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The Ultimate Guide to Delaware's Cape Henlopen State Park

Cape Henlopen is the gem of the Delaware State Parks system. This guide will help you to make the most of your visit to the park!

By: Abby Shepard + Save to a List

Cape Henlopen State Park is a big place with lots to do including camping, biking, hiking, kayaking, touring a WWII fort, and much more. Many people come to the park and just hit the beach, but miss out on all other other amazing things the park has to offer. Here are the key experiences to hit during your visit, as well as a 1 and 2 day itinerary!

1.  Catch a Sunrise at Herring Point

Herring Point is one of the best places in the park to watch a sunrise. The sun will rise directly over the water, and there are rock outcroppings that make for beautiful photos. 

2. Visit the Touch Tank and the Aquariums in the Seaside Nature Center

In the nature center you can encounter local reptiles, fish, and other marine organisms. There is also a touch tank where you can find horseshoe crabs, whelks, and more. You can talk with a knowledgeable naturalist, grab a park map, and even pick up a souvenir. The Nature Center is a great place to start your day, and you can rent bikes for free from the bike barn next door. 

3. Bike or Hike the Bike Loop

The Bike Loop Trail will take you through the park and give you a good overview of the place. The trail is an easy ride, and you can stop and see a few things along the way including the Observation Tower, Fort Miles, the Fishing Pier, and the Nature Center. If you're starting your day at the Nature Center, you can rent bikes at the bike barn and catch the trail from the front of the Nature Center. 

4. Climb the Observation Tower

The Observation Tower was originally a WWII Fire Control Tower, but today, you can climb to the top to get a spectacular 360 view of the entire park. If you are doing the Bike Loop Trail, be sure to stop here!

5. Tour the Fort Miles Museum

Cape Henlopen was a military fort during WWII, and you can still see the bunkers and the battery where the guns were kept. Tour the artillery park and take a guided battery tour if you can!

6. Bike the Gordons Pond Trail into Rehoboth

The Gordons Pond trail will show you an entirely different side of the park. The trail will take you on an elevated boardwalk above the salt marshes and then end at the beach on the other side of the Park. Once you reach the end of the park, continue for a few minutes and you'll find yourself in the middle of the famous Rehoboth Boardwalk. 

7. Hike the Walking Dunes Trail

This lesser-known trail will take you through the massive sand dunes of the park and will make you feel as though you've been transported to the desert.

8. Walk the Fishing Pier

The fishing pier is a popular spot for fishing, but also a great place for walking. Stroll along the quarter mile pier and see what people have caught. At the end, you can see old pilings sticking out of the water that used to belong to the original pier. You may even catch a glimpse of an osprey if you're there in the summer. If you're into fishing, there is a bait and tackle shop directly beside the pier. 

9. Look for Dolphins from the Hawk Watch

Dolphins come through Delaware every summer, and you can often see their fins dipping through the water. The Hawk Watch is a good place to watch for dolphins because you have an elevated view. The best time to look for dolphins is in the morning or around dusk. 

10. Hit the Beach!

Cape Henlopen offers a beautiful beaches that are perfect for swimming or sunbathing. The main beach is guarded from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and you can even take your dog to the beach at Herring Point as long as it is on a leash. If you're into surf fishing, you can do that on the beach as well. 

11. Eat a Gelati

The concession stand at the main beach bathhouse has amazing Water Ice. If you're really feeling it, go for the gelati where they layer soft serve ice cream and water ice. You won't regret it!

12. Kayak the Bay

The Bay side of the park is a great place for kayaking! You can kayak out to the East End Breakwater lighthouse and see the stones of the breakwater up close. You may even see a few dolphins if you're lucky! Kayak and SUP rentals are available at the fishing pier, or you can sign up for a guided kayak tour of the Bay. 

10. Explore the Delaware Bay at Low Tide and Look for Creatures

During low tide, the Bay side of the park is practically drained of water, leaving sand bars and tide pools behind. Search the water for crabs, fish, snails, and more. The best spot to look is under the fishing pier.

11. Watch the Sunset from The Point

The Point is the literal point where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. There is no better spot in the park to watch a sunset. The view is best when low tide and sunset happen at the same time. 

12. Look for Ghost Crabs at Dusk

Once the sun goes down, ghost crabs start to emerge! Search the sand on the Bay side of the park and look for these sand-colored crabs darting across the sand. The best place to look is around the beach surrounding the fishing pier. 

