Gone Hikin': DE Cape Henelopen State Park

Showing posts with label DE Cape Henelopen State Park. Show all posts

Friday, November 18, 2016

Cape Henelopen State Park, DE - Fort Miles/Pinelands Nature Trail

ABOUT THE PARK:
Cape Henelopen State Park - Delaware State Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 38.77702, -75.09206

Fort Miles Historic Area Parking Lot

TRAIL MAP:
Cape Henelopen State Park Tail Map - Delaware State Parks

HIKE DISTANCE:
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge: 5 miles
   hiked together with (.7 mile drive away):
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge - Pine Grove Trail: 1.25 miles
   hiked together with (15.7 mile drive away):
Cape Henelopen State Park - Herring Point/Gordon's Pond Trail: 3 miles
   hiked together with (.9 mile drive away):
Cape Henelopen State Park, DE - Fort Miles/Pinelands Nature Trail: 2.25 miles

THE HIKE:

I didn't even realize pets weren't allowed on this trail until I started but I hadn't planned on Shawnee doing it with me anyway. She had already hiked 9.25 miles and her eyes started closing the minute she got in the car. I don't make a habit of leaving her in the car but it was cool and the sun was setting so I let her rest while I tried to power hike this 1.5 mile trail.

Did I say power hike? In ankle deep soft sand?

Fortunately by the time the trail splits into a loop, the surface hardens and the going gets faster and easier.

Sun setting, must hurry!

The woods really are gorgeous when the sun is going down.

Careful! Stay on this side where there is no hunting!

What? Beach access? Should I? Oh heck yeah, I'll make it fast...

More ankle deep soft sand slowing me down.

Coming up over the dunes ...

Oh WOW! Much more stunning in person. The colors were incredible and even an ugly old ship looked beautiful in the setting sunlight.

OK, enough now, I REALLY must get going before it is pitch black out.

Back on the trail ...

Finished the loop and back to the parking lot.

I think she was tired enough not to care that I went without her.

Just a quick jog over to Fort Miles for a peak.

There is much more to it but it really was getting too dark so back to the car.

It was pitch black before we got out of the park. Perfect timing. Because I felt guilty for leaving her in the car while I hiked we stopped at Burger King on the way home.

Coffee for me and cheeseburger-hold-the-bun for Shawnee!

This was the highlight of her day.

Cape Henelopen State Park, DE - Herring Point/Gordon's Pond Trail

ABOUT THE PARK:
Cape Henelopen State Park - Delaware State Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 38.76604, -75.08464

Huge parking lot across from Herring Point.

TRAIL MAP:
Gordon's Pond - Delaware State Parks

The trails start about the center of the far side of the parking lot.

This was the trail I had intended to hike. Although it was shown as being in a no hunting zone on the hunting map, apparently that is no longer the case. I should have called to check. Lesson learned.

Instead we took the Gordons Pond Trail which I figured would be more crowded. It was.

But friends were made along the way and Shawnee acquired a slew of new admirers and wheelchair fans.

The start of the boardwalk on Gordons Pond Trail.

A view of the Atlantic Ocean in the distance to the left.

Bicycles pass almost continuously which makes it really hard to take pictures.

Looks like it is held up with toothpicks but the boardwalk is actually very sturdy.

Crushed gravel multi-use trail at the end of the boardwalk.

Oh my, who have we here?

That's a peregrine falcon checking us out.

This is how close he was and he stayed put...

... even stopped worrying about us ...

... until we got around to the other side and snagged ...

... a clear shot of his band!

UPDATE: I reported the band to the USGS and received this information on 12/9/16:

Yet another Great Blue Heron on the marsh side - I believe this is our third of the day not counting the two that flew off before I got their pictures earlier.

Cormorants on the Gordons Pond side.

There is something in that tree that sticks out over the others but I did not see it at the time and when I enlarge I can't make out what it is. Dang!