About trails and ratings --
brief description of trail types and ratings
New
Castle County
N
orthern
Delaware Greenway (Phase 1)
(view
map)
Phase 1 of the Northern Delaware Greenway spans 10 miles
across New Castle County from Fox Point State
Park on the Delaware River to the Brandywine Creek and the City of Wilmington.
Ongoing projects will soon connect across the Brandywine to Rockford Park.
This paved pathway connects with
parks in Wilmington and links together
residential communities, schools, businesses, parks and cultural sites.
Eventually, the Northern Delaware Greenway will stretch across the entire county
connecting with the trail network in Middle Run Natural Area and White Clay
Creek State Park and finally, Newark, Delaware. From there, proposed
pathways will lead users south to Lums Pond State Park and the Chesapeake &
Delaware Canal where more trails await.
|
Highlights:
Fox Point State Park (EASY) - a paved pathway and nature
trail along Stoney Creek
Bellevue State Park (EASY) - 9.6 miles of
pathways including a 1.8 mile connection from Philadelphia Pike to Marsh Road;
for more information on this and other state parks, contact
Delaware State Parks
Bringhurst Woods Park/
Rockwood Park (EASY-MODERATE) - a 1.25 mile paved pathway beginning at Marsh Road connects
Bellevue State Park with Bringhurst Woods and
Rockwood Park;
this is an out & back trail with parking available at various locations
Rock Manor Golf Course/Blue Ball Properties - 162
acres including 85 protected acres
Alapocas Woods
(MODERATE-DIFFICULT) - paved/stone pathway leads users from the Blue Ball Barn
area to the Brandywine; a pedestrian bridge connects with Bancroft Mills on the
opposite shore (view
map)
Powder Mill (EASY) - a 1.3 mile paved pathway parallels Route 141 between Rockland
Road and Concord Pike
Wilmington State Parks - trails in Rockford Park,
Brandywine Park and Alapocas Woods connect the Northern Delaware Greenway to
the city of Wilmington; take a hike and check out the
Wilmington Zoo!
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Northern Delaware
Greenway (Phase 2)
Phase 2 of the Northern Delaware
Greenway will connect the City of Wilmington to White Clay Creek State Park,
near Newark. This portion may eventually include a spur heading north
towards Hockessin along Mill Creek. Other community connections will
enable residents to easily access this great trail!
|
Highlights:
Delcastle Recreation Area (EASY) - A 1.75 mile paved loop in this popular county
park
Weather Hill Farms (MODERATE) -
a paved
pathway connects the driving range at Delcastle Golf Center (also location of
Midway Girls Softball) to Limestone Road near Goldey-Beacom College; this trail
winds through forested county parkland and crosses Mill Creek and is a true oasis amidst suburbia;
the trail is out & back
Carousel Farms (EASY-MODERATE) - offers 4.8 miles of trails; a dog park and equestrian
center highlight this county park in Pike Creek
Middle Run Natural Area
(MODERATE-DIFFICULT) - more than 10 miles of trails in this county park that
sits between the Judge Morris Estate and White Clay Creek State Park
White Clay Creek State Park (MODERATE-DIFFICULT) - more than 40 miles of trail in this park
include 24 miles for shared uses; mountain bikes are welcome in much of this
park -- including a cool skills course!!
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Christina
River
Efforts to preserve the
Christina River corridor and enhance it with recreational trails and
pathways are underway.
|
Highlights:
Corridor Protection
- the Christina
Conservancy and the Delaware Nature Society are striving to improve water
quality by protecting riparian areas
City of Newark - acquired 48 acres along the river
Wilmington Riverfront (EASY) - a 1.3
mile riverfront walkway is in place from the
Wilmington Train Station to the Shipyard Shops; future improvements will
extend the pathway south into the Russell Peterson Urban Wildlife
Refuge
Russell Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge -
scheduled to open in 2006, will include an education center and
trails; located south of Shipyard Shops
Lewden-Greene Park - includes a one-mile pathway |
East Coast Greenway
(view
map)
The East Coast Greenway will be
a city to city multi-use trail system linking trails, waterfronts, park paths, abandoned railroads, rails
with trails, canal towpaths, and parkway corridors. It will be an 80 percent
off-road route for cyclists, hikers and other users, along the densely populated
East Coast. The route will be an urban equivalent of the Appalachian
Trail, located in the shadows of skyscrapers, and suburban green spaces, but
also in bucolic settings. Several routes for the East Coast Greenway in Delaware are being analyzed.
