Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 51
52 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK • GORDONS POND One of Delaware’s most popular trails is loved by cyclists, hikers Gordons Pond is a 900-acre saltwater lagoon located in Cape Henlopen State Park. The 2.7-mile Gordons Pond Trail passes to the west of the pond, ending at Herring Point, a beach area popular for both surfers and surf fishing. This walk will be of special interest to birdwatchers, as it is located on one of four migration “superhighways” in North America. The trail begins at the north end of the Gordons Pond parking lot, near the picnic pavilion. Access to the 500-space Gordon’s Pond asphalt parking lot is on the north end of the town of Rehoboth Beach at the end of Ocean Drive, through the community of North Shores. This is a popular recreation area that may fill during summer days, so early arrival is advised. The first 1/2 mile of the trail is handicapped-accessible, and follows a wellmaintained, hard packed, crushed stone path frequented by walkers, bikers, and joggers. Leashed pets are allowed on this portion of the trail. This easy route through intermittent shade is surrounded by typical area foliage, including pines, wax myrtle, and grasses, with an occasional hardwood tree. Benches are available where scenic views of the lagoon and wildlife can be enjoyed. At the end of this section of trail is a handicapped-accessible observation deck, offering beautiful views of the pond, two World War II observaGORDONS POND TRAIL • Distance: 2.7 miles to the Herring Point parking area in the northern section of Cape Henlopen State Park. If you’re walking, make it close to 5 miles by returning to the Gordons Pond parking lot via the beach. For a 16-mile loop back to Rehoboth Beach and the Gordons Pond parking area, connect this trail with the trails in the northern end of Cape Henlopen State Park, then leave the park and ride toward Lewes along Cape Henlopen Drive. Then turn left on Savannah Road following the signs to the Junction and Breakwater Trail which connects with Rehoboth on the inland side of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. • Calories Burned: About 250 for one way. 500 out and back or 1,500 or so if you bike the entire 18-mile loop with the Junction and Breakwater Trail connection. • Parking: Gordons Pond parking area north of Rehoboth Beach, via Ocean Drive through North Shores. • Trail Highlights: An accessible hard-packed trail skirts the pond for the first half mile to a handicapped-accessible platform that looks over the pond. In winter, fall and spring, Gordons Pond is a popular resting spot for a wide variety of waterfowl and winged predators. This Kevin Fleming photograph shows the dramatic sights that can be seen by walkers and cyclists who venture out at dusk and dawn in Cape Henlopen State Park.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 53 towers, sand dunes, and the Atlan - tic Ocean. Posted on the observation deck is information about some of the various birds that may be spotted in the area - gulls, ducks, osprey, heron, egrets, geese, and terns. In May of 2014, the state completed continuation of the hardened section of this trail to extend all the way to the Herring Point parking area and trail system in the northern end of Cape Henlopen State Park. That extension includes 2,000 feet or so of boardwalk over marsh areas. It takes cyclists and walkers along the marsh side of a sec - tion of walking dunes crossed formerly by an informal trail. From this section of the trail, wood - ed islands in Gordons Pond are visible where ospreys nest and where bald eagles are frequently seen perched on bare branches, surveying the watery world around them. Gordons Pond is a favorite haven in the winter for snow geese, Canada geese and a wide vari - ety of ducks all of which make for rich hunting grounds for the eagles. After following the trail with its ex - tension and arriving at Herring Point, ocean lovers may choose to make the return trip on the beach. Be aware that surf fishing is allowed on the beach, so expect vehicles and fishing lines stretching into the surf. Turn inland at the stone jetty beyond the twin obser - vation towers to return to the Gordons Pond parking lot. The Gordons Pond Trail can be linked with the Junction and Breakwater Trail by riding into Lewes from the state park along Cape Henlopen Drive and then turning left onto Savannah Road by the Dairy Queen. Follow the trail signs. By making that connection, and then working their way back through Rehoboth to the Gordons Pond parking area, cyclists can complete a 16-mile loop for a full day of recreation with restaurants and beaches in between. Cape Henlopen State Park, and the Gordons Pond area, are open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily, with an entry fee charged March 1 through November 30 ($5 for Delaware licensed vehicles; $10 for out-of-state vehicles). Chris and Terry Rasberry contrib - uted this article.
54 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Est. 1993 Delaware’s Premier Award-Winning Winery 32165 Winery Way Lewes, DE 19958 302-645-WINE NassauValley.com Open Everyday from 11am - 5pm Just a hop, skip and jump off the trail. Pack a picnic. Visit the Art Gallery. Winery Tours, Tastings and Impeccable Events. Every Sunday from Noon to 3pm May to October Easy access from the trail. Ride or walk over and visit over 30 vendors. Winery Tours & Tastings. Live Music & Sangria Bar! We can help with your mobility needs! Locally Owned and Operated! Call 410-543-4323 to schedule your free in-home evaluation or stop by our showroom at 8999 Ocean Hwy, Delmar MD. www.allmobilitysolutions.com Stairlift Ramps Platform Lift Power Chairs Scooters
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 55
56 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK TRAILS SEASIDE NATURE TRAIL Walk the beach for as many miles as you want. • Calories Burned: About 100, plus 250 per hour if you extend. • Parking: Nature Center • Trail Highlights: Walk to Delaware Bay beach inside the point of Cape Henlopen. The wrack line of debris blown in off the bay makes for good beachcombing. Former site of a late 19th-, early 20th-century quarantine station. PINELANDS NATURE TRAIL • Distance: 1.7 miles. • Calories Burned: About 200. • Parking: Nature Center • Trail Highlights: This maritime forest trail traverses pine barrens, bridges over boggy areas, and passes sandcamouflaged World War II encasements. BICYCLE & WALKING TRAIL • Distance: 3.5 miles. • Calories Burned: About 250. • Parking: Bathhouse, Nature Center, Campground, or Great Dune. • Trail Highlights: A magnificent paved loop that touches all the grandeur of Cape Henlopen including ocean overlooks, cool forest passages, access to bathhouse and observation tower and connections to many trail extensions including the Walking Dune Trail and Salt Marsh Spur. CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK • NORTH END Birding, biking, beaches, hiking - spend a day or a week here This wonderful, nearly 3,800-acre site at the mouth of the Delaware Bay presents a wide variety of trails for walking, riding bicycles and skating. There are four miles of continuous, sandy-beaches coastline. An enjoyable walking route is to follow the 3.5-mile bicycle route through the park. From that route there are branches into the marshes, onto wide vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, and the unique experience of treading over the “walking dunes” on a 1.5 mile trail. These are dunes constantly on the move as a result of the heavy northeast winds that blow off the north Atlantic through many of the winter months. As they make their steady progression, they slowly devour the trees and shrubs that can’t move out of their way. The observation area of the Great Dune is the highest point on the east coast between Cape Cod and the outer banks of North Carolina (between 80 and 100 feet). A designated walking trail traverses the pinelands in the center of the park (1.7 miles), which is usually a bit cooler during the heat of a summer day. Other worthy walking experiences include a walk to Delaware Bay from the Nature Center (a .6-mile trail), a tour of the old U.S. Army Fort Miles facilities with its rejuvenated heavy artillery guns, a stop at the distinctive military observation tower (or so-called fire tower built for triangulation and targeting of guns and mines), a respite at the main bathhouse snack bar, and a disc golf course for those so inclined. Fort Miles was built by the Army in 1942 to protect the mouth of the Delaware Bay. The fort is in the midst of a major restoration project. The park is a stopping point for thousands of migrating birds during the spring, who rest in the pines before making their way across the mouth of Delaware Bay. Brown pelicans, bald eagles, osprey, red crossbills, terns, ducks, geese and the rare Peregrine falcon may be spotted. One of the oldest surviving species on earth, horseshoe crabs, lay their eggs on the bayside beaches. These eggs provide energy for migrating birds. Rarely during the summer are visitors able to walk around
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 57 the point of Cape Henlopen, because it is closed off for protection of the endangered Piping Plover. At other times of the year the entire cape is accessible. Not to be missed is a view from the parking area near the Maritime Exchange Tower, where the sun sets on the Delaware Breakwater Lighthouse. On many evenings, a large herd of deer can be seen on the parade ground along Cape Henlopen Drive, including occasional, mostly white piebald deer. Check yourself closely for deer ticks at the end of the day. The best parking can be found at the Nature Center, the Bathhouse, and at the Fort Miles/Observation Tower parking lots. To the south, the park includes the Biden Environmental Training Center, the Herring Point Observation area so popular among surfers and surf fishermen, and at the Rehoboth Beach end of Cape Henlopen State Park, the Gordons Pond Trail. A trail extension connects the north end of Cape Henlopen around Gordons Pond to the North Shores and Rehoboth Beach end of the park. More detailed maps may be obtained at the park office. There is an entry fee for automobiles. ($5/day for residents and $10/day for non-residents.) This article was researched and written by Jack Dawson. Visitors to the Parade Grounds at Cape Henlopen State Park see lots of deer including an occasional, relatively rare, piebald.