13. Pitch a Tent in the Newly-Renovated Campground

Cape Henlopen renovated their campground in 2017, and it's a wonderful place to spend the night!

One Day itinerary

• Start by visiting the nature center (or start with a sunrise first if you are a morning person!).
• Rent a bike from the nature center and bike the Bike Loop. On the Loop, stop by Fort Miles to wander through the artillery Park and climb the Observation Tower. 
• Hit the main beach in the afternoon, and grab lunch and a gelato from the concession stand OR bike the Gordons Pond Trail.
• If low tide happens in the late afternoon, head to the Bay side to look for creatures under the fishing pier or in the sand bars. 
• Watch sunset from The Point.
• Stick around after sunset to look for ghost crabs on the sand

Second Day Itinerary

• Camp in the campground.
• Catch a sunrise at Herring Point.
• Look for dolphins from the Hawk Watch in the morning.
• Rent a bike from the nature center and bike the Gordons Pond Trail. If you have your own bike, continue into Rehoboth and stop for lunch or ice cream. 
• Kayak the Bay OR hike the Walking Dunes Trail in the afternoon.
• Watch the sunset from the fishing pier or check out this story for more ideas of where to watch the sunset.

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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Cape Water Tours and Taxi

Days/Hours of operation : Seasonal, May through September and, if weather permits, through some of October. During the most active months, June, July, August, we operate 7 days a week, offering tours and cruises throughout the day.  The tours and cruises vary depending on the day of the week.  In the cooler months of May, September, and October, we operate an abbreviated schedule, mostly on the weekends.

Tours: Cape Water Tours & Taxi offers several cruises and tours that are educational in nature including Eco Tours, Osprey Banding Tours in late June/early July (about 6 – 8 tours), Delaware Bay Discovery Cruise, Cape Henlopen Fort Miles Cruise and the Maritime History Cruise, and History Happened Here Cruise. These occur at least weekly throughout the summer. Experienced birders and naturalists guide our tours and provide “minds-on” and “hands-on” experiences.

Eco-Tours  (all ages): Find out where the Fiddler Crab got its name, if the Glossy Ibis is really glossy or where the term “crazy as a loon” came from. Experience the wonder of our inland waterways and wetlands and see a wide variety of birds and waterfowl such as Herons, Ospreys, Kingfishers, Forster’s Terns, Grebes, Black-necked Stilts, and the great American Bald Eagle.  If what is above the water doesn’t impress you, then check out what we catch from beneath the waves as we throw out our cast nets. You will learn about submerged aquatic vegetation – algae and seagrasses such as eelgrass and the benefit they provide as breeding habitat for aquatic life. You will see crustaceans like Blue Crabs, Grass Shrimp, and an occasional Horseshoe Crab. Our nets also catch fish like the Summer Flounder, Striped Bass or Mullet. And, if you are lucky, you may see a Diamondback Terrapin, a brackish water turtle that spends most of its time in the waters of the coastal salt marshes.

Osprey banding tours  (all ages): In the early summer, our Eco Tours will present a rare opportunity for our passengers. Captain Steve takes us to osprey nesting platforms where he will place identification tags on the osprey fledglings before they begin to fly. This practice does not hurt the birds and is done specifically to gather information about birds such as migration patterns, life span, and behaviors. These opportunities are few as the optimal time to band these magnificent birds is when they are 7-8 weeks old. 

Delaware Bay Discovery Cruise  (all ages): Join the crew of The Discovery and cruise the waters of the Delaware Bay to learn about this important coastal estuary.  This two-hour cruise will be led by experienced science educators who will sample the waters of the Bay with nets to reveal small animal plankton, bottom-dwelling invertebrates and a variety of fish.  This is a hands-on activity so come prepared to get your hands a little bit wet and slimy. This cruise will also take in the local historical sites such as the lighthouse at the Harbor of Refuge at Cape Henlopen.  And, no trip is complete without an opportunity to look for diverse birdlife and waterfowl along our shores. Don't miss out on this outstanding opportunity to see and learn about Delaware's pristine coastal waters and beaches and to learn about the work being done to preserve the delicate ecosystem within the Delaware Bay. 