C
& D Canal
The C & D
Canal connects the Delaware
River, just south of Delaware City, to the Chesapeake Bay. The northern and
southern banks of the canal include more than 7,100 acres of federal land
in Delaware and Maryland. The Delaware portion is
managed by the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife. Plans are
underway to enhance the existing recreational facilities that also include
fishing piers and equestrian riding trails. This project was modeled after
similar one along the Cape Cod Canal. Delaware's Congressman
Michael Castle has provided dynamic leadership for this initiative.
Find out more!
|
Highlights:
C & D
Canal Wildlife Area (EASY) - includes
a large network of trails, primarily for hunting access; twelve miles of
stone roads run along the north and south banks...almost the entire length
of the canal; current access the canal from St. Georges or Lums Pond State
Park
Lums Pond
State Park (EASY) - includes more
than 17 miles of trails
Fort DuPont
State Park (EASY) - nearly 3 miles of trail are in place, and more are
planned
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Stream
Corridor Greenways
The
Delaware Nature Society manages the Delaware Stream Watch program
to help improve water quality and protect stream [greenway] corridors.
Currently more than 600 landowners voluntarily protect nearly 80 miles of the stream corridor
along the Red Clay
Creek, Christina River, White Clay Creek, Brandywine Creek, Burrows Run,
Dragon Run, Red Lion Creek, and Appoquinimink River. For more
information on Delaware Stream Watch, contact the
Delaware Nature
Society.
Back to Top of Page
Kent County
Smyrna
Trails
Smyrna is
creating a paved bicycle/pedestrian trail along Green's Branch in northern
Smyrna which will connect with three major thoroughfares, Glenwood Avenue,
Duck Creek Parkway, and North Main Street. Once completed, the trail will
provide off road access for pedestrians and cyclists to Memorial Park, the
Little League/Little Lass Complexes, Smyrna High School and the numerous
residential and commercial areas. The trail will also provide access to
two scenic overlooks of Duck Creek. A pathway is already in place along
Hoffecker Street.
St. Jones River Greenway
The city of Dover, Kent County, and the
state of Delaware are working together to protect land and develop a trail
network in the St. Jones River watershed. The St. Jones Greenway
Commission is an appointed body, with citizen appointees representing the
city, county and the state, that advises Kent County on issues relating to
the greenway and trail projects along the St. Jones River. The Commission
has completed a master plan for the St. Jones mid and lower reaches.
For more information...
Highlights:
Silver Lake
Recreation Area - a one-mile pathway is in place
Capital
Bikebelt - The Council on Greenways and Trails has brought together
key players to link two of the capital area's most popular
parks, Schutte Park and Brecknock Park. This project incorporates
construction of trails and pathways between the two parks with stream
corridor greenway protection along Isaacs Branch and Puncheon Run
Lebanon
Landing - development of a boat dock and canoe launch facility is
underway
Delaware
National Estuarine Research Reserve (St. Jones Reserve) - 431
acres along the river has been protected. A one-mile self-guided trail
focuses on the historical interaction of people and their environment. An
interpretive center offers formal educational programs |
Murderkill
River
Since 1965, the Division of
Parks & Recreation has been protecting lands along the Murderkill
River. To date over 2,028 acres and 3 miles of river corridor have been
protected at Killens Pond State Park and the Murderkill River Nature
Preserve stretching from Route 13 to Frederica.
Coastal Heritage Greenway
The greenway follows
Delaware's river/bay coast from Fox Point State Park in New Castle County
to Fenwick Island in Sussex County. In between, travelers will enjoy
the many natural and historic resources that dominate Delaware's coastal
plane. A Coastal Heritage Greenway Auto Tour booklet (27 stops!) is
available from the Division of State Parks. Call 302/739-5285 for
information and availability or check out the
Auto Tour online.
Back to
Top of Page
Sussex County
Mispillion
River
From the mouth of the
Mispillion to the lakes and ponds west of Milford there
has been a lot of activity in recent years to protect land along the river,
improve the waterfront in Milford, and develop trails and walkways where
appropriate.
|
Highlights:
Mispillion Riverwalk and Greenway -
The City of Milford has created a riverfront gem in its Mispillion
Riverwalk. Adjacent to Walnut Street, the riverwalk connects the
downtown business area, a newly constructed library, UD Milford Campus
building, and recreational areas. The Mispillion Greenway
Walking Trail and Tour includes a historic walking tour of the City.
