Sunday, November 18, 2018

Trap Pond State Park, DE



ABOUT THE PARK:
Trap Pond State Park - Delaware State Parks

 DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 38.526014, -75.481134
From the entrance road, I turned left in the lot and parked at the very far end near the maintenance area.

 TRAIL MAP:
Trap Pond State Park Trail Map - Delaware State Parks
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HIKE DISTANCE:  13.8 miles

THE HIKE:
A huge flock of birds flying over at the start of our hike.
From the parking lot the Bob Trail goes through the picnic area between the parking lot and Trap Pond but dogs are not allowed there so we headed towards the maintenance area at the far end of the parking lot towards the dam where we picked up the Bob Trail and turned left.
Trap Pond
The Bob Trail parallels Trap Pond Road briefly then turns right and cuts through the boat launch parking area,
Miles markers about every half mile.
We passed the campground which looked packed in mid-November.
Crossing the road to Cypress Point horse trailer parking; we would be returning on this road at the end of the hike.
Black-capped chickadees everywhere.
With the green American Holly trees and Loblolly pines in addition to sunshine and temps in the 50's it was easy to forget we just had a snow storm in NJ a few days prior.  It was worth the drive to get away from that.
Trails are not blazed but there are directional posts at every intersection.  We'd be coming back this way at the end of the hike to go through Cypress Point.
A long boardwalk through the swamp.
The Bob Trail is the busiest trail in the park.  In fact, it was the only trail I ever ran into other people during the entire hike.
When the Bob Trail turns right, straight ahead a short distance is ...
Bethesda Church with an old cemetery.
All children.
Back to the Bob Trail which now runs parallel to Wootten Road.
Coming out on Wooten Road, the Bob Trail crosses the bridge to the right but we turned left a short distance ...
... to the Raccoon Pond Trail on the right at the bend.
Going along Raccoon Pond.
Not another soul on this entire trail.  It was obvious it is not used much as there were minor blow downs and the trail was at times a little hard to follow.
These posts mark hunting blinds.  Although it was not easy to find out, I was able to determine prior to going that there is no hunting in state parks in Delaware on Sundays.  This is not noted on any of the signs in the park.
The trail goes through a power cut fairly close to the end.
The trail was flooded out just before Pepperbox Road where the trail ends so we turned around here.
I had noticed a clearing that looked like it might be a nice spot for a break so we headed there on the way back only to find ...
... an old cemetery!
Continuing back.
My first Golden-crowned Kinglet!
Back at Raccoon Pond.
At Wooten Road, left ...
... across the bridge ...
... where I picked up a huge wad of fishing line, surely sparing some poor animal from an awful death.
After the bridge, just beyond the trail crossing sign, a left on ...
... the Huckleberry Trail.
I could tell by the soft trail surface that this trail is not used much either.  That works for us.  We like having trails to ourselves.
A little bit of a tricky crossing ...
... before we stumbled onto another small cemetery.
The trail crosses back over Wootten Road.
Getting closer to the parking lot, we were running into more people.
At the Island Trail we turned left.
Trap Pond
Double-breasted Cormorant
When the Island Trail crossed the Bob, Trail, we turned left on the Bob Trail.
Brodie stepped off trail for some horses to pass ...
... then promptly sniffed where they had been.
Coming out on Wootten Road, we turned left across the bridge ...
... then left to continue on the Bob Trail.
Back through the swamp.
Then left on an unnamed trail towards Cypress Point.
Left on the Cypress Point Trail.
This turned out to be my favorite trail of the entire hike and again, one that appears to not be used much.
It goes long the swamp through very pretty areas.  I would have lingered longer but the sun was setting fast.
Trap Pond
Carolina Wren
The Cypress Point Trail comes out into a parking lot where we turned right ...
... to road walk ...
... to the other side of the camp store ...
... where we turned right on the Bob Trail to retrace from the beginning of the hike.
A couple of late bike riders on their way out before dark.
We made it back with just a few minutes of light to spare and almost the only car left in the lot.

Labels:

8 comments:

  1. Ken K. in NJNovember 22, 2018 at 8:55 AM

    Those Delaware State Park non-resident fees always seem a little steep to me, especially for the off-peak months. I encountered the same thing at Lum's Pond several years ago. And the park wasn't very well maintained at all, making the fees seem even more unreasonable.

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    Replies
    1. Gone Hikin'November 22, 2018 at 9:04 AM

      And I did not have exact change so had to leave $10! There are no fees after November 30 but I wanted a snow-free, mud-free hike and it was a weekend that I had the entire day to drive and hike so I paid the price.

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    2. AnonymousNovember 25, 2018 at 4:30 AM

      Yes, the fees have gone up in the past several years...used to be $3 for DE residents and $6 for non-Delaware residents (that's me!), but now it's $4/$8, respectively. I would hope that the parks are maintained too...especially for the fees being asked for, as they are _supposed_ to provide for the upkeep/maintenance of these state parks!

      While there are times I think, "Where are these fees going?", as some state parks don't seem as maintained as they should be, but overall, they are really _nice_ parks (I am from Southern NJ myself, and love visiting DE state parks from time to time), so I still don't mind supporting the state parks with the fees. I visited Lums Pond SP myself in July 2017, and thoroughly enjoyed it (even though it rained/thundered/lightninged the last half of the Swamp Forest Trail...the only trail I got to hike that day), but still got some really great pictures! :-)

      Delete
    3. Gone Hikin'November 25, 2018 at 6:59 AM

      I had set my GPS to avoid tolls so even though it took about half an hour longer each way, I saved almost $30 in tolls. That would have been a really expensive hike with the park fee added on so I feel I got a deal for $10.

      Delete
  2. DomNovember 23, 2018 at 5:01 PM

    Love all the old gravestones!

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    Replies
    1. Gone Hikin'November 23, 2018 at 6:23 PM

      So do I. So cool finding them in the woods like that.

      Delete
  3. Trekker DogNovember 24, 2018 at 6:20 PM

    I understand your desire to find snow-free hiking! Part of me would love to retire in New Hampshire in the White Mountains. I have to keep reminding myself that I don't love cold weather and snow!

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    Replies
    1. Gone Hikin'November 25, 2018 at 7:00 AM

      That's why you would need a winter home in Florida, too :)

      Delete

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