ...........................................................................31 WGMD ..........................................................................102 WSFS Bank ...................................................................138 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 137 Val Ellenberger knows the Delaware Beaches M 240.401.4677 | val.ellenberger@compass. New Office Location Downtown Lewes: 131 2nd Street Lewes, DE 19958 O 302.273.4998 Val Ellenberger is a real estate licensee affiliated with Compass RE, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.
138 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 WSFS Bank has been serving this region for nearly 200 years. We understand the needs, hopes and aspirations of the people and businesses who call this region home. And what’s more, with our resources and capabilities we’re the bank from here that can take you anywhere. So whether you want to plan for your future, buy a new home, improve the one you have, grow your business, or start a new one — WSFS is here for you. And now the question is, where do you want to go? MEMBER FDIC | NMLS #417673 BRYN MAWR TRUST IS A DIVISION OF WSFS BANK. INVESTMENTS: NOT A DEPOSIT. NOT FDIC INSURED. NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY. NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK. MAY GO DOWN IN VALUE.
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