Maps and information available in the 2006 Spring/Summer Brochure (City
of Milford Parks)
Mispillion Blueway - The City of
Milford along with the Delaware Nature Society are working to
preserve land along the river and establish a water trail or 'blueway'
from Abbott's Mill to the Delaware Bay
Milford Neck - 2600 acres of preserved land
Abbotts Mill - there is
one mile of trail at Abbotts Mill Nature Center which will eventually
connect Blairs Pond, Abbotts Pond, Griffiths Lake and Haven Lake |
Broadkill
River
The 15 mile long river flows past
Reddan State forest, through the heart of Historic Milton, and empties into the
Delaware Bay just north of Lewes at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
|
Highlights:
Governors Walk - The
town of Milton has undertaken an ambitious plan to create the Walk
along the Broadkill River, commemorating the birthplace of four
Delaware governors and a Wyoming governor.
McCabe Preserve - The
Nature Conservancy has begun efforts to protect land both upstream and
downstream of Milton. The McCabe Preserve, downstream of town, was
dedicated in June 1998. A 2-mile canoe trail connects the Preserve
with Milton Memorial Park. The Preserve has 3 miles of trails
Prime Hook National Wildlife
Refuge - over 9,700 acres of habitat. For hours of operation and
other information, contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (302) 684-8419
or at
www.fws.gov/northeast/primehook/.
Beach Plum Island Nature
Preserve - part of the Coastal Heritage Greenway, this 129 acre barrier
island is protected wildlife habitat.
Lewes & Rehoboth Canal -
The canal links the mouth of the Broadkill River to Rehoboth bay and is part
of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, a 3,000 mile recreational and
commercial waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts
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Lewes
The first Town in the First
State, Lewes is a charming nautical town situated at the intersection of the
Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay. Many shops and restaurants
available for a relaxing amble around town. A
walking tour
highlights some of the town's history.
| Highlights:
City of Lewes
- The Lewes Greenway and Trail Committee envisions a network of protected
open space and pathways that link parks, natural areas, and historic sites
throughout the town. A route has been established and Lewes Greenway sighs
identifying points of interest are in place
Cape May-Lewes Ferry -
the ride from Lewes to Cape May, New Jersey is just over an hour long.
Bicyclists and foot passengers can purchase a round-trip ticket and enjoy
an afternoon in Cape May (also a great town for walking!) before returning
to Lewes. For information on
Cape May-Lewes
Ferry...
Cape Henlopen State
Park
(EASY) - Cape Henlopen Sate Park encompass a multitude
of natural and cultural resources and 13 miles of trails and pathways. A
master plan for the park will guide the development of, among other
things, additional trails and pathways.
Junction and Breakwater Trail (EASY)
- a recent addition (and wildly popular among beach-goers), this trail has
a northern trailhead near the historic Wolfe house. The current
southern terminus is found off Rehoboth Avenue on Hebron Road (near the
canal). Plans are underway to extend the trail north to Lewes.
For more
information...
|
Nanticoke
River
Efforts to protect and
enhance the Nanticoke River corridor are underway by a number of agencies,
including the city of Seaford, the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy,
and the Nature Conservancy.
Highlights:
A riverwalk is in place
along Seaford's riverfront that will one day extend to the city's boat
launch.
Nanticoke Wildlife Area
- includes 20 miles of trails, used primarily for hunting purposes.
The Nature Conservancy
owns land along the Nanticoke in the Middleford area, upstream from
Seaford.
The Nanticoke River
Watershed Conservancy has acquired an easement to protect 190 acres
near the DuPont plant in Seaford. A system of nature trails is in
place on the property. |
James Branch
The complex of ponds
and bottomland forested corridors contains significant archaeological sites,
many rare plants, and the northernmost natural stand of bald cypress in North
America. Significant water-based recreational and environmental education
opportunities are available.
Highlights:
Trap Pond State Park
- More than 11 miles of trail are in place at the park.
James Branch Nature
Preserve - The James Branch Nature Preserve protects 5 miles of the riparian
corridor of the James Branch. A 6-mile canoe trail is in place through the
preserve, beginning at Trap Pond and ending at Records Pond near Laurel. |
American
Discovery Trail
When complete, the
American Discovery Trail (ADT) will be a continuous
"trail"
extending across the United States from coast to coast. A principal
goal of the ADT has been to connect as many of the existing local and regional trails as possible in order to create a
complete system. The ADT connects six National Scenic Trails, ten
National Historic Trails, and twenty-three National Recreational Trails.
The eastern terminus is located in Cape Henlopen State Park. The route of
the ADT through Delaware travels about 45 miles of sidewalks and rural
roads, most with paved shoulders. The trail passes through Redden State
Forest, Lewes, Milton and Bridgeville, but it mostly follows open farmland
and country roads. The ADT totals some 6800 miles in 15 states.
Broad Creek
The town of Laurel is planning a riverwalk along Broad
Creek. Plans call for the project to begin at Records Pond extending west to
Market Street Square Park linking with the downtown area west to River park.
