Field Trip: Biking Around Rehoboth, Delaware

The 2.6-mile Gordons Pond Trail — for bicycling, walking, and running — is in Cape Henlopen State Park, between Lewes and Rehoboth, Delaware, along the perimeter at times of the 900-acre Gordons Pond, a salt lagoon. Paved mainly with loose but level crushed stone and extending from the parking lot at Cape Henlopen State Park beach ($5 parking fee in-state, $10 fee out-of-state plates, no fee for people biking or walking in without a car) to the 1.6-mile Walking Dune Trail near Herring Point, the trail also features an elegant, wavy elevated boardwalk. Gordons Pond Trail is the newest part (dedicated June 2014) of a 15-mile regional trail system connecting the two towns, along with the 5-mile Junction & Breakwater Trail that takes you through housing developments, fields that will soon be housing developments, and some woods. Within the 5,193-acre Cape Henlopen State Park are beaches, surf-fishing areas and a fishing pier, a Seaside Nature Center, a campground, disc golf facilities, historic Fort Miles, and other trails including a 2-mile Pinelands Nature Trail, some spur trails, and a lookout tower.

We biked most of these other trails during three days late July last year and three days in mid-June this year, as well as through Lewes last July. We also walked part of the Gordons Pond Trail with my sister on our last day at the beach this year, an overcast, cool, threatening-rain day.

Photos are from late July 2017 and mid-June 2018.

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TRAILS AND VIEWS 

Entrance from parking lot at Cape Henlopen State Park in Rehoboth Beach:

GordonsPondTrailsignHenopenDelaware26July2017

The beach at Cape Henlopen SP parking lot, around 11 a.m. on an overcast day this June:

beachHenlopentowerswindrainGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018HenlopenBeachalmostemptyGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018

Trail and views near Gordons Pond:

grassesmarshGordonsPondTrail18June2018
18 June 2018
marshGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
26 July 2017
bluebikeGordonsPondTrail18June2018
rental bike, 18 June 2018
biketrailgrassesmarshGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018

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These two were taken a few days apart:

grassesmarshskybestGordonsPondTrail18June2018
18 June 2018
grassespondGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
22 June 2018

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marshyellowalgaeskybestGordonsPondTrail18June2018
18 June 2018
grassesmarshwateryellowalgaeGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018
TombikingtrailGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018
biketrailgrassesmarshyellowskyGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
28 July 2017
grassesmarshyellowskybGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
26 July 2017
meadowGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
26 July 2017
yellowgreenalgaemarshGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018

Beach Guard Towers:

standingguardsignGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
sign about the towers on the beach: they were the “eyes for the guns” at nearby Fort Miles in World War II
marshyellowalgaeskyHenlopentowerGordonsPondTrail18June2018
18 June 2018
grassespondHenlopentoursGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
22 June 2018
HenlopentowersskygrassesGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
26 July 2017
grassesmarshyellowtowerskyGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
28 July 2017

Boardwalk:

boardwalkbridgedunesGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
26 July 2017
CharliebikingbridgeGordonsPondTrail20June2018
friend on boardwalk, 20 June 2018
fencedunesGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
dunes from boardwalk, 26 July 2017

Herring Point terminus:

trailsignalongGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
trail sign near Herring Point, 26 July 2017
bikefixitstationGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
bike fix-it station (one of three along trail) at Herring Park, 26 July 2017

Sidetrails: Walking Dune Trail, Salt Marsh Spur, other trails, plus side trips to Fort Miles, fishing pier, climbable observation tower

Near Campground:

StayonTrailLetNaturesSoundsPrevailsignsGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE21June2018

Walking Dune trail:

walkingduneoverlooksignGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
sign, 28 July 2017
sidetrailTomGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE21June2018
spouse on Walking Dune Trail, 21 June 2018
sidetrailpathtreesGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE21June2018
Walking Dune Trail, 21 June 2018
duneswalkingtrailGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
Walking Dune Trail, 26 July 2018

Salt Marsh spur trail:

saltmarshspurtrailbGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
Salt Marsh Spur trail, 26 July 2017
saltmarshspurtrailGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
Salt Marsh Spur trail, 26 July 2017
signDelawareschangingshorelinesaltmarshspurtrailGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
sign about Delaware’s changing shoreline, along the Salt Marsh Spur, 26 July 2018
saltmarshviewGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
view of salt marsh, 26 July 2017

(climbable) Observation Tower:

ArmyObservationTowersignGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
sign at the observation tower, 26 July 2017
stairsupobservationtowerGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
start of the stairs up the climbable observation tower, 26 July 2017
guardtowervulturesGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
vultures on observation tower, 28 July 2017
viewferryguardtowerfromobservationtowerGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
view of the Cape May-Lewes ferry and a guard tower from the observation tower, 26 July 2017

Fort Miles:

viewmilitarybarracksfromobservationtowerGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
view of the military barracks at Fort Miles from the observation tower, 26 July 2017
capehenlopenstateparksignGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
sign at Fort Miles, 28 July 2017
oceanviewGordonsPondTrail20June2018
ocean view from Fort Miles, 20 June 2018

Lighthouse View Bait & Tackle Store and fishing pier:

LighthouseViewBaitTacklestoreFishingPierGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
Lighthouse View Bait & Tackle Store at the fishing pier, 28 July 2017

baitandtacklebloodworms24hoursGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July201724HourFrozenBaitVendingMachineFishingPierGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017ColdDrinksBloodwormssignsGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017

browngullfishingpierbGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
gull at pier, 28 July 2017
ternbirdclosechainlinkfencefishingpierGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
tern, fishing pier, 28 July 2017
laughinggulllightfishingpierlookingGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
laughing gull on a light at the fishing pier, 26 July 2017
LighthousefromfishingpierGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
lighthouse view from fishing pier, 28 July 2017

