Delaware has some amazing, beachy trails that make for beautiful, scenic hikes. Cape Henlopen State Park in particular offers some of the best hiking in Delaware, from the trail that takes you through an abandoned fort to the Junction and Breakwater Trail that made our list of the top 9 hikes in Delaware. With leaves starting to turn and just the right amount of chill in the air, it's time to revisit Cape Henlopen once again, this time for the most beautiful hike in Delaware.
The Regional Loop is a combination of the Junction and Breakwater Trail and the Gordon's Pond Trail in Cape Henlopen State Park
Combined, this is approximately 15 miles from Lewes to Rehoboth Beach and back, through several different landscapes.
Parts of the trail wind through forested park land on sandy soils.
Here, you'll spot many different trees, flowers, birds, critters and butterflies - if the season is right! Cape Henlopen is a protected area, so the wildlife here is prevalent and amazing to observe.
The Gordon's Pond section of the trail offers amazing overlooks.
Follow the edge of Gordons Pond for 3/4 of a mile to the first overlook, where you can spot many of the birds that this area is known to support. Another 1.2 miles of packed gravel continue from there, until you find the elevated boardwalk.
From the half-mile boardwalk, you'll encounter two other scenic overlooks.. Along the boardwalk are two additional scenic overlooks.
Enjoy views of the salt marshes and beach. This is a great place to stop and rest if you're taking it easy. The views are amazing just before dusk, when the sinking sun turns everything golden.
The trail transitions back to packed crushed stone and continues through an upland pine forest from here.
The trees and woodland creatures make this my favorite part of the hike, because it's a great reprieve from the sun after a few miles with little shade. The stone dust footing makes for a great bike surface, too.
As you continue along the trail, you'll hike through multiple landscapes.
Mature hardwood and conifer forests are interrupted by open fields and coastal marshes. You will experience scenic vistas of coastal marshes as you cross over Wolf and Hollande Glade.
This is one of the most diverse hikes in Delaware, and it's perfect in almost any weather.
There are enough shady forests to help you cool down on a hot day, and the open fields and marshes allow for nice breezes most of the time. In the fall, the foliage is quite a sight to see!
And no matter how many times I visit, I never quite get sick of the beach views in Rehoboth and Lewes along this trail.
There's just nothing like seeing open water and feeling that salt air coming off of the Atlantic Ocean.
So, if you're looking for the most beautiful hike in Delaware this fall, head over to Lewes or Rehoboth and set off on a loop trail you won't soon forget.
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