58 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 all you can eat Daily 4pm-6pm CRABS 36+ DRAFT BEERS Flights, Mugs & Pitchers Crabs TO-GO PRIVATE SPACE AVAILABLE 19598 Coastal Highway • Rehoboth Beach, DE • crabhouserehoboth.com 302-227-2019
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 59 REHOBOTH 18675 Coastal Highway, Unit 6 Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971 Hours: M-F 8-5 302-644-7700 schagringas.com GENERATORS HEATING AND COOLING WATER CONDITIONING PROPANE GAS FIREPLACES TANKLESS WATER HEATERS OUTDOOR LIVING
60 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 This easy walk offers great views of Lewes, its marshes and waterways Trenny’s Loop is a healthy and pleasant walk around historic downtown Lewes. Several years ago, a group of six ladies started the daily morning walk as a fitness and social routine. The size of the group swelled and shrank depending on who was in town, but the first hour after daylight would usually find as few as two or as many as eight walkers on their stroll. Their course never varied and the ladies did it so often, they could walk it in their sleep. Rose Ksebe and the late Trenny Elliott, a long-time community supporter and activist, have been two of the most consistent members of the walking group. Trenny died of cancer in 2007 but up until she could no longer stand, she was a regular on the loop that now bears her name. Trenny and Rose were neighbors on Gills Neck Road, their homes overlooking the canal. They would start their walk at 124 Gills Neck Road and head southeast toward Rodaline Avenue where the walk turns right. The walk then turns right again on Third Street and passes City Hall before it intersects with Kings Highway at the historic home of Revolutionary War hero Col. David Hall. Turning left on Kings Highway, the walk then heads southwest passing many fine examples of Victorian Lewes architecture as well as the Lewes Historical Society’s Museum in the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center and the pleasant grounds of the nicely maintained Stango Park. The walk then makes a hairpin turn onto the wide shoulder of Freeman Highway, named for astronaut Ted Freeman who graduated from Lewes High School. This long stretch of Trenny’s Walk also crosses the high bridge over Lewes-Rehoboth Canal with great views of the town, the canal and the marsh that becomes a bay during big northeastdriven high tides. To the southeast, the bridge looks over the marshes, pine forests and dunes of Cape Henlopen State Park and the distant, World War II-vintage fire towers. At the intersection of Freeman Highway and Cape Henlopen Drive, Trenny’s Loop turns left where it passes a number of tall beach houses. It turns left again on the shoulder of Savannah Road, named for the broad marshes it crosses. The walk crosses the drawbridge that looks over the downtown and Fisherman’s Wharf, a place where many people stop to admire and photograph stunning sunsets. Trenny’s Loop ends with a left turn onto Gills Neck Road just over the drawbridge and in front of the ladies’ historic homes where it all started. This article contributed by Dr. Anis Saliba and Rosa Ksebe. TRENNY’S LOOP • Length: Approximately 3.35 miles. • Calories burned: 250 at a moderate pace. • Parking: 1812 Park Public Parking Area on southwest side of Savannah Road drawbridge, or at the Lewes Public Library trailhead on Monroe Avenue adjacent to Freeman Highway. TRENNY’S LOOP CLAYTON AV CEDAR ST CEDAR ST E MARKET ST E MARKET ST ANGLERS RD MIDLAND AVE E SAVANNAH RD ALASKA AVE VIRGINIA AVE GEORGIA AVE CAPE HENLOPEN DR KINGS HWY KINGS HWY THEODORE C. FREEMAN MEMORIAL HWY THEODORE C. FREEMAN MEMORIAL HWY MONROE AVE INLET PL BAY BREEZE DR PLUM DR S CR MONROE AVE MADISON AVE JEFFERSON AVE S WASHINGTON AVE E 4TH ST COLEMAN AVE BEEBE AVE DEWEY AVE MANITA AVE MCFEE ST CHOOL LN AVANNAH RD SAVANNAH RD MARKET ST MULBERRY ST SHIPCARPENTER ST ST PAUL ST PARK AVE NTER SQ MARKET ST CHESTNUT ST BANK ST NEILS ALLEY FRONT ST ORR ST 3RD ST TH ST W 4TH ST W 3RD ST 2ND ST SCHLEY AVE SCHLEY AVE RODALINE AVE FRANKLIN AVE GILLS NECK RD GILLS NECK RD GILLS NECK RD TARPON DR SNOOK CT GILLS NECK RD E 3RD ST KINGS HWY KINGS HWY GEORGIA AVE BAY AVE BAY AVE BAYVIEW AVE MASSACHUSETTS AVE AMERICAN LEGION RD DELMAR AVE MILTON AVE LEWES AVE BEEBE MEDICAL CENTER 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 CITY OF LEWES - TRENNY’S LOOP TRENNY’S LOOP
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 61 526 E. Savannah Road Lewes, DE 19958 302.645.4544 [email protected] L E W E S L O C A L SINCE 1990 FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED We’re a full-service bike shop offering sales, service and rentals. Our inventory includes a variety of bike styles including kid’s bikes, hybrids, beach cruisers and e-bikes. lewescyclesports.com
62 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Discover Dutch settlers, a vast fishery and age-old breakwaters Get on your bicycle for this one, or drive your car – it’s a long one out and back. The Lewes Maritime History Trail begins near the Roosevelt Inlet end of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal alongside the campus of University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment. Look for one of the region’s most prominent landmarks: The state’s largest wind turbine. Powering the entire Lewes campus and 400 feet tall, the turbine was erected in the spring of 2010. In addition to the college campus, the trail recognizes nine other distinct aspects of Lewes’ rich maritime history: the Lewes Life-Saving Station, the Overfalls Lightship, the town’s shipbuilding industry, the War of 1812, the lighthouses of the Delaware Bay, the menhaden fishing industry, the Delaware River and Bay pilots, the two stone breakwaters at the entrance of Delaware Bay and the Quarantine Station that was located in part of what is now Cape Henlopen State Park. Get on your bicycle, or hike if you want to make a day of it, and hit each of the stops to get a comprehensive - but not overwhelming - history of this seaport town with European civilizations dating back to the early 1600s, and Native American settlements thousands of years before that. You can use the map on the next page to get started and to help find the stops, or visit the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau in the 18th century Fisher-Martin House behind the Zwaanendael Museum on Kings Highway for a brochure which also has a map and descriptions of each of the interpretive panels. Call 302-645-8073 to get hours and other information. Describing Lewes, the brochure notes, in part: “It provided a fishery that grew into a major industry. It required boats that were built along the shores. It demanded lights that guided mariners, pilots to navigate the shoals of Delaware Bay, a great harbor to shelter ships from ice and storms, and courageous men to rescue the crews of stranded vessels. The sea brought MARITIME HISTORY TRAIL • Distance: 4.3 miles from first stop to last. • Calories burned: About 450 calories one way. • Parking: Park at the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment at the end of Pilottown Road, any one of the downtown public lots in Lewes, Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal overnight lot or at the Cape Henlopen State Park Fishing Pier. • Trail Highlights: This trail takes you along the canalfront and bayfront of Lewes with lots of interpretive history along the way. Include lunch in downtown Lewes and this will make for an excellent day tour on bicycle. LEWES MARITIME HISTORY TRAIL The Overfalls Lightship in the Canalfront Park in Lewes is one of the stops on the history trail and is open to the public for tours. The 1812 Park in downtown Lewes commemorates the bombardment by the British in 1813.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 63 war and pestilence to Lewes, but it also brought prosperity and a nationally important marine science center.” The tour signs, brochure, research and execution were made possible in part by a Preserve America grant administered by the National Park Service. For those who take this tour on bicycle, a good way to extend the trip is to ride the bicycle trail in Cape Henlopen State Park which you will cross when making your way to stop No. 10 on the history tour. The park bicycle loop also has historical components as it winds through remains - with many interpretive signs - of the World War II Fort Miles Army facility. The most recent addition to the Fort Miles exhibits is a 16-inch (diameter of its shells) cannon similar to those once deployed in the bunkers of Fort Miles overlooking the entrance to Delaware Bay. The cannon, acquired in 2012, is the last of the 16-inch guns once mounted on the U.S. battleship Missouri. It is one of the cannons under which the Japanese surrendered to the U.S. at the end of World War II.
