8 Things to Do When Camping at Cape Henlopen

May 9, 2023
02:02

What is Cape Henlopen:

Cape Henlopen is a Delaware state park with camping facilities located at the mouth of the Delaware Bay. The park itself contains over 6-miles of pristine coastline and culminates in a “point” where the Atlantic ocean meets the Bay. The park and surrounding areas are beautiful and diverse, and there are beaches, dunes, and maritime forests. Additionally, the proximity of the park to Lewes and Rehoboth (both fun Delaware beach towns) makes it an ideal place to spend a weekend.

Getting a campsite in Cape Henlopen State Park:

Camping reservations for Cape Henlopen can be made year-round on the Delaware State Parks Website. Although getting a reservation on a weekend in early May was difficult, the rest of the summer was booked solid. Campsites open on a rolling basis a year in advance, so if you are interested in camping on summer weekends plan in advance!

What to Expect in Cape Henlopen State Park:

Delaware State Parks are wonderful places to visit with great facilities, and Cape Henlopen is no exception. This campground has nicely sized campsites complete with picnic tables and fire rings, as well as flush toilets and showers. Although the sites weren’t particularly private and from what I could tell none of them had fantastic views – the area itself was great and we weren’t there to hang out at the campsite. There was also a general store that had trinkets as well as some staples like snacks, firewood, and (of course) ice cream.

Things to Do:

1. Bike to Rehoboth

It’s a ~ 6-mile bike ride from the park to the Rehoboth boardwalk and the first part of the ride takes you along the very scenic Gordon’s Pond trail. This trail crosses an elevated boardwalk through salt marshes, dunes, forests, and wetlands, and the last mile or so of the ride is on the road. Once in Rehoboth check out the boardwalk (and some treats like we did) or enjoy the beach

2. Look for hawks and dolphins at the Hawk Watch

There is an elevated viewing deck called the Hawk Watch where you can see for miles around. It’s a great spot for viewing birds of prey, and if you are really lucky you may catch a glimpse of some dolphins in the summer months.

3. Bike the Loop Trail around Cape Henlopen

Take a tour of the park and bike the 3.3 miles of paved (and mostly flat) trail that runs through the park. This is an excellent way to check out the park and see some of the sites including the observation tower, Fort Miles, the Fishing Pier, and the Nature Center. Even if you don’t have a bike there is a free borrow a bike option at the Nature Center.

4. Kayak in the Delaware Bay

The best place to launch a kayak in the park is from the fishing pier area. If you park in the lot and walk down the path to the left of the pier you can launch into the bay. From there you can paddle around the shoreline, under the fishing pier, out to the lighthouse or all three. Remember to keep an eye on the tides!

5. Take in a sunset at “The Point” Overlook

The Point is where the ocean meets the bay and it’s a beautiful place to take in a sunset. Also depending on the season you may also see various birds, dolphins, and seals. During the winter both the bay and ocean beaches are open for walking.

6. Spend the day at the beach

Delaware beaches are beautiful and free to the public. It’s easy to spend an afternoon or a whole day sitting on the beach or playing in the ocean. When we went in May, the water was 64 degrees F and we wore wetsuits but it was still a great time.

7. Spend some time backwater kayaking

There are several of places to kayak within a 10-mile radius of Cape Henlopen Park – we found a great list here. We paddled a trail in the direction of Oyster Rocks to Milton. The trail itself was nice and we saw a bunch of birds including some osprey. Be aware that most of these trails are in coastal water and will be impacted by the tides.

8. Check out the fishing pier

There is a quarter-mile-long fishing pier that juts out into the bay that can be accessed from the park. It’s a great place to fish, or just to walk out on and check out the bay. Also, if you have a net you can also try to catch some crabs from here – though be aware it’s a bit high for hand lines. If you don’t have equipment there is a bait and tackle shop nearby to rent everything you need to enjoy a day on the water.

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