Walk Through Untouched Old Growth Forest At Delaware’s Barnes Woods Nature Preserve

Old-growth Forests are rare in the Mid-Atlantic region, as much of the land has been developed by loggers, trappers, and developers since the 1600s when Europeans began to settle the region. You can, however, find a small patch of old-growth forest in Delaware, if you know where to look! The Barnes Woods Nature Preserve is a hidden gem tucked away in Sussex County, and it's the perfect place to go for a relaxing walk in the woods.

You'll find the beautiful Barnes Woods Nature Preserve off of Woodland Road in Seaford. It's close to the Nanticoke River and its tributaries. It's a hidden gem - hardly anyone knows that it is there!

Please note that there is no designated parking lot, and visitors must park off the side of the road.

The preserve has been created to protect a 23-acre oak-pine forest that hasn't been touched in well over 100 years. While research dating back to the early days is harder to track, it is likely that this patch was set aside as a preserve as early as the 1800s.

A landowner named William Neal stated in his 1834 will that the land was not to be developed or cleared, but rather set aside for his daughter.

There are more than half a dozen tree species here, and many are common in the coastal plain soils of Delaware. The taller canopy trees include southern red oak, American beech, mockernut hickory, towering white oak, and Delaware's favorite, the loblolly pine.

You'll find beautiful dogwood trees flowering here in the spring and summer, fragrant sassafras, and even American holly in the understory.

The forest was originally home to the Nentego (Nanticoke) people and clearly has been cared for over centuries. Come take a walk in the woods and enjoy the sound of silence!

You'll find more than a mile of trail winding through this forest. This may be the most peaceful trail in Delaware, and it's a lovely spot to watch the seasons change.

For more information about the Barnes Woods Preserve, visit the Old Growth Forest Network website, here.