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You'll feel as though you're hiking through the desert rather than beside the ocean when you take a walk on the Walking Dunes Trail at Cape Henlopen State Park.
This trail is a hidden gem within Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware. The 2.6 mile loop takes you through wooded maritime forests, salt marsh wetlands, and open sand dunes that will leave you feeling as though you've been transported to the desert. You'll be amazed when you encounter The Great Dune, Delaware's highest sand dune rising 80-feet above the ocean below. Be sure to catch a glimpse of the iconic Fire Control Towers left behind from when the state park operated as a WWII military base.
While you can access the trail from a few points within the park, the trailhead at Herring Point offers an easy starting point. Park in the Herring Point parking lot, and begin your journey in either direction from the trailhead. Stop at the Great Dune Overlook for stunning views of the sprawling sand formations.
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Hike the Walking Dunes Trail
Went here a couple weeks ago and it was phenomenal. The author of this post is right, you feel as though you're in a totally different world when you're in the dunes. The old watch towers add a bit of drama to the scene, especially if you're there for photography purposes!
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Gordons Pond Trail, Cape Henlopen SP
The 2.6 mile Gordons Pond Trail meanders through the maritime forest and salt marshes of Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware, and is a popular destination for biking, hiking, running, and bird watching. The trail was recently renovated in 2014, and now includes both a crushed gravel path and a 0.5 mile elevated boardwalk over the dunes and wetlands.  The trail is accessible from 2 loca...
Camp at Cape Henlopen State Park
Located at the point where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Henlopen is a 7,000 acre park which offers a unique combination of natural wonders and cultural history. During your stay, you can swim in the ocean waves, bike through the sand dunes, fish from the Bayside fishing pier, climb historical WWII towers, and more.  The campground is located minutes from the beach and histori...
Cape Henlopen State Park Loop
Cape Henlopen is a true gem of a park, located in Southern Delaware. The park is situated at the point where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, creating a unique combination of natural wonders and cultural history. The bay and ocean ecosystems allow for a wide array of wildlife, and during WWII, the park became a military base named Fort Miles. Today, Cape Henlopen draws millions of bea...
Hike the Pinelands Trail
There are two places you can pick up this trail in the Cape Henlopen State Park. One trailhead is located in the Fort Miles parking lot. The other trailhead, and where I usually start, is across from the Seaside Nature Center. The beginning of this trail and some places throughout can often be muddy and covered in water due to the low lying areas and surrounding bogs. It sometimes requires mane...
Kayak Cape Henlopen State Park
Cape Henlopen State Park is located at the mouth of the Delaware Bay where the Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Gaze over the sandy cape itself to see the Atlantic while paddling through the calmer bay water. During the summer months, it is common to see osprey, dolphins, or even schools of rays and skates gliding through the water below. Kayaks launch from the fishing pier beach. To access this b...
The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park
The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park is unique because the sandy peninsula separates the Delaware Bay from the Atlantic ocean, and curves in a way that the sun sets directly over the water on the Bay side even though you’re on the east coast.  On the Delaware Bay side, you'll get an excellent view of the East End Breakwater Lighthouse with the sunset. During low tide, the bay turns into a ser...