64 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • CUSTOM DESIGN • CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT WWW.BRENDONWARFEL.COM 200 Broadkill Road, Suite 3 | Milton, DE 19968 | 302.684.3413 AveryHall.com Proud Supporter of the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club Home | Auto | Business Health | Life Medicare Supplements Tom Bole 302.330.2115 [email protected]
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 65 AtlanticRefrigeration.com 302-856-9300 Heating, Air Conditioning and Residential Plumbing PLUMBING & HEATING BY ATLANTIC REFRIGERATION 302-227-1944 CLENDANIELPLUMBINGHEATING.COM
66 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 An easy walk around town offers a taste of history and commerce Lewes, the First Town in the First State, is simply too filled with history to do it all in one walk. So, I will suggest a historic stroll of less than a mile, and point the way to expansion for those with fitness goals. Plant yourself at the foot of the bridge over the canal looking up Savannah Rd. (toward Rt.1). From there you can see the museum. To the left of the museum, Kings Highway, one could enjoy the fine residential buildings, the Lewes Presbyterian Church, and rest at the gardens behind the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center and Lewes Historical Society Museum. Then again, Savannah Rd. also beckons seductively with more beautifully restored homes, and up past Beebe Healthcare, and on to the renovated 1921 Lewes School which continues to serve Cape Henlopen School District. But, again looking from the foot of the Savannah Road drawbridge, there is more temptation from Gills Neck Rd. on the left as it follows the canal. One sees lovely old homes on the canal which were occupied by prominent citizens of our town’s past such as Dr. Marvel and Col. McGarraugh. That road goes out past the mansion built by Lewes menhaden industry giant Otis Smith and farther on to access the Junction & Breakwater Trail connecting Lewes and Rehoboth. Gills Neck Road eventually passes the Wolfe Point, Wolfe Runne, Breakwater, Hawkseye, Senators and Governors communities, the Moorings at Lewes continuing care retirement community, and ends at Cape Henlopen High School. Again from the foot of the Savannah Road drawbridge, if you walk backwards, or better yet go over the bridge, you head to Lewes Beach and a load of fine walks (e.g., to the ferry terminal, even the state park, or the other way along the beach or Bay Avenue to the Roosevelt Inlet). But let us now begin our walk by heading right from the drawbridge on Front St. with our first steps past the benches, flowers, and cannons of our 1812 Park which includes our docking pier. When the British failed to take the town in 1813, they left a fired cannonball in the brick foundation of the Cannonball House (1765) across from the park. While the Post Office (1953) across the street has no historic plaque, its solid presence, architecture and décor add to the town’s association with the past. Saunter past the alcove of fine shops to the left, and look to the right where you will see the popular DOWNTOWN LEWES HISTORIC TRAIL • Distance: About 1 mile. • Calories burned: About 200. • Parking: 1812 Park parking lot between canal and Post Office. • Tour Highlights: This tour takes visitors through the heart of the historic district of the First Town in the First State. It passes the historical complex of Lewes Historical Society, and other distinctive architectural examples of residential and commercial uses that reflect the gradual evolution of Lewes since its first settlement in 1631. CITY OF LEWES - HISTORICAL TOUR DENNIS FORNEY PHOTO The Lewes History Museum in the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center offers first-class interpretive exhibits reaching back to Native American times, and rest rooms for those on this tour. The Cannonball House on Front Street is home to Lewes Historical Society’s Maritime Museum.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 67 canalside restaurant Harbor next door to the well-appointed Inn at Canal Square. That complex borders on Canalfront Park, where the former nethouse, also associated with the menhaden industry, serves as administrative space. The Overfalls, our restored Lightship, and the Life Saving Station (1884) and ship store come next and bring you to the Little League ball fields at the foot of Pilottown Rd. That road, where the Delaware River pilots’ wives climbed to the widow’s walks atop their homes to see when hubby would make it to the dinner table, is a wonderful mile walk past the former Lewes Dairy to where the Virden Research Center and University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment are located. Note, on the canal side of Pilottown Rd., the monument to the 1631 fort which established the Dutch on our shores. From the Overfalls let me turn you left off of Front St. and up Shipcarpenter St. towards Second St. If you keep going a block more to Third St. you can see Shipcarpenter’s Square which was a creative solution to an empty 10 square acres. The open space was subsequently filled with old, regional homes imported from along county roads to Lewes, added onto and restored for occupancy back in the 1980s-90s. That area of Third and Fourth Sts. is loaded with old homes and churches which can be enjoyed on walks to follow. But for now wander into the Historic Complex located on Shipcarpenter St. between Second and Third streets, where many of Lewes’ shows, fairs, and other events take place. The complex is a lovely, shady stroll through history including: the Hiram Rodney Burton House (1720), the Burton-Ingram House (1785), Rabbit’s Ferry House (1741), the Midway School (1898) one room school house, the Old Doctor’s Office (1840), the Early Plank House (1700) of primitive Swedish architecture, and the Thompson Country Store (1800). Also note the restored net reel from the town’s former menhaden industry. After the complex, find your way back to Second Street and head towards Savannah Rd. You will pass some lovely historic homes on both sides of the first block and, on the corner of Mulberry St., you will see the oldest house in Delaware on the right, the Ryves-Holt House (1665). Across the street is the John Penrose Virden House, now a bed and breakfast. As you promenade down Second St. you will pass the labyrinth walk of St. Peter’s Church in front of the rectory. Next is the old graveyard surrounding the Episcopal church. The building with shops on the left across from St. Peter’s is the Robert Scott’s Block (1885) with a particularly fine façade of brick and tile. It is a step away from King’s Homemade Ice Cream which may or not be historic, but has “nourished” the children of Lewes and visitors for generations. Across from that is the renovated 1926 Hotel Rodney and its popular restaurant, the Rose and Crown. Next is the historic Sussex Trust bank building which now houses M&T Bank. Your credit cards should be twitching for action as you continue down past the boutiques and restaurants and antique stores of the town. If you make it past Bramble and Brine at the Buttery and turn right towards the museum you can note the Zwaanendael Club, a local organization of civic-minded women (1898). The Zwaanendael Museum, across the street, is a replica of a counterpart in Holland, and was built, in 1931, to honor the 300th anniversary of the founding of the town. The exhibits reflect the seafaring history of Lewes. Behind the building are the Zwaanendael Park, and the Fisher-Martin House (1730) which houses the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. Now, start exploring! Eric Kafka contributed this article. Downtown Lewes has a number of areas for parking bicycles. This is one is located on the town side of the drawbridge over LewesRehoboth Canal.
