- Length / route type: 3.2 miles one-way (point-to-point); roughly 6.4 miles round-trip if you turn back from either end
- Surface: crushed stone and elevated boardwalk
- Difficulty: rated easy, per Delaware Greenways
- Parking and fees: two trailheads. The Herring Point lot (Dune Road, Lewes) is inside Cape Henlopen State Park and requires a park entrance fee; the Gordons Pond Day Use Area lot (Ocean Drive, Rehoboth Beach) sits at the southern end. Current fee rates are on the Delaware State Parks page
- Restrooms / facilities: pavilion at the Whiskey Beach / North Shores southern terminus; bike self-service stations with pumps and tools at both the Herring Point rest area and the park entrance off Ocean Avenue in north Rehoboth Beach
- Dogs: allowed on a leash no longer than six feet, per Delaware State Parks policy; owners must clean up after pets
- Official source: Delaware Greenways
- Last verified: 2026-06
The Gordons Pond Trail connects Lewes and Rehoboth Beach through Cape Henlopen State Park. It passes a 900-acre saltwater lagoon, a half-mile elevated boardwalk over wetlands, and two WWII-era observation towers visible across the dunes. It’s the wilder of the two point-to-point trails in this park network, with homes never close and the coastal scenery carrying most of the walk.
Distances, surfaces, parking and seasonal notes below are drawn from Delaware Greenways and TrailLink.
What you’ll see on the route
The trail runs south-to-north from the Gordons Pond Day Use Area near Rehoboth Beach up to the Herring Point parking area in Lewes. For its full length, it skirts the western side of a 900-acre saltwater lagoon called Gordons Pond, the centerpiece of a nearly 5,200-acre wildlife area established in 1978, per Delaware Greenways.
According to TrailLink, the path winds through coastal maritime forest, grassy marshes, and sandy dunes. Developments between Rehoboth Beach and Lewes are visible in places, but the trail reads as wilder than the Junction and Breakwater Trail running parallel to the west. The coastal dunes push homes back and there’s more open sky.
The northern end includes a half-mile elevated boardwalk over wetlands, designed with water-draining, slip-resistant deck panels and side railings, per a TrailLink reviewer. The boardwalk passes through sensitive coastal forest and opens onto two scenic overlooks with bike hitching posts. One overlook, about a mile north of Whiskey Beach, is ADA-accessible.
The observation deck near the southern end gives views across both the pond and the Atlantic Ocean.
Looking east across Gordons Pond from the trail, two historic WWII-era observation towers are visible on the beach. An interpretive sign on the trail explains their history. Cape Henlopen is the site of Fort Miles, established in 1941 and key to coastal defense through the early 1970s.
The Fort Miles Historical Area today includes a museum, a gun battery, six barracks buildings, a fire control tower, and an artillery park, per Delaware Greenways. Numerous bunkers, concrete towers, and a pier remain, per the Cape Henlopen State Park Wikipedia article.
At the northern Herring Point end, the Great Dune rises 80 feet above sea level, per Delaware Greenways. The original Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was constructed on it between 1767 and 1769, and the dune’s movement eventually brought the lighthouse down in 1926.
Parking, access, and connections
Two trailheads, two different fee situations. The Herring Point lot sits inside Cape Henlopen State Park on Dune Road in Lewes, so a park pass or entrance fee applies there. The beach at Herring Point is also a popular surfing spot.
The Gordons Pond Day Use Area lot is on Ocean Drive in Rehoboth Beach, at the opposite end of the trail. Delaware Greenways flags fees only at the Herring Point end; current rates are on the Delaware State Parks page.
After completing the trail at the southern end, you can follow Ocean Avenue south to Surf Avenue and continue to the Rehoboth boardwalk and downtown, per Delaware Greenways.
The trail connects into a wider network. At the northern end it meets the Walking Dunes Trail, which adds two more miles through the park. At the junction with Dune Road, a paved Cape Henlopen Bike Loop (3.3 miles) ties in. Near the Biden Center, a Salt Marsh Spur heads west into tidal marsh, per TrailLink.
Combined with the Junction and Breakwater Trail, the two can form a loop of roughly 18 miles, according to a TrailLink user. The trail guide for the Junction and Breakwater Trail covers the parallel route and its additional parking options.
