Cape Henlopen State Park Lewes, Delaware

inshot_20160920_203548Cape 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.

The 5193-acre park contains a wealth of natural beauty. In addition to the attractive bay and ocean beaches, the Gordon’s Pond Wildlife Area features a unique saltwater Inpoundment. Along the coast, the Great Dune rises 80 feet above sea level, and further inland, the famous “walking dunes” slowly move across the pine forests. A broad salt marsh stretches along the park’s western boundary. The variety of habitats within the park make it a valuable home to many species of birds, reptiles, and mammals. During the summer, the park protects nesting areas along the coastline for piping plovers, a threatened species of shorebird.

The state’s Coastal Heritage Greenway consists of a corridor of open space running along 90 miles of coast and spanning the area between Fox Point State Park and the state line at Fenwick Island.