Gordons Pond Trail (Cape Henlopen State Park) Hiking Guide
The Gordons Pond Trail is a flat, crushed-stone path in the southern part of Cape Henlopen State Park that circles the west side of Gordons Pond, crosses salt marsh on an elevated boardwalk and climbs gently into pine woods at Herring Point. It runs one way between two parking areas, so walk it out and back or arrange a car at each end. From Wilmington it is a coast trip of about 94 miles, roughly two hours by car.
Permit: Cape Henlopen is an ocean park: the daily vehicle entrance fee is $10 for Delaware-registered vehicles and $20 for out-of-state vehicles, March 1 to November 30. Walking or biking in is free. The Delaware State Parks annual pass ($50 / $100) is accepted.
Distance and Surface
Delaware State Parks gives the trail as 3.2 miles one way from the Gordons Pond lot to Herring Point, making about 6.4 miles out and back. Hiking Project maps a slightly shorter 2.8-mile line with only about 24 feet of climbing. The park breaks the route down: about 0.75 mile of level crushed stone along the pond to a scenic overlook, another 1.2 miles around the pond, 0.4 mile of elevated boardwalk with two more overlooks, then 0.3 mile through upland pine forest to Herring Point.
Getting There
The Gordons Pond parking area is at the park's south end, reached on Ocean Drive from the north edge of Rehoboth Beach; Herring Point is at the north end of the trail. The park map shows information, restrooms and a bike repair station at Gordons Pond. The overlooks over the pond are popular for bird watching, so bring binoculars.
Fees and Hours
Cape Henlopen is one of Delaware's ocean parks, where the daily vehicle fee doubles the inland rate: $10 with Delaware registration and $20 without, charged March 1 to November 30. There is no fee from December through February, and people who arrive on foot or by bike never pay. An annual pass ($50 for Delaware vehicles, $100 for others) covers every state park. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset.
Dogs and the Beach
Leashed dogs (6 feet or less) are allowed on the trail. On the sand, rules tighten: Delaware law keeps pets off swimming and sunbathing beaches from May 1 to September 30, fenced bird nesting areas are closed to people and pets, and at Gordons Pond pets reach the beach only by the pedestrian dune crossing at the north end of the lot. Pets are not allowed on bathhouse boardwalks.
Tides and Hunting Season
This is low coastal ground. In spring 2026 DNREC closed the trail on weekdays for about two weeks to repair small sections breached by high tides, so check the park's alerts after big coastal storms. Cape Henlopen hosts deer hunting in fall and winter, but on the park's 2025-26 gun-season closure map the Gordons Pond Trail stayed open; the closed trails were farther north around the Great Dune.
Hiking tips for Gordons Pond Trail (Cape Henlopen State Park)
- Start at the Gordons Pond lot and turn around at Herring Point for about 6.4 miles.
- Bring binoculars for the pond overlooks.
- Use the north-end dune crossing if your dog is going onto the beach in the off-season.
- Walk it out and back if you have only one car; the trail is one way.
- Check DNREC alerts after a coastal storm; high tides have breached the trail before.
Nearby trails to explore
- Walking Dunes Trail (Cape Henlopen State Park)
- Bob Trail (Trap Pond State Park)
- Swamp Forest Trail (Lums Pond State Park)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Gordons Pond is a beach-day walk worth the drive down from Wilmington, and a car shuttle is easier with company. Post the trail in TrailMates, sort out who parks at Herring Point in the event's group chat, and walk it one way together. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.