68 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 SATURDAY MARKET George H.P. Smith Park Johnson & Dupont Avenues, Lewes, DE Saturdays 8am–Noon, May 6–September 30, 2023 Lewes Elementary School Parking Lot 820 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE Saturdays 9am–Noon, October 7–November 18, 2023 MARKET AT CROOKED HAMMOCK 37707 Crooked Hammock Way, Lewes, DE Wednesdays 8am–11:30am, June 7–September 6, 2023 Where Fresh Food Is rooted In CommunIty At the Historic Lewes Farmers Market you’ll find heirloom tomatoes, lavender honey, freshly-laid eggs, lots of lettuces, juicy peaches, and best of all – community. www.HistoricLewesFarmersMarket.org [email protected] • 302.644.1436 Markets accept SNAP/EBT, and FMNP-WIC, SFMNP coupons.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 69 WITH BAYHEALTH VIRTUAL URGENT CARE, YOU CAN SEE A BOARD-CERTIFIED DOCTOR IN AS FEW AS 10 MINUTES, 24/7. FEEL BETTER SOONER. Allergies, rashes, infections, sore throat, cold and flu, gout, UTIs. Whatever the symptoms, get the care you need sooner. Download the app and enroll today. Bayhealth.org/VUC
70 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 1 1 5 5 23 24 30 30 16 9 113 Redden State Forest Great Marsh Preserve Cape Henlopen State Park Gordon’s Pond Delaware Seashore State Park MILTON LEWES GEORGETOWN REHOBOTH BEACH LEWES-GEORGETOWN HWY JOHN WILLIAMS HIGHWAY KINGS HWY COASTAL HWY REHOBOTH BAY COASTAL HWY DUPONT BLVD EAST REDDEN RD SAND HILL RD BROADKILL RD CEDAR CREEK RD ISAACS RD GRAVEL HILL RD CAVE NECK RD HUDSON RD COOLSPRING RD LOG CABIN HILL RD SWEETBRIAR RD NEW RD SAVANNAH RD HARBESON RD BEAVER DAM RD UNION ST EXT LEWES-GEORGETOWN TRAIL NEW RD. & NASSAU RD. BeachTimeDistilling.com (302) 644-2850 COMING SOON: COCKTAILS & CRAFT SPIRITS AREA BIKE TRAILS Grand Cape Loop Georgetown-Lewes Path RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 71 1 1 5 5 23 24 30 30 16 9 113 Redden State Forest Great Marsh Preserve Cape Henlopen State Park Gordon’s Pond Delaware Seashore State Park MILTON LEWES GEORGETOWN REHOBOTH BEACH LEWES-GEORGETOWN HWY JOHN WILLIAMS HIGHWAY KINGS HWY COASTAL HWY REHOBOTH BAY COASTAL HWY DUPONT BLVD EAST REDDEN RD SAND HILL RD BROADKILL RD CEDAR CREEK RD ISAACS RD GRAVEL HILL RD CAVE NECK RD HUDSON RD COOLSPRING RD LOG CABIN HILL RD SWEETBRIAR RD NEW RD SAVANNAH RD HARBESON RD BEAVER DAM RD UNION ST EXT NEED A HAND WITH GRAPHIC DESIGN? Leave it to us and give your brand a boost. 302.645.7700 NeedAHighFive.com
72 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 73 Visit Lewes A Historic Year-Round Destination Great shopping, dining, and fun throughout the Year Contact the Lewes Chamber of Commerce for additional information. Located in the Fisher-Martin House, 120 Kings Highway www.leweschamber.com, email: [email protected], toll-free 877-465-3937 • 302-645-8073 ANNUAL EVENTS IN LEWES 2023 June 17 Lewes Garden Tour July 4 Children’s Games, Boat Parade, Doo Dah Parade & Fireworks October 6-8 Fall Sidewalk Sales October 7 Boast the Coast Maritime Festival November 30 Hospitality Night December 2 Lewes Christmas Parade and LHS House Tour 2024 March 29 Great Delaware Kite Festival April: Lewes Tulip Celebration Stop in or call for a Visitor’s Guide or a Historic Lewes Map Photo of the LewesRehoboth Canal by Brook Hedge Please either call the chamber’s visitor center or refer to our online calendar for the most current information that is updated throughout the year.
