The Small-Town State Park in Delaware Locals Want to Keep to Themselves

Delaware is home to 17 state parks, some of which get crowded and busy, especially during the summer, while others are lesser known. Off the beaten path is a small-town state park in Delaware where quiet reigns, providing a true nature escape for locals, who would love nothing more than to keep it a closely guarded secret. Holts Landing State Park is on the coast, but unlike Cape Henlopen and Delaware Seashore State Parks, it remains a relatively hidden gem along the First State's coast. Are you ready to disconnect for a few hours for some solitude at a quiet state park in Delaware?

Why This Small-Town State Park Stands Out in Delaware

Holts Landing State Park is considered a quiet, hidden coastal gem offering recreation both on and off the water. But it doesn't see the crowds that other coastal state parks like Cape Henlopen and Delaware Seashore State Parks experience. So, if you want a more tranquil nature experience, visit Holts Landing instead.

Located along Indian River Bay, Holts Landing is barely over 200 acres, making it Delaware's smallest state park. Aside from its small size, this stunning coastal gem stands out for its varied landscape of maritime forest, intertidal zone, salt marsh, and fields. It's also home to the only designated crabbing pier in the state. There are so many ways to spend a day exploring and enjoying this family-friendly park, and it may be the perfect destination for your next nature outing. Best of all, it's rarely crowded.

What You’ll Experience at Holts Landing State Park

As a lesser-known park in Delaware, Holts Landing offers a wide variety of ways to enjoy the great outdoors with more solitude. Feel like going out on the bay? Launch a kayak, canoe, or a stand-up paddleboard and paddle your way through the calm waters of Indian River Bay. If you're spending a day at the park with the family, take the 1.3-mile Seahawk Nature Trail through the forest, meadow, and salt marsh. This trail is an ADA-accessible loop with opportunities to view birds and other wildlife. You can also add the Seahorse Trail Loop to the hike, making it 1.8 miles long.

Holts Landing is also a great state park for fishing, whether from a boat (there's a boat ramp to launch your watercraft) or from the fishing pier. The state's only official crabbing pier is located at Holts Landing State Park, and families love crabbing and clamming from it. At 220 feet long, there's plenty of room, and it is shared with anglers. Just make sure you have a fishing license, whether fishing or crabbing.

Local Tips for Visiting

While a hidden state park in Delaware, Holts Landing State Park can get busy at certain times of the year, especially on weekends during the summer months and during its popular summer concert series, with live music on Tuesdays starting at 6 p.m. To avoid any crowds during the summer, visit in the off-season, on weekdays, or on cooler days. However, to take advantage of the warmer weather, but when it's not too hot and humid yet, visit between April and early summer.

What to Know Before You Go

If you plan on fishing or crabbing at Holts Landing State Park, make sure you have a valid fishing license. Crabbing is limited to two crab pots per person, and gear such as crab traps, dip nets, and seine nets can be used. Crab pots are not allowed between December 1 and the end of February. Visit the Delaware State Parks website for the fishing, crabbing, and clamming rules.

Are you ready to spend time at one of Delaware's lesser-known state parks? Holts Landing State Park isn't the only underrated state park in Delaware. For another peaceful spot, especially for hiking, biking, and its amenities, visit Bellevue State Park in Wilmington. Around the country, discover the top secret nature spots in the USA.