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NatureHiking

7 Cool And Calming Hikes To Take In Delaware To Help You Reflect On The Year Ahead

Discover the best winter hikes in Delaware, featuring serene and unique trails across various state parks.

Updated Nov 18, 2022

Written by 

Kim Magaraci

It's easy to stay cooped up in the winter in Delaware, but this is the best time of year to get out and explore your state! Bundle up and find your winter hiking essentials because the best winter hikes in Delaware are calling your name.

1. Killens Pond Loop Trail, Killens Pond State Park

Snow-covered trees in a serene park, with benches and a clear blue sky in the background.
Killens Pond State Park/Facebook

Killens Pond is one of Delaware's most popular summertime destinations, thanks to its waterpark. However, if you pass on this Kent County forest in the winter, you'll be missing out on stunning and serene views.

2. Swamp Forest Trail, Lums Pond State Park

A snowy landscape featuring a picnic table by a lake, with ducks swimming in the water and trees in the background.
Lums Pond State Park/Facebook

The allegedly-haunted Swamp Forest Trail is one of the best winter hikes in Delaware. It's quiet - almost too quiet - and if you're lucky, you'll encounter horses being ridden on the nearly empty trails.

3. Alapocas Woods Trail, Alapocas Woods State Park

A frozen waterfall cascading down a rocky cliff, surrounded by snow-covered ground and bare trees.
Alapocas Run and Wilmington State Parks/Facebook

The unique Alapocas Woods Trail shows off frozen rocks and waterfalls, along with one of a kind views you won't find elsewhere in Wilmington. Visit after a cold snap to see the frozen icicles!

4. David English Trail, White Clay Creek State Park

A snowy forest scene with trees, a small creek, and snow-covered ground, creating a serene winter landscape.
White Clay Creek State Park/Facebook

White Clay Creek State Park is a natural wonder, and after a fresh snow, it's like a whole new world. Get out there and explore it!

5. Gordon's Pond Trail, Cape Henlopen State Park

A serene beach scene with sandy dunes, gentle waves, and a distant lighthouse under a cloudy sky.
Cape Henlopen State Park/Facebook

Cape Henlope State Park is the best place for a winter hike in Delaware! Explore all of Cape Henlopen's trails when nobody else is hogging the sand.

6. Hidden Pond, Brandywine Creek State Park

A snowy landscape with bare trees and a hill in the background, under a clear blue sky.
Brandywine Creek State Park/Facebook

Brandywine Creek State Park is a popular sledding spot, so if you want peace and quiet, head there early in the morning after a fresh snowfall. The untouched power is beautiful.

7. Indian River Inlet, Delaware Seashore State Park

A snowy landscape with a beach and a pier extending into the calm blue ocean under a clear sky.
Delaware Seashore State Park/Facebook

When it comes to winter hikes in Delaware, many people completely overlook Delaware Seashore State Park . Not only can you find pondside and beachside trails, but the Indian River Inlet becomes a North Pole wonderland. See for yourself after several days of freezing temperatures.

For more information on trails and routes for winter hikes in Delaware, visit the Delaware State Parks website! If you are perhaps looking for more thrilling things to do in Delaware in the winter, try snow tubing in Delaware.

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