I have been a Delaware resident since the day I was born, many,many years ago. We drove to Rehoboth, we drove to Dewey, we drove to Lewes. We went to the BEACH! Now,in my older years, I am discovering places I never appreciated. Coming home from a few days in Lewes, we decided to find Prime HookRefuge. It is not easy if you are using GPS. It took us to Prime Hook Beach, but no refuge in sight. You actually have to drive to Broadkill Beach to find the entrance. Not a lot to see, at least today there was not, but the lady in the office was beyond lovely and very helpful. We walked a short path, I am on a Bald eagle hunt. No luck today, but it was so quiet and peaceful and beautiful that I am glad that we found it. We will go back and I will find an elusive eagle!!!!See more..
4.5Bethany Beach Nature Center(63 reviews) - What a great place! Saturday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
We have been coming to Bethany since I was little, now that we have a little one, I am always looking for educational/fun activities... This place was absolutely wonderful! My daughter had a great time feeding the turtles, exploring with her butterfly net and playing on the playground. You could easily spend 2-3 hours here and there are beautiful picnic tables throughout the park. The trail out to the marshes is handicap accessible and totally worth the walk! Not far. Also a couple geocaches nearby if you are into that! The staff was wonderful, friendly and very kind to my curious (touching everything) toddler. There are some really cool exhibits/stations inside the building as well. Glad we found this place! It's wonderful that this educational and historic gem is so close to town!See more..
This is a hidden gem in the mist of a populated city. The grounds are beautiful, clean and very well maintained. The Boardwalk trails are easy walks and handicap accessible. You will get lost in the quiet and tranquility of this place. You will forget that you are in Wilmington!See more..
- Open: Dawn to dusk 365 days/year - Pets: Pets must be leashed at all times! Free waste bags are located by the parking lot - Trash: Carry in/carry out. No glass - Vehicles: Non-motorized only - Hunting: No hunting is allowed at any time The James Farm Ecological Preserve is an oasis of wild land in Ocean View, Delaware, located along the southern shore of Indian River Bay — just a short drive from Bethany Beach! At this 150-acre retreat, you can relax on a calm bayside beach, observe native plants and animals, and hike three miles of trails through seven distinct habitats! In 1992, the Preserve property was given to Sussex County by the late Mary Lighthipe, a descendant of the James family who farmed the land for generations. This generous donation was made in memory of her son, Harold, on the condition that the property be used for educational and recreational purposes. The Preserve has been managed by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays on behalf of Sussex County since 1998.See more..
The DuPont Environmental Education Center is located at the 212-acre Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge in Wilmington, where the city, river and marsh meet. The center opened in 2009 and has quickly become a favorite family attraction, thanks to interactive exhibits, free admission and numerous free programs, such as daily nature walks. It is owned by the Riverfront Development Corp. of Delaware and operated by Delaware Nature Society.See more..
4.5Ashland Nature Center(40 reviews) - Great place to see some wildlife Nature & Wildlife Areas
Ashland Nature Center serves as the Delaware Nature Society’s headquarters and the hub for its education and natural resource conservation activities. The site is open to the public year-round, features an overnight lodge for school and public groups, a seasonal butterfly house, picnic area and four self-guided trails through a variety of habitats. Free and low-cost programs are offered for all ages. Enjoy the Ashland Hawk Watch during the fall raptor migration.See more..
4.5Abbott's Mill Nature Center(30 reviews) - Very interesting Saturday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
Abbott’s Mill Nature Center encompasses a picturesque pond surrounded by meadows, streams, woodlands, swamps, wetlands, a historic gristmill, and a modern education building. At the heart of Abbott’s is the 377-acre Milford Millponds Nature Preserve, where 5 miles of free trails wind their way through woodlands to meadows as wildflowers, birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and insects flourish. Additionally, our 108-acre Marvel Saltmarsh Preserve, located in the Town of Slaughter Beach, is used for seasonal education programs and hosts a new pair of nesting Ospreys. Built in 1802, and on the National Register of Historic Places, Ainsworth Abbott’s Mill is a preserved, working gristmill run solely by a water turbine, and features both a stone & roller mill operation. Public tours of the Mill are offered every 3rd Saturday, March – November, from 2 – 3:30 pm. Educational programs for the public, schools, and scouts are offered year-round for all ages. Our Visitor Center is pet friendly and offers a variety of free exhibits including an aquatic touch tank. Abbott’s serves as a partnership between the Delaware Division of Historical & Cultural Affairs, the Division of Fish & Wildlife, and the Delaware Nature Society, a state-wide, 6,000 member, non-profit organization whose mission is to improve our environment by connecting people to the natural world through education, advocacy, and conservation. DNS members receive reduced pricing for programs, free canoe rentals on Abbott’s Pond, and discounts at local retail affiliates. We are located just 4 miles from downtown Milford, DE, at 15411 Abbotts Pond Road, off Rt. 36. The Visitor Center is open year round Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, and during April – November on Saturday & Sunday as well, from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Trails are open for hiking, biking, and dog walking every day from dawn to dusk, including a 5K cross-country trail adjoined to Blair’s Pond.See more..
