The Hidden Woodland Beach In Delaware Will Take You A Million Miles Away From It All
The small community of Woodland Beach, Delaware was once a thriving town, with amusement rides, restaurants and bars. There was even a famous roller coaster that took riders out over the bay! During the Hurricane of 1878, though, all of that changed. A massive tidal wave generated in the bay and took out over 35 miles of coast, from north of Collins Beach to down below Woodlands Beach. Neither town ever fully recovered from the devastation.
Today, Woodland Beach is a small community in Smyrna, renowned throughout the state by fishermen, and not many others. It’s kind of a well-kept secret – you’d never read about Woodland Beach on a list of the best beach towns in Delaware, but it certainly deserves a mention. If you’re looking for a quiet maritime escape to get away from it all, take a short drive through the marsh, out on a literal road to nowhere, and soak up the sun on what will feel like your own private beach.
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Drive east on Delaware Route 6 until you can't drive any further.
DE 6 ends, quite literally, at the water. You'll end up at a small paved parking lot at the Woodland Beach Wildlife Management Area, a small beach that's technically in Smyrna, even though it's about 10 miles from downtown.
A small community of residents still call Woodland Beach their home.
You can see houses that line the shore on the drive in to Woodland Beach - these Delawareans certainly know how to settle down away from the crowds and noise of city life.
Plenty of marsh grass, weeds and plants can be found along the border between asphalt and sand.
Woodland is an unguarded beach, so I can't recommend swimming from the beach. However, the water is usually calm (except for when a storm is rolling in!) so it is perfect to walk along the surf and get your feet wet.
It's also an amazing place to collect jewelry-grade sea glass.
Local Artist Wendy Miller-Ferguson made this gorgeous necklace out of sea glass found at Woodland Beach. Many sea glass artists come to Woodland for the high quality glass that washes up on the shore. It's certainly a great place to go treasure hunting.
The Fishing Pier is what brings the most traffic to Woodland Beach.
An old wooden pier was replaced with a modern steel pier, and it's one of the nicest fishing piers in Delaware. Woodland Beach is renowned for its fishing.
The Pier stays lit at night, and you can fish at any hour.
If you're looking for a quiet place to drop a line and relax under the stars, Woodland Beach is amazing. Plus, because it's in the middle of the 6,000 acre Wildlife Management Area, the light pollution is minimal and the stars are incredible.
Crabbing is another popular activity at Woodland Beach.
Delaware Blue Crabs are plentiful, so grab your crab traps and baskets and get ready for your summer crab bake. You're sure to bring in enough crab to feed a crowd.
If your crab traps come up empty, you can still admire some crabby critters
Woodland Beach is an extremely popular spot for Horseshoe Crabs to gather, mate, eat, and live. Don't let the creatures freak you out, though, and be sure to help them out if you find them on their backs, or stuck on the rocks. They're a vital part of the Delaware Bay ecosystem!
Of course, one of the best reasons to go to Woodland Beach is to enjoy solitude while the sun sets or rises
The view from the beach is incredible during both sunsets and sunrises. Local fisherman revere this spot for their late night fishing excursions partially because of the beauty that comes from a sunrise over the Delaware Bay.
The Steel Pier makes for a great photography subject during sunrises and sunsets - the leading lines make you feel like you could walk right into the frame.
Delaware has so many great beaches that if Woodland isn’t your idea of a great getaway, you’ve got so many other options. Check out our list of Top Delaware Beaches for more ideas to make the rest of your summer amazing.
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Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
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