Delaware Seashore State Park, DE - Burton Island Nature Preserve

ABOUT THE PARK:

Delaware Seashore State Park - Delaware State Parks

Rehoboth Bay and Burton Island - Delaware State Parks

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 38.61603, -75.07269

Parking is along the right side of the road just before the trail head after passing through the marina.

TRAIL MAP:

HIKE DISTANCE:

Delaware Seashore State Park, DE - Fresh Pond - 5.9 miles

James Farm Ecological Preserve, DE - 2 miles

Delaware Seashore State Park, DE - Burton Island Nature Preserve - 1.5 miles

St. Jones Reserve, DE - 2.15 miles

THE HIKE: 

The trail alternates between boardwalk ...

... and very loose sand.

Lots of views along the way.

Brants flying over.

A female red-breasted merganser and ...

... a male red-breasted merganser ...

... going for a dive.

Delaware Seashore State Park, DE - Fresh Pond

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Delaware Seashore State Park - Delaware State Parks

Fortunately I did not have to pay the fee.  This hike would not have been worth $10.

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 38.55830, -75.06419

Route 1 Trailhead Parking

TRAIL MAP:

Delaware Seashore State Park Trail Map - Delaware State Parks

HIKE DISTANCE: 

Delaware Seashore State Park, DE - Fresh Pond - 5.9 miles

James Farm Ecological Preserve, DE - 2 miles

Delaware Seashore State Park, DE - Burton Island Nature Preserve - 1.5 miles

St. Jones Reserve, DE - 2.15 miles

THE HIKE: 

Heading to Delaware where there is bare ground while anything closer is still a frozen tundra of snow and ice.

To access the trails right on the power cut road over the bridge.

The Fred Hudson Road Trail crosses over.  We went to the left first.

Passing by oyster shell recycling.

Zooming in to the mountain of oyster shells.

The trail is a wide pine needle road through pines.  Nice at first but turns out that is all this hike was so it was not very interesting after a while.  The bonus was getting some miles in without 8 inches of snow and ice.

This trail comes to the Fred Hudson Road Trailhead where we turned around and headed back.

Crossing over that power cut road to the other side where the Fred Hudson Road Trail continues.

One of the two viewpoints along the way ...

... with the resident great blue heron.

There are some side trail that we explored but they all lead to hunting stands.  (Deer hunting ends February 1 here.)

An unofficial side trail that leads to a view with a power station behind the tree on the left.

The second fire hydrant I saw along the way.

Coming up on the Fresh Pond trailhead parking where we turned right on the Prickly Pear Trail.

This was pretty much it for the rest of the way.

Balloon #1 of the year.

View #2 at the far end.

Back at the Fresh Pond trail head parking, left to retrace on the Fred Hudson Road Trail.

The great blue heron is still there.

Now on to more interesting hikes nearby.