4.5DuPont nature center(30 reviews) - Unspoiled nature at its finest Temporarily closed - Closed until Mar 31, 2023 Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Educational sites
A part of Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the DuPont Nature Center is located in the beautiful Mispillion Harbor, where the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek meet and flow out into the Delaware Bay. The center is a science-based educational and interpretive facility with interactive exhibits designed to connect people with the Delaware Bay’s natural history and ecology.See more..
4.0Assawoman Canal(14 reviews) - Beautiful and Well Maintained Trail - Bike & Dog Friendly! Spent < 1 hour State Parks • Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Found this location by accident, but it was worth it. The trail is close to 1-mile long and it is well maintained. My wife had total knee replacement at the beginning of July and she was able to walk the segment from the parking lot to Central Avenue with no problem. The trail is bike and dog friendly. There's a paid parking lot at the trail head - I think it was very expensive, but there is a very well maintained ramp where you can launch your kayak. Parking/use fees are paid on the honor system - envelopes and a pay station is available. I wish there was a way to pay using ParkMobile or some other electronic method because I barely had enough cash on me to pay the $10 fee. The path runs along the canal and it's very peaceful. Note that there are properties along the path. There are no trash receptacles, so make sure you have a way to pack your trash with you. This is a good activity for all ages and we plan to walk the other tails that are part of the Delaware Park system.See more..
3.0Silver Lake Park(9 reviews) - Park? Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Saw the sign for the park and thought we would check out the park. Behind the sign is an elementary school and school parking lot. If you pull into the school parking lot, there is an athletic field beside the parking lot. I did NOT see an actual park with playgrounds for the kids or walking trails. Did not stay to explore any further since school is NOT out of session yet. Website says there is a public pool behind the school with daily rates $3 or you can buy a membership.See more..
4.0Coverdale Farm(7 reviews) - Perfect for families with small children Nature & Wildlife Areas
The Coverdale Farm complex at the 352-acre Burrows Run Preserve encompasses an 18th-century stone bank barn, pastures and fields, idyllic ponds and woodlands and panoramic views of rolling countryside. Programs run the gamut from cooking classes to birdwatching hikes, hayrides to sunrise yoga. Spring to fall, Farm Fun Days are held each Wednesday, offering families a chance to visit the farm animals and assist with chores.See more..
5.0Delaware Botanic Gardens(4 reviews) - Take a break from the beach & visit the gardens. Saturday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens
Opens for the season on March 16, 2023. Visit our website for days and hours of operation as well as upcoming events. Situated on 37 acres along Pepper, the Delaware Botanic Gardens strives to maintain a living natural habitat to demonstrate the vital impact that native plants have on wildlife and on people. There are five main gardens. The 2-acre Meadow Garden, designed by world-renowned Dutch Plantsman Piet Oudolf, is the featured main garden and boasts 70,000 perennial plants and grasses focused on native plants and pollinators. Next to the meadow is the Dogfish Head Learning Garden, with a wetlands pond and outdoor classroom with shade sails. Nearby is the Folly Garden, built on the site of a 20th century farmhouse. It features 37,500 bulbs and plants shaded by walnut trees. The 12-acre Woodlands garden gently slopes down to 1,000 feet of shoreline along Pepper Creek. The Knoll Garden features a beautiful native fern collection and a superb view of the creek.See more..
5.0Blackbird State Forest(2 reviews) - My new favorite place for winter running Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests
It's amazing how you can ignore what's in your own backyard, but covid prompted me to find this outdoor treasure. I started visiting in the spring to ride the approximately 10 miles of trails on my mountain bike. There are 3 loops - yellow, blue, and red. Yellow is the easiest and red is the most technical. There are some sand patches on the trails, but it's pretty minor. This is a great place to ride because the trails are not heavily traveled. There are several parking areas and the trails extend on both sides of the road - I think it's also called Blackbird Forrest road. Just be careful crossing the street as cars tend to travel fairly fast on this road. I am currently visiting to go winter running. I just love running here. It's so peaceful and the yellow trail is safe and wide. I highly recommend visiting this forrest for a stroll, a run, or even a mountain bike ride.See more..
5.0Woodland Beach Wildlife Area(1 review) - Birdwatching Nature & Wildlife Areas If you enjoy being outside, you may really like the Woodland Beach Wildlife Refuge. It is spread out in a rural part of Delaware in close proximity to the Delaware Bay. A suggestion is to use a public lavatory at a nearby business. Also, bring a trash-bag to take your trash with you. Your cellular phone may not be able to obtain a signal here. Bring water, snacks, camera, and binoculars.See more..
Although Augustine State Wildlife Management Area is listed as being located in Middletown, it is found in two sections along Route 9 both north and south of Port Penn. The preserve is managed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. There are winding trails among the marshes and stunning views of the river/Bay and Wetlands. An informative sign tells us that the area is part of the Delaware Bayshore Byway. The signs provide QRC updates on migratory and native birds. In fact, the area is called a birding "Hotspot." See more..