For context on where Gordons Pond fits among all county trails, see the Sussex County hiking guide.
Beach wheelchairs are available at Gordons Pond and Cape Henlopen Main Beach (call 302-645-8983), per Delaware State Parks. The park is open sunrise to sunset; park office hours vary by season, per the Delaware State Parks page.
A migration superhighway in a state park
Gordons Pond is one of only four places in North America considered a waterfowl migration superhighway, per Delaware Greenways. The pond draws waterfowl throughout the winter, fall, and spring migration seasons, per TrailLink.
Osprey nests and bald eagles occupy the pine and oak trees lining the path. TrailLink reviewers have reported snowy egrets (black legs, bright yellow feet) in the pond and herons along the water edge in January.
The park holds site 16 on the Delaware Birding Trail, a designated list of the 27 best birding sites in the state, per the Delaware Birding Trail website. Delaware is recognized internationally for its bay shoreline shorebird concentrations. The state has been called the Shorebird Capital of the world, per that same source.
Cape Henlopen State Park is also home to three endangered species: the black skimmer, the least tern, and the piping plover.
Sussex County’s best outdoor spots are public land; you just need to know they exist.
Seasonal notes and recent repairs
Check conditions before you go. Sections of the trail can close seasonally for shorebird nesting or for hunting periods; TrailLink recommends checking with Cape Henlopen State Park before visiting. In spring 2026, a stretch north of the Gordons Pond Parking Area closed for excavation and repair after high-tide damage.
The trail fully reopened on May 21, 2026, per Delaware Greenways. The repairs covered the section from the Gordons Pond Parking Area to the southern limit of the elevated walkway from Herring Point.
A 2023 TrailLink reviewer noted that the crushed stone surface in some areas had dried and become crumbly. The reviewer suggested the trail was due for re-grading after nearly a decade since opening. The 2026 repair work addressed high-tide damage, not general surface maintenance, so surface conditions may vary by section.
The pond itself has a seasonal pattern worth knowing. A May 2018 TrailLink visitor reported the pond was dry and foul-smelling on their visit. Seasonal drying can affect the character of the walk significantly. The lagoon views that make this trail distinctive may look quite different depending on timing.
Fall and winter bring the birding peak: waterfowl stage here during migration, and spring adds nesting activity. Summer visits are possible but the trail is largely exposed, so early morning starts matter more in July and August.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Gordons Pond Trail?
The one-way distance is 3.2 miles, point-to-point between the Herring Point lot and the Gordons Pond Day Use Area, per TrailLink. A different figure of 5.2 miles appears on Delaware Greenways, likely including connectors or counting a different segment endpoint. TrailLink reviewers report 6.4 miles for the full out-and-back.
The practical answer for planning: 3.2 miles one way, about 6 to 6.5 miles if you walk out and back.
Do you have to pay to use the Gordons Pond Trail?
The trail is part of Cape Henlopen State Park. The Herring Point parking lot at the northern end requires a park entrance fee. The Gordons Pond Day Use Area lot in Rehoboth Beach is at the southern end; Delaware Greenways flags fees only at the Herring Point end. Check the Delaware State Parks site for current rates before you go.
Are dogs allowed on the Gordons Pond Trail?
Yes. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet, per Delaware State Parks policy. Owners are required to clean up after pets and must not leave them unattended. Note that Delaware State Parks’ swimming beaches have separate seasonal restrictions; check the park’s current rules if you’re combining the trail with a beach visit.
Is the Gordons Pond Trail good for birding?
It’s one of the county’s best birding locations. Gordons Pond is one of only four North American waterfowl migration superhighways, per Delaware Greenways. The park is site 16 on the Delaware Birding Trail, with ospreys and bald eagles in the trees lining the path.
Fall, winter, and spring are the peak seasons; waterfowl use the pond heavily during migration.
Can you combine Gordons Pond Trail with other trails in Cape Henlopen?
Yes. The northern end connects to the Walking Dunes Trail for two more miles, and the paved Cape Henlopen Bike Loop (3.8 miles) ties in at the Dune Road junction. Combined with the Junction and Breakwater Trail, the two trails form a loop of roughly 18 miles. The full network picture is in the Sussex County hiking guide.
Photos: Andrew Parlette (CC BY 2.0) and Kej605 (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
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Last verified: 2026-06.