74 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 This popular trail connects many communities and refreshing stops Major steps have been taken in the past few years toward ultimate realization of the paved trail that will connect the county seat of Sussex - Georgetown - with the historic town of Lewes. Those who enjoy mixing history with their outdoor explorations may be interested in knowing that Lewes was the county seat of Sussex County before the government was moved to Georgetown in 1791 to be more central to all of the county. When complete, this trail will extend all the way from Georgetown through Lewes and into the trail system of Cape Henlopen State Park. Its 17-mile distance along a railroad alignment will make it Delaware’s longest rail trail. The first section of the trail - about a mile and a half section - was completed in 2016 and connected Gills Neck Road and Savannah Road in Lewes. In 2019, the trail was extended from Savannah Road to Nassau and beyond. At Nassau, the trail passes beneath the busy Rt. 1 overpass providing a safe way to get on the west side of Route 1 and the many communities that border the trail as it makes its way westward, to the Hopkins dairy farm and Cool Spring. The trail is paved with asphalt from Savannah Road in Lewes to Route 9 at Cool Spring. That made the completed portion of the trail, counting the previous phase in Lewes, in the five to six-mile range. The remainder of the trail onward to Georgetown is expected to be completed in 2023 or 2024. While the railroad has been abandoned east of Cool Spring, there are still active portions westward from there to Georgetown. That means there may be sections in that portion that are rail with trail. East of Cool Spring the trail is being placed directly over the bed of the former railroad. In 2019, Sussex County Land Trust, in partnership with state and county agencies, acquired 30 acres of land at the southwest corner of the Route 9 and Cool Spring Road intersection. An open space project for preservation and recreation, the land will eventually become home to trailhead parking for the trail which may eventually be dubbed the County Seat Trail. Other recreational uses, including restrooms, are also being considered for the property. The property is called the Stephen P. Hudson Park in honor of the family who helped make the acquisition possible. To make the final connection of the trail into Cape Henlopen State Park, the state in the winter and spring of 2019 also removed rails and paved a trail on the section of the railroad from the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, over Freeman Highway, and through pine trees paralleling Cape Henlopen Drive into Cape Henlopen State Park where it connects to a three-mile trail system in the north end of the park. (See a section on that system elsewhere in this guide.) In Lewes, the Lewes-Georgetown Trail passes Lewes Public Library and a trailhead facility with parking and restrooms at the corner of Monroe Avenue and Freeman Highway. This is also where the trail intersects with the Junction and Breakwater Trail as it winds its way southeastward toward Rehoboth Beach. The Lewes-Georgetown Trail when completed, and in connection with the Great Cape Loop - also described elsewhere in this guide - will become part of a continuous system of trails more than 30 miles in length. See a map on pages 70 and 71 for the total alignment of the Lewes to Georgetown Trail. LEWES-GEORGETOWN TRAIL This popular trail follows the rail bed of the former Delaware Coast Line Railroad.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 75 GET OUTSIDE AND HAVE FUN! The City of Lewes is proud to be recognized as one of the most beautiful small towns in the world and a vibrant outdoor town with pedestrian and bicycle-friendly amenities in the community for all ages. The City promotes a healthy and active lifestyle for all residents and visitors by ensuring safe and easy transportation options in and around town including; • A 25-mile-per-hour speed limit on all streets for all vehicles. • ADA compliant pedestrian crosswalks where pedestrians have the right of way. • Designated walks in town including the Maritime History Trail and several others with descriptions and maps in this trail guide. • A popular and convenient trailhead facility that sits along the 1.5 mile Georgetown - Lewes trail at the corner of Monroe Avenue and Freeman Highway. The facility includes a fix it station for riders to work on their bicycles and a comfort station. The Georgetown - Lewes Trail now has several trail connections for bicyclists and pedestrians. • The popular Junction and Breakwater Trail that connects Lewes and Rehoboth is accessible along Gills Neck Road. This trail also provides access to Cape Henlopen State Park with parking available on American Legion Road. • A bicycle parking facility is available at the intersection of Savannah Road and Gills Neck Rd, directly across from the Dogfish Inn. The parking facility includes a fix it station for riders to work on their bicycles, parking for over 50 bicycles, and is walking distance to all the shops and restaurants in Lewes. Please enjoy our parks, trails, and beaches, and live healthy! City of Lewes ci.lewes.de.us ron macarthur photo
76 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 18756 Coastal Highway Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 302-645-6590 237 Rehoboth Avenue Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 302-227-2520 Exclusive Expert Fitting! Try a pair on today! Shoes made for everyday play! Essential support, zero pressure points, outstanding durability, stability & protection. Out-of-the-box comfort that never lets you down! Now available at: Oboz plants a tree for every pair sold. So far over 3 million trees and counting! Serving All Of Delmarva & Beyond 410-422-5144 amovingxp.com A MOVING EXPERIENCE Moving America One Move At A Time Specializing In Pianos, Antiques & Oversized Items Professional Local & Long Distance Moves 24/7 | 365 DAY AVAILABILITY AFFORDABLE QUALITY MOVES RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL “One Piece Or The Whole House, We Can Do It All”
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 77 Indian Fusion Pan Asian Restaurant Top 100 Places to Eat Across America Chef GG and his team and our historic Victorian look forward to a 4th season in Lewes, DE. We are excited to welcome you as our houseguests. @raaslewes 302 - 644 - 1747 210 Savannah Rd, Lewes, DE RaasLewes.com [email protected]
78 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Use this trail to make a day of exploring Lewes and Rehoboth The Junction & Breakwater Trail lies between the resort towns of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach on the western edge of Cape Henlopen State Park. It is Delaware’s third and longest rail trail in the state and one of the most important economic and fitness boosts for eastern Sussex County in this young 21st century. In May of 2014, completion of an extension of the Gordons Pond Trail connecting with trails in the northern end of Cape Henlopen State Park, along with the Junction and Breakwater Trail, created an approximately 16-mile loop trail with Lewes and Rehoboth Beach at either end. Read more details in the section on the Gordons Pond Trail. The Junction and Breakwater Trail gets its name from the rail line that ran between Lewes and Rehoboth in the mid-1800s. It follows the former Penn Central Rail Line that once transported passengers to the many Methodist resort camps along the Atlantic coast. The Junction & Breakwater Trail officially opened Dec. 4, 2003, and consisted of a 3.6-mile crushed stone trail that extended from Hebron Road in West Rehoboth northward to the Wolfe Glade trestle. The trail deadended there until June 4, 2007, when an additional 2.4-mile corridor officially opened extending the existing Junction & Breakwater Trail to a total of 6 miles. At the Lewes end, the improved trail begins at Gills Neck Road beneath the Freeman Highway Bridge on a new section of paved trail that parallels Freeman Highway until it turns southeast away from the highway and heads across a field toward another section of Gills Neck Road. At that intersection, turn right onto Gills Neck Road and then watch for signs on the left, just past the entrance to the Hawkseye community where the trail resumes and continues all the way to Rehoboth Beach. An alternate way to access the trail is to follow Gills Neck Road from the Savannah Road drawbridge in Lewes. This scenic, but less-safe route, takes walkers and riders along the LewesRehoboth Canal and through the rural - but developing - outskirts of Lewes. Riders and walkers should exercise care and discretion in this area because there are no shoulders, but with common courtesy there is plenty of room for motorists, bicyclists and walkers. Using this alternate, walkers and bicyclists can then pick up another section of improved trail just west of the JUNCTION & BREAKWATER TRAIL • Distance: 6 miles from Cape Henlopen High School to Rehoboth Beach - 16 miles if you connect with the Gordons Pond Trail in the ocean side of Cape Henlopen State Park. • Calories burned: About 450 walking or 300 bicycling. Three times that if you do the entire loop including the Gordons Pond Trail. • Parking: Cape Henlopen High School (when school’s not in session), public lots in Lewes, trailhead at Lewes Public Library, by Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach, behind Tanger Outlets Seaside Center on Rt.1 or at the end of Wolfe Neck Road, by McDonald’s and Wawa on Rt. 1. • Trail Highlights: Two great destinations - Lewes and Rehoboth Beach - connected by a well-maintained trail that passes through woods, marshes, fields and residential. The trail is flat and, depending on weather, good riding and walking all year long. JUNCTION AND BREAKWATER TRAIL The trail is flat with a mix of paved off-road shared use paths, offering a peaceful and safe respite from the nearby bustling Route 1. Bicycle racks in downtown Lewes fill with J&B Trail riders.