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

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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:

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!

Heading to that bench ...

... for a break.

Engaging wheelchair brakes.

The osprey nest was our turn around point.

Getting back on the boardwalk.

Female Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Sniffs on the boardwalk.

Back at the parking lot ...

... we crossed through the lot then crossed the street to Herring Point.

An overlook at the Atlantic Ocean.

Cape May, NJ across the way.

I took photos for some other people and they took photos of us.

Back at the car, some dinner before heading on to the last hike of the day.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, DE - Pine Grove Trail

ABOUT THE PARK:
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge - US Fish and Wildlife Service

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 38.82175, -75.25952

Parking at Turkle Pond

TRAIL MAP:
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Walking Trail Map - US Fish and Wildlife Service

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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:

First things first, lunch at the Turkle Pond parking lot.

I had a fake chicken salad sandwich.  Shawnee had quite an aromatic tub of Whole Foods "Whole Paws" chicken dinner which....

.... as I was taking this picture and noticed something out of the corner of my eye ...

... someone else had apparently caught a whiff of.  "Did someone say chicken for lunch?!?!?!?"  Then the fox disappeared as fast as she had appeared.

On with the hike.  It is not very clear from the parking lot where the trail starts.  Walk a little farther in on the road and it will be on the right.  The sign makes it look like you keep straight but it is actually a right turn just after that Trailhead sign.

It's a very pretty trail and because it was only about 1 mile long, Shawnee did it without her wheelchair.

A short side trail to an overlook where there really is not much to see.

Coming up on a parking lot which is at the end of the road we drove in on.  That Honda Fit straight ahead, had his car door open blasting the stereo, he did.  How rude in the middle of the woods where you go for peace and quiet.

Coming out into the parking lot, to the right is Fleetwood Pond with ...

... a boardwalk out into the pond.

Fleetwood Pond

Again it is not clear where the trail continues.  Walk along the road out of the parking lot and watch for the trail on the right.

The trail comes out directly across from the trailhead.

A right turn back to the parking lot.

A few more shots of Turkle Pond.

Turkle Pond

Now on to Cape Henelopen State Park about 17 miles away.  I had considered taking the ferry over from Cape May and drove right by it on the way to Cape Henelopen State Park but it would have involved lots of time waiting on the ferry, time that was better spent hiking, so I drove instead.