CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK
Cape Henlopen's beaches attract thousands of visitors who enjoy ocean swimming and sunbathing. Two designated swimming beaches provide lifeguard patrols between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. Umbrellas can be rented during the summer. The northern swimming area also features a modern bath house with showers, changing rooms, and a food concession.
The park's open spaces feature many other activities. A picnic pavilion and the "Officer's Club" building can both be reserved for group events. An 18-hole disc golf course encourages friendly competition, and basketball courts promote more active exercise. Winter hunting is permitted in some areas of the park; a hunting permit is required, and information can be obtained from the Park Office. Annual events such as the Kite Festival and the Halloween Spook Trail are family favorites. The park also conducts a variety of entertaining recreational programs, including natural history lectures, outdoor concerts, seaside seining, and birdwatching, to name but a few.
This park was once a military base during World War II. In 1964, it became public land for recreational use and conservation purposes. It covers over 5,000 acres of beaches, dunes and forests with diverse wildlife habitats. The area is known for its historical significance as the first publicly used lands in America's "First State".
- Tent and RV Camping: The park offers 150 campsites, some with water hookups for tents or recreational vehicles.
- Cabins: Six cabins are available year-round; each sleeps six people.
- Youth Group Camping Area: Special area designated for youth groups like scouts or school trips.
- Walking Dune Campground: This campground is located near the beach and has a bathhouse facility nearby.
- Pine Tree Campground: A more secluded camping option surrounded by pine trees offering privacy to campers.
Cape Henlopen State Park offers guarded ocean swimming between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Designated swimming beaches have lifeguards on duty for safety during peak summer months. Unguarded areas are available but swim at your own risk outside of designated zones or off-season. The park also features a bathhouse with showers, changing rooms, and restrooms near the main beach area.
For those who prefer calmer waters, there's bay-side swimming in the Delaware Bay where waves tend to be gentler than the Atlantic Ocean side; however, these areas are not patrolled by lifeguards.
Kayaking and paddleboarding provide alternative water activities if you're looking to explore beyond traditional swimming options within Cape Henlopen's boundaries.
Visitors can enjoy surf fishing, pier fishing, and kayak angling. Common catches include striped bass, flounder, bluefish, and tautog.
Cape Henlopen State Park is located near Cape May, Dewey Beach and Georgetown
Cape Henlopen State Park offers scenic picnic areas with tables and grills. Pavilions are available for rent; reservations recommended.
Explore the scenic Junction & Breakwater Trail, stretching 6 miles to Rehoboth Beach through coastal marshes and pine forests. The Gordons Pond Trail offers a 3-mile ride with stunning views of wetlands and ocean dunes. For an off-road experience, tackle the Pinelands Nature Trail's sandy stretches amidst a maritime forest setting.
The Bike Loop covers over three miles around the park perimeter; it's perfect for families seeking leisurely rides with diverse landscapes. Don't miss out on connecting trails that lead you past historical sites like Fort Miles or to secluded fishing spots.
For those without bikes, rentals are conveniently available near trailheads during peak seasons-offering various types including tandems and children's models. Always remember: helmets ensure safety while cruising these paths teeming with natural beauty and local wildlife encounters.
Cape Henlopen has many year-round hiking and biking opportunities. Experience the park?s scenic and ever-changing landscape ? and get a lesson in history ? along the three-mile-long paved trail that loops the park. Take a trail break and climb to the top of the World War II Observation Tower, where the 360-degree views are spectacular. Or take a short climb to the top of a former military bunker to view the dynamic action along the Atlantic coastline. Explore the coastal environment along the Seaside or the Pinelands Nature Trails, or hike the six miles of beach along the Atlantic Ocean.
Birding enthusiasts can explore diverse habitats, including maritime forests, dunes, and beaches. Migratory birds frequent the area during spring and fall migrations. The park is a prime spot for observing shorebirds like piping plovers and red knots. Raptors such as ospreys and hawks are also common sights overhead.
The Gordon's Pond Trail offers excellent birdwatching opportunities with waterfowl sightings in its salt marshes. Seaside Nature Center provides binoculars for visitors to view nesting purple martins up close.
Year-round residents include northern cardinals, Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, among others.
Visitors might catch glimpses of rare species or participate in organized bird walks led by experts.
Directions from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
- Start on I-95 S towards Delaware.
- Take exit 4A to merge onto DE-1 S/US13-S toward Dover.
- Continue straight for about an hour and a half.
From Baltimore, Maryland:
- Begin by heading east on US40-E/E Pulaski Hwy.
- Merge with I95-N via the ramp to New York.
- Use right lane to take exit 4A for DE1-S toward Christiana/Mall Rd/Dover
- Keep left at fork in road; follow signs for Route 7 South/Rte.58 West Churchmans Crossing Mall Road/SR273 W SR7S
If coming from Washington D.C.:
- Get started going northeast on Constitution Ave NW/U.S.-50 E towards First St NE
- Turn slight right onto U.S.-301 N/U.S.-50 E/New York Avenue Northeast (Crossing into Maryland)
- Stay straight until you reach MD404E
For those traveling from Virginia Beach, VA:
- Head north-east along Atlantic Avenue
- Make a sharp turn left after passing Neptune's Park
- Follow Shore Drive till it merges with Northampton Boulevard
Once near Cape Henlopen State Park:
- Look out for Lewes Georgetown Highway / Savannah Road signboard
- Proceed down this route which will lead directly into park entrance