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 79 entrance to the Wolfe Runne development, leading to the Junction & Breakwater Trail. From Gills Neck Road, the trail makes its way through the Hawkseye development before reaching the old - now improved - railroad bed leading to Rehoboth. Another way to access the trail is to park at Cape Henlopen High School on Freeman Highway and then jump on the trail as it parallels Gills Neck Road headed southeast along a stretch of open field. There is also an access point and parking for the trail on Wolfe Neck Road, near McDonald’s and Wawa on Route 1. The parking and access behind the Tanger Outlets Seaside Center near Holland Glade Road is no longer available as the Schellville Village now exists in that space. The trail can still be accessed via a new path in front of the Microtel Inn and Suites also located behind the outlets. Riders from the Rehoboth Beach end can head out of town over the LewesRehoboth Canal drawbridge and take a right onto Church Street. They can then turn left past the church and follow the road that passes the entrance to Canal Corkran. That road intersects with Hebron Road at which point riders can turn left to get to the Hebron Road entrance to the trail. That stretch of the trail goes between storage units and the West Rehoboth community before passing behind The Tides development and then onto a winding and wooded stretch before crossing Holland Glade Road and heading north to Lewes. Riders out of Rehoboth can turn right at Hebron Road and follow a shoulder trail to another crossing of Holland Glade Road near the Rehoboth Beach Little League park. This spur of the trail joins up with the main trail to Lewes near another spur that goes to the Tanger Outlets Seaside parking area. The trail, according to materials provided by Cape Henlopen State Park, follows along the historic rail corridor through wooded and open terrain and provides scenic vistas of coastal marshes at the Wolfe Glade and Holland Glade bridge crossings - two recognized natural areas. Cyclists, walkers, joggers, roller bladers enjoy riding the Junction and Breakwater Trail as it winds through residential and wild sections. The trailhead near the Lewes Public Library has plenty of parking, restrooms and public art to enjoy. See Full Map For This Trail On Page 8
80 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 A unique shop located in the heart of historic downtown Milton, DE. 50+ dealers who are stocked with wonderful antiques, gifts, jewelry, vintage items, art, beach décor, and so much more! 109 Union Street Milton, DE 19968 (302) 664-1840 Business hours - 7 Days a Week: 11 am - 5 pm Antiques Artisans Gifts
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 81
82 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Three-mile trail through woods leads to Indian River’s Beach Cove Open for hikers, bikers and horseback riders, these relatively new and sparsely marked trails offer a three-mile loop perfect for exploring the park, and side trails including one that leads to a view of the Beach Cove off of Indian River Bay. The trails are wide with a grass or packed-sand surface and fine gravel in some places, especially where it winds through a stand of thick, young pines. A 1/8-mile paved connector trail provides access from Route 1 at the north end of Fresh Pond. There’s no parking on Route 1 at the terminus of that connector but it is convenient for bikers who want to access the trail from Route 1 or hikers coming from some of the oceanside communities nearby. Similarly, there is an unpaved connector road at the south end of the Fresh Pond system. That connector road is just north of Fred Hudson Road which leads to Cedar Neck Road. There is also a connection off Fred Hudson Road near Salt Pond but none of these connectors offer parking. The Prickly Pear Trail is named for the prolific coastal cactus that thrives in the arid, sandy climate. In late May and June, the cactus blooms with a brilliantly yellow waxy flower that transforms to an edible fruit. PRICKLY PEAR and FRED HUDSON TRAIL • Distance: More than three miles with longer side-trips possible. • Calories Burned: About 350 minimum. • Parking: Follow Hickman Road east from Cedar Neck Road, off of Route 1, to a parking area. • Highlights: Prickly Pear offers a sense of sandy coastal plains and a view of Beach Cove off Indian River Bay. The trail threads its way along the long and narrow Fresh Pond with lots of brackish water and freshwater marshes. The trail is named for the abundant, low stands of coastal prickly pear cactus that bloom in June with a brilliant, waxy yellow flower. SEASHORE STATE PARK • FRESH POND This trailhead for the Fresh Pond system is at the end of Hickman Road, off Cedar Neck Road. Trail users can access the Prickly Pear and Fred Hudson trails from this location which includes plenty of parking.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 83 The Fred Hudson Trail in the Fresh Pond complex includes wooded sections and bridged sections over marsh and swamp.
84 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Get tuned in with “ Our own, original First State programming includes: Our NPR programs include, but are not limited to: Listener support keeps us commercial-free. How can you help support DPM? Ways to listen: The Green Hometown Heroes Celebrating more than 10 years as Delaware’s only NPR affiliate and the only public media outlet dedicated to covering the First State. We combine local and statewide news produced by the DPM news team with the best of NPR. Find our most comprehensive coverage on this award-winning program and podcast that delivers a mix of in-depth First State news and commentary. As other local news sources shrink, it’s more important than ever to ensure Delawareans have access to balanced, comprehensive news coverage and commentary that informs, educates, and engages our community. Delaware Public Media is owned and operated by Delaware First Media Corporation, a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We follow NPR independent journalistic ethics, promoting accuracy, fairness, honesty, completeness, and transparency. A full statement is available at delawarepublic.org. • Tell your friends and neighbors about DPM • Become a sustaining donor or join our Producer’s Circle • Donate your old vehicle • On air at 91.1 FM WDDE and 88.1 FM WMHS • Online at delawarepublic.org • Streaming via the DPM Mobile App The single most authoritative showcase for outstanding music written and performed right here in Delaware and the region for more than 22 years. 150 hours of listener-favorite public radio programming every week. Local news segments prepared by our awardwinning news team. In 2022, the team produced nearly 1,450 First State-specific news stories Subscribe to our free e-newsletters at bit.ly/dpmenews and connect with us on social: Pete Booker GENERAL MANAGER DELAWARE PUBLIC MEDIA What will you find on DPM?
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 85 Ferrying cars & people between NJ & DE daily Operated by AWARD OF EXCELLENCE TEN YEARS RUNNING! BOOK NOW! 800.643.3779 FERRY FOR US! •SAILING DAILY• FERRY FOR EVERYONE! •SAILING DAILY• FERRY FORME! •SAILING DAILY• SCAN HERE FOR SCHEDULE AND FARES Rediscover the joy of travel at CMLF.com/Works
86 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 This trail shows off one of several islands separating the Inland Bays Burton Island Loop is an easy 1.5-mile trail through salt marsh and coastal forest with beautiful bay views. The trail is on sand and upland soil and is made easier with a series of newly constructed boardwalks. The boardwalks provide views of the Indian River Bay, the Rehoboth Bay and of the open salt marsh. The island features an inland bay habitat that supports a variety of birds, plants, fish, reptiles and mammals. Burton Island is the largest island in a series of islands that separates Rehoboth Bay from Indian River Bay. The trailhead is located at the northern end of the Indian River Marina across a man-made causeway. Signage is sparse so keep going to the end of the marina property on the north side of Indian River Inlet or ask for directions in the marina office. The trail is easy to walk and would be a good choice for a family outing. It is not unusual to see wading shorebirds, ospreys, great blue herons and muskrats (or at least their tracks). When I walked the property I startled a deer on the way in and encountered a red fox as I was finishing the hike. I recommend hiking this trail in the early spring or fall or bring plenty of insect spray in the summer. Be sure to stay on the trail while visiting the island as the island provides important nesting grounds for the Diamondback Terrapin. Bob Lore contributed this article and photographs. BURTON ISLAND LOOP • Distance: 1.5 miles around portions of Burton Island Nature Preserve. • Calories Burned: About 200. Make the loop twice and get 400. • Parking: Near the causeway that crosses to Burton Island at the north end of Indian River Marina. • Highlights: Great example of an undeveloped inland bays coastal island. New boardwalks offer fine views of Indian River Inlet, the new Indian River Inlet Bridge and Rehoboth Bay. SEASHORE STATE PARK • BURTON ISLAND Atlantic Ocean 0 0.25 0.5 Miles Marina Office Dry Stack Storage & Boat Launch Center for Inland Bays & Coast Guard Station Burton Island Nature Preserve Shellfish Harvesting Prohibited Indian River Inlet Campground South Inlet Day Area Indian River Marina 38 36.69 N 75 04.51 W This state map of the Indian River Inlet area shows the Burton Island Trail, upper left, marked in yellow.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 87
88 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Exterior House/Building Wash Window Cleaning Gutter cleaning Paver Cleaning & Restoration Concrete Cleaning SERVICES:: (302)-250-1736 l https://www.fspowerwashing.com
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 89 Fun Stuff . . . just add water! 2023 Rehoboth Beach & Dewey Beach Resort Area Events Paper Shredding Day · May 5 Spring Sidewalk Sale · May 5-7 Resort Area Restaurant Week · June 4-9 Monday Night Movies · June 19 - August 21 Wednesday Night Bonfires · June 21 - August 23 Scarecrow Trail & Show · October Fall Sidewalk Sale · October 6-8 Sea Witch® Festival · October 27-29 Santa’s House & Christmas Activities · Nov/Dec As of March 2023 For more Resort Area events, contact the Rehoboth Beach - Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center! Beach-Fun.com · 302-227-6446 Funded in part by Southern DE Tourism.