Trails & Views along Junction & Breakwater Trail (all in July 2017):

TombikeRehobothmileagemarkerGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017TombikinghthroughhousingdevelopmentGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017signSenatorshousingdevelopment500to900thousanddollarLewesGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017ShowfieldnewhousingdevelopmentfieldGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017soybeanfieldirrigationGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017HawkseyehousingdevelopmentmilliondollarhomesLewesGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017trailbridgeGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017TombikingwoodedtrailGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017

In Lewes (all July 2017):

EastofMauishophighwayLewesGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017
East of Maui shop on highway into town
biketrailsignforCapeMayLewesFerryGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
bike trail sign for the ferry
CapeMayLewesFerryBuildingGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
Cape May-Lewes ferry building
LewesCapeMayFerrykayaksailboarderGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
the ferry itself

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PLANTS

grassesorangetuftsGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
Panicum sp. (probably P. amarum var. amarulum – Dune panic grass), 28 July 2017
maybecentaureapurpleflowerbestGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
some kind of centaurea (maybe C. stoebe), 26 July 2017
thistlebudGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
thistle bud, 22 June 2018
hibiscusGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
hibiscus (rose-mallow) blooming, 26 July 2017
hibiscusbudsGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
hibiscus (rose-mallow) buds, 26 July 2017
whitehibiscusmallowGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
white hibiscus (rose-mallow), 26 July 2017
pinkhibiscusblackswallowtailbutterflyGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
pink hibiscus  (rose-mallow) with black-form swallowtail butterfly, 26 July 2017
pokeweedshrubGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
pokeweed shrub, 28 July 2017
pokeweedpurplepinkstemcloseGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
closer view of pokeweed, 28 July 2017
sassafrasstreeleavesGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
sassafras tree leaves, 26 July 2017
mulleinbloomingGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE21June2018
mullein blooming, 21 June 2018
whiteyarrowpinkmilkweedflowersGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE21June2018
yarrow and milkweed, 21 June 2018
milkweedfloweringGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE21June2018
milkweed flowering with small butterfly, 21 June 2018
pinkwhitemorninggloryflowerGordonsPondTrail20June2018
pink morning glory, 20 June 2018
yellowflowerspricklypearcactusGordonsPondTrail20June2018
yellow prickly pear flowers, 20 June 2018
cactuswhitepinebGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
prickly pear cactus and pine sapling, 28 July 2017
VirginiacreepervinecedarGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017
Virginia creeper vine in cedar tree, 30 July 2017
fluffygrassGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
foxtail millet (Setaria sp.), 26 July 2017

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ANIMALS (besides gull, terns shown above):

Birds:

willetmaybeyellowlegsbGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
greater yellow legs, 26 July 2017
snowyegretfootliftedGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017
snowy egret with yellow foot showing, 30 July 2017
snowyegretgrassesbGordonsPondTrail20June2018
snowy egret, 20 June 2018
sanderlingwalkingreflectionGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
sanderling, 26 July 2017
greatblueherongrassGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
great blue heron in grasses, 28 July 2017

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Green Heron:

greenherononmoveGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
22 June 2018
greenheronbestGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018
greenheronclosegrassGordonsPondTrailHenlopen28July2017
28 July 2017
greenheronanothershrubbGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
26 July 2017

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greategretGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
great egret, 26 July 2017
whiteegretfishingGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
great egret fishing, 26 July 2017
skimmerspixilatedmarshGordonsPondTrail20June2018
skimmers (at a distance), 20 June 2018

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Willet:

thirdbrownwhitebirdruffledGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018
thirdbrownwhitebirdsidebGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018
thirdbrownwhitebirdhuntingreflectionGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018 — see the movement in the water?
anotherwhitebrownbirdbGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018
brownwhitebirdtreebestGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018 — apparently willets are known for hanging out in trees during breeding season
brownwhitebirdlongbillwaterfacebestGordonsPondTrail20June2018
20 June 2018
maybewilletwingsupstripesGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
22 June 2018 — stripes under wings are definitive

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breedingcommonternbirdGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
breeding common tern, 26 July 2017
gullssnowyegretsshorebirdsGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
laughing gulls, snowy egrets, sandpipers, 26 July 2017
redwingedblackbirdbeakopenGordonsPondTrail20June2018
red-winged blackbird, 20 June 2018
bluegrosbeakbirdbestGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
blue grosbeak, 22 June 2018

Insects:

blackformswallowtailGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
black-form swallowtail, 26 July 2017
monarchbutterflywingsopenmilkweedflowerGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
monarch butterfly on milkweed, 22 June 2018
brownwoollybearcaterpillarGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
brown woolly caterpillar, 22 June 2018
milkweedbuginsectGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE21June2018
milkweed bug, 21 June 2018

Non-Birds and Non-Insects:

toadalongsideGordonsPondTrailHenlopen30July2017
toad, 30 July 2017
blackratsnakelongpathGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
rat snake, 22 July 2018
blackratsnakeundersidepathGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
another view of the rat snake, 22 July 2018
crabmudGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE21June2018
crab in the mud, 21 June 2018
brownpatternedslugGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
slug, 22 June 2018
deermouthopenGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
deer along bike trail, 26 July 2017
deerantlersfarawaywalkingtrailbGordonsPondTrailHenopenDelaware26July2017
deer with antlers along Walking Dune Trail, 26 July 2017
MelanieMollyobservationdeckGordonsPondTrailRehobothDE22June2018
with my sister on Gordons Pond Trail observation platform, 22 June 2018

 

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“… nature photographs downright bore me for some reason or other. I think: ‘Oh, yes. Look at that sand dune. What of it?'” — Walker Evans (photographer during the Great Depression)

(Obviously, not my sentiment!)

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