90 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Ocean, art, history, cotton candy and rides all in one sweet walk This is a three-mile walk through the residential neighborhoods of Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres. It also features a one-mile stroll down the Boardwalk. Walkers can stop off at a variety of businesses and restaurants on Rehoboth Avenue as well as Baltimore and Wilmington Avenues. In Henlopen Acres, strollers will want to stop at the Rehoboth Art League to view the current art exhibit or just take a rest in the peaceful gardens on the property. Over mostly flat terrain that goes by both of Rehoboth’s historic and unique freshwater lakes - Lake Gerar and Silver Lake - this walk can be completed at a leisurely pace in under an hour. Here are specific directions and a map for guidance. Start the walk at the north end of the Boardwalk where there is ample parking adjacent to the Henlopen Hotel. Proceed south on the Boardwalk for the first mile. The half-mile point is at Delaware Avenue where you will find restrooms, an information office and Funland, another historic site with rides and games for kids of all ages during the summer months. Leave the Boardwalk at Queen Street and turn left at the end of Queen Street onto Lake Drive. Follow the road around the north side of Silver Lake and the several gazebos on the lake shore. In winter, Silver Lake - a state-designated wildlife refuge - hosts an annually returning flock of stately Canvasback ducks as well as Canada geese, American coots and many other species of waterfowl. At Bayard Avenue turn right and walk north through the heart of Rehoboth Heights, the city’s south side. The next half-mile point is in the vicinity of the intersection of Bayard and Laurel Street. Next, cross Rehoboth Avenue at the traffic light, passing the Post Office on your right and the western end of colorful Baltimore Avenue. Continue walking two blocks to the intersection of Olive Avenue. The east end of Lake Gerar may be seen across the street. Bear right on Olive and stroll to First Street where the next turn is to the left. Proceed north across the Lake Gerar bridge; this is at the two-mile mark. On your right, across the lake and on the oceanfront, is The Henlopen Hotel and Condominiums. Follow Lake REHOBOTH BEACH, BOARDWALK, HENLOPEN ACRES • Distance: Three miles. • Calories burned: About 250. • Parking: City parking spaces at the north end of the Boardwalk around the Henlopen Hotel. Metered in the summer, free in fall, winter and spring. • Trail Highlights: The mile-long Boardwalk (capitalized because it’s an official city street); Silver Lake (and its winter flocks of canvasback ducks) and Lake Gerar; the idyllic streets of Henlopen Acres; the historic, colonial, cypress shake-clad Homestead mansion; and the historic and lovely grounds of Rehoboth Art League. CITY OF REHOBOTH BEACH & BOARDWALK DENNIS FORNEY PHOTOS An elegantly classic bridge and gazebos stand above the fresh water of Silver Lake at the southern end of this tour. The grounds of Rehoboth Art League are a tour highlight.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 91 Gerar’s shore around to the left where the road becomes Second Street. Continue north on Second Street across Columbia and Henlopen avenues to the entrance to Henlopen Acres where the road becomes Dodds Lane into the Acres community. Walk two blocks to a right turn at Rolling Road. After you turn on Rolling Road, the 18th-century Homestead and other galleries of the Rehoboth Art League will be on your left. The gardens and grounds of the Art League deserve a few moseying minutes. Even if the galleries are closed the day of your walk, there is remarkable outdoor art to enjoy as well as historic boxwood, azalea gardens and specimen trees identified in arboretum style. After walking one block on Rolling Road you will come to a right turn at Broad Hollow, the twoand-a-half mile point in your Rehoboth walk. Follow Broad Hollow and then turn right onto Zwaanendael (Dutch for Valley of the Swans) for the last half mile of your walk which leaves Henlopen Acres and merges with, and continues southward on Surf Avenue for a final oceanfront stretch and a return to your parking lot at the Henlopen Hotel. Hoyte Decker contributed this article. The west side of Lake Gerar, with Hotel Henlopen in the distance, shows Rehoboth’s quiet and natural side.
92 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 LifLi et ime Warranty Fast Installation Professional Results fetime Warranty Reimagine your garage with premium garage floor coatings, storage and organization, professionally installed in just about a day. *Must be presented at the time of initial appointment. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Your Garage Transformation* 10% OFF Offer expires XX/XX/XX. Get up to before LifLi et ime Warranty Fast Installation Professional Results fetime Warranty Reimagine your garage with premium garage floor coatings, storage and organization, professionally installed in just about a day. *Must be presented at the time of initial appointment. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Your Garage Transformation* before Offer expires 12/23/23. $150 Off Crawlspaces | Basements | Foundations | Concrete Lifting CALL US FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION INSPECTION 302.684.5034 • www.dryzone.com
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 93
94 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 This gem of a park along Indian River features trails and crabbing Holts Landing State Park has 204 acres of unspoiled upland forest and 2,000 feet of waterfront on the Indian River Bay. Beautiful views are available from two hiking trails that offer a short hike of slightly more than a mile or can be combined for a distance of almost three miles. The park’s parking lot contains a large number of spaces for visitors. A picnic pavilion and fire pit adjacent to the lot are available for picnicking and socializing after a hike. The Sea Hawk Trail is approximately 1.3 miles (sources vary between 1.2 and 1.5 miles) with a trailhead easily accessed from the Holts Landing parking lot. The gently undulating trail offers easy hiking plus beautiful vistas. It meanders through a mixed hardwood and conifer forest at the border of a large wetland, crosses grassy meadow, and follows a section of the Indian River shoreline. The state recently expanded the trail by 1,300 feet and added a 600-foot boardwalk across marsh to connect the northeast and northwest sections of the trail. Birding and wildlife viewing opportunities exist for nature enthusiasts as they experience the different coastal bays environment along the trail. This trail is open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians of all ages. The Seahorse Trail is approximately 1.3 miles (sources vary from 1.2 to 1.3) with a trailhead off Marlin Drive (an unpaved access road) located northwest of the intersection of Holts Landing Road and Walters Bluff Road. The Seahorse loop trail is listed as easy difficulty on the state parks website. It connects with the Sea Hawk Trail and provides access to the western portion of the park. The trail travels over packed earth along the forest edge, open meadow, and dense forest. This trail is open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians, and serves as the access to the Primitive Campsites A, B, and C. This article and entrance photograph contributed by Friends of Holts Landing State Park. HOLTS LANDING STATE PARK Holts Landing State Park celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015. It is undergoing improvements including a new boat launch to access the Indian River Bay and a fire pit. Holts Landing State Park features the state’s only pier designed specifically for crabbing. Photo from Wikipedia.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 95 Providing a smooth ride on the path to home buying and selling TEAM: 302.329.3737 OFFICE: 302.703.1144
96 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 All loans subject to credit approval. Rates and fees subject to change. ©2020 PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company. (NMLS: 13649) Equal Housing Lender. PrimeLending is a wholly owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in DE. V010918 Paul Santumo Production Manager 302-381-6308 [email protected] lo.primelending.com/psantumo 20336 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 NMLS: 476331 19643 Blue Bird Lane, Unit 1 Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 (302) 226-7960 RehobothBeachDental.com Curtis J. Leciejewski, D.D.S. General Dentistry Rehoboth Beach Dental
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 97 The Insurance Market is proud to help promote Fitness and Good Health with The Great Walks and Trails in Sussex County www.insurancechoices.com Home - Auto - Life - Health - Business “Professional Protection. Personal Relationships.”
98 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 At the head of Rehoboth Bay, a quiet and tucked-away trail Thompson Island is a very small but interesting preserve located off Bay Road just outside the city limits of Rehoboth Beach. To find the head of the trail, turn right onto Canal Street from the southbound lane of Route 1 just east of the canal bridge. In this small residential neighborhood, take a left onto Bay and you will come to the trailhead. Diligence is required to find it and there is virtually no parking for cars. Your best bet is to park across Rt. 1 in the shopping center there, or walk or ride your bicycle. Please note: The Spring Lake community next to the trail is private property with parking for residents only; unauthorized vehicles will be towed. Leaving the trail is strictly prohibited. No dogs are allowed in the Thompson Island Preserve. This trail is for hiking only, although there is a bicycle parking area near the beginning of the trail. The trail is covered in crushed stone, easy to travel and wheelchair-accessible the entire path. The trail begins in a mature upland hardwood and conifer forest, traversing a small marsh, meandering through a pine forest toward the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. The trail ends at a manmade (handicap-accessible) wooden overlook showcasing views of Thompson Island, tidal salt marsh, Rehoboth Bay and the Dewey Beach skyline. The trail out to Thompson Island is closed to the public in accordance with the Nanticoke Indian Tribe of Sussex County. The island was once a burial ground for Native American people and has long been considered a sacred place. While on the trail, be on the lookout for ospreys foraging for fish to feed the family between mid-March and late fall when the birds migrate south for the winter. White-tail deer are also residents of this area and can be seen crossing the marsh and blending in with the trees. This general area from Rehoboth Beach south to Fenwick Island is very good feeding ground for ospreys. I also spotted a bald eagle when I was there. Walt Bryan contributed this article and photographs. THOMPSON ISLAND NATURE PRESERVE THOMPSON ISLAND OUT AND BACK • Length: Approximately 1.5 miles out and back. • Calories burned: 200 at a moderate pace. • Parking: Ride your bike or walk to this trail. Car parking almost nonexistent. • Highlights: Hard-surfaced trail through pine woods with boardwalks over salt marsh. A kiosk at the head of the Thompson Island Trail provides a map with an overview of the area as well as guidelines for use.
Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 • 99 Call today to join our team! Call today to join our team! LEWES • MILTON • SEAFORD 1-844-SHERMAN SHERMANCORP.COM Call today to join our team! Whatever path you choose, nothing compares to a Birkenstock footbed. Step in and experience for yourself the unrivaled comfort and support. 18756 Coastal Highway Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 302-645-6590 237 Rehoboth Avenue Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 302-227-2520 RAISED TOE BAR Encourages the natural gripping motion of the toes, exercises the legs and stimulates circulation. CONTOURED CORK FOOTBED Supports all four arches of the foot with a firm and resilient cork/latex footbed that conforms to the shape of your foot over time. DEEP HEEL CUP Cradles the heel and promotes proper body posture and balance. Exclusive Expert Fitting! FOOTBED FEATURES: Hurry In!
100 • Great Walks & Trails in Sussex County 2023 Magnificent trails, great water access and ’30s WPA projects Assawoman Wildlife Area, southwest of Bethany Beach on Camp Barnes Road, is a 3,100-acre collection of fields, marshes, pine-shaded knolls overlooking creeks and bays, coastal forests and miles of hard-sand roads open for walking, bike riding, driving and horseback riding. Much of the waterfront of the wildlife area looks across Little Assawoman Bay and, to the south, the highrises of Ocean City, Maryland. Assawoman is a Native American word which means midway fishing stream. Created from the purchase of nine small farms by the United States Department of Agriculture in the 1930s, the tracts became the wildlife refuge and came under Delaware management in 1943. According to an automobile-tour brochure that can be picked up near the entrance to the wildlife area, “Wildlife comes first here. The Wildlife Area is managed primarily for migrating and wintering water birds, white-tailed deer and bobwhite quail with money derived from a federal excise tax on guns and ammunition. Amphibians, reptiles, Delmarva fox squirrels and rare plant sites are given special protection. Human activities that do not hurt these resources are welcome.” The major portion of Assawoman Wildlife Area lies on a peninsula bounded by Miller Creek to the north, Dirickson Creek to the south and Little Assawoman Bay to the east. A manystoried, metal observation tower on the road toward Mulberry Landing provides a bird’s-eye view of the 65-acre pond to the north and Mulberry Pond to the south. Through the winter, a wide variety of geese and ducks rests on these ponds and songbirds find food and shelter in the loblolly woods just to the west of the tower. There is parking at the tower and from there you can walk toward Mulberry Landing to the south or Strawberry Landing to the north. Both landings offer good, waterfront picnicking opportunities. At Mulberry Landing, a heavy-beamed pavilion stands as a reminder of the economic stimulus efforts by the federal government in the 1930s to help people put out of work by the Great Depression. Local men working for the Works Progress Administration constructed the pavilion, which provides shelter and a picnic area. There is also a ramp for the launching of small motorboats, kayaks and canoes. Also at Mulberry Landing, an observation/photography blind offers a chance to observe wildlife up close and undisturbed. Ocean City, Maryland and the historic Fenwick Island Lighthouse can be seen across Little Assawoman Bay to the south. Assawoman Wildlife Area’s network of roads offers a number of places to ASSAWOMAN WALKS • Distance: Two to three miles depending on how many of the landings you visit. Most of the walking is on hard-packed sand roads. You may also be sharing the roads with bicyclists, motorists and horseback riders. • Calories burned: Figure about 250-300 per hour depending on how vigorously you walk. If you’re planning pizza that night, walk faster and longer! • Parking: You can park near the office, at the observation tower or at any of the three landings. • Highlights: Sassafras, Strawberry and Mulberry landings offer good destinations for picnicking, resting, relaxing under tall and swaying loblolly pines and watching birds and clouds. Mulberry Landing features a launching ramp for small boats and an historic pavilion with picnic tables and a huge outdoor fireplace. Assawoman Wildlife Area is a year-round facility open from sunrise to sunset featuring a wide variety of songbirds, shorebirds, predators and migratory waterfowl. A Conservation Access Pass is required for entry. ASSAWOMAN WILDLIFE REFUGE