Cape Henlopen Fort Miles Cruise, Maritime History Cruise,  History Happened Here Cruise : Ages 8 and up): Join a knowledgeable Lewes Historical guide on board the Cape Water Taxi for a cruise along the Lewes Canal (once Lewes Creek). Journey back in time into Lewes’s maritime past through the centuries. Learn of the explorers who first put Cape Henlopen on the map. Recall the pirates that sailed the same local waters you'll travel upon. Come to understand the difficulties in navigating the Cape's sometime treacherously shallow waters. View lighthouses that for generations have assisted in guiding ships, visitors, cargo and stories through the area.  Learn about the important role of the Delaware Bay River Pilots Association and the brave United States Life-Saving Servicemen who rescued victims from perilous shipwrecks during the 19th and 20th centuries.   (See website for various cruise descriptions.)  We encourage visitors to bring cameras and binoculars if they have them.

Reservations:  Individuals/small groups suggest booking 2 – 48 hours in advance. Large groups please give seven day advance notice. Walk ups accepted if there is space available. Cost :  See website

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Tour with us!

Quest has been paddling the waters of Delaware's Cape region since 1999, and our years of experience with the tides, winds, and shifting sands of the area allow us to help plan the best paddles in the area. We offer a variety of tours for all ages and abilities that emphasize safety, fun, nature, and a local's knowledge.

We use Ocean Kayak sit-on-top kayaks which offer stability, ease of paddling, adjustable backrests for comfort, and plenty of leg room. Our personal flotation devices (PFDs) or life jackets are USCG approved and fully adjustable for youth and adults.

We limit the size of tours for safety and allow for an enhanced tour experience. For larger group sizes (typically groups of 12+ paddlers), please contact us at [email protected] or (302) 430-8687 . We are happy to work with you to help customize your tour experience.

Quest Core Tours

Dolphin Tour 

Paddle up close and personal with the Atlantic Bottle Nose Dolphins.  This tour starts and finishes at Cape Henlopen State Park.  During this tour, we paddle from the Delaware Bay, around the Cape Henlopen Point (conditions permitting) and sometimes into the Atlantic Ocean.  We can’t guarantee seeing Dolphins, but we try our best to be in the right spot to do so.  Besides hopefully seeing some dolphins, we paddle by a few lighthouses that have guided and protected our boats for over 100 years.  

::Level of Difficulty - Moderate

::Duration - 1.5 ~ 2 hours

Sunset Sessions

One of our personal favorites, Sunset Sessions varies as does the setting of the sun. We take advantage of the tide allow time to take in the setting sun.  This trip includes paddling on the Delaware Bay and the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. 

::Level of Difficulty - Easy

::Duration - 2  ~ 2.5 hours

Quest Speciality Tours & Outpost Rentals

We offer a variety of ‘one-off’ tours on select specific dates throughout the year.   These offerings include all sorts of fun to include Solstice,  Full Moon Meanders, Marsh paddles, Broadkill River paddles, and many other unique adventures. To view offerings and dates visit our tours page !

Our Partners:    Delaware State Parks   Fort Miles Historical Association

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Cape Henlopen State Park >

Visit destateparks.com/FortMiles  to view events and programs sponsored by Delaware State Parks.

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Upcoming fort miles tours.

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Reservations are recommended for all tours conducted by Delaware State Parks. Visit destateparks.com/SchoolGroups and click on Fort Miles Historical Area under Choose a Park .

“Day of” Reservations

For “day off reservations only, call 302-644-5007 .

Battery 519 Indoor Tour

0:00pm, month xxth.

Note: Battery 519 opens at IO a.m. and closes at 4 p.m. each Friday and Saturday. For those who do not wish to join a guided tour, access to the free Oil Still Bleeds exhibit is available, as is limited access to Museum exhibits.

Tour Battery 519 by lantern light as your state parks guide reveals U-boats on the prowl, sailors in distress and insights into a soldier’s life at Fort Miles during World War ll. Tours meet at the Fort Miles Orientation Building. For ages 10 and up with a paying adult. $6 per person.

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Fort Miles Museum and Historical Area is in Cape Henlopen State Park, due east of the Cape May – Lewes Ferry Terminal and the city of Lewes, DE.

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Christiana Mall & Trader Joe's

Milton Theatre

Wallops Island

Mystery Lunches

DE Art Museum

 Baywood Lunch

Delmarva Shorebirds

Bird In Hand Theatre

MYSTERY LUNCH

Old Wye Mills

Costen House & Museum

Air Mobility Tour

Havre DE Grace

Candlelight Theatre

DE Botanical Gardens

Franklin Institute

Freeman Stage

Mystery Dinner

Possum Point Players

Sight & Sound

Oceans, Iceland & Castles. Tour the World and Rediscover America with Us

Grand Canyon 

of Pennsylvania

British Landscapes 

May 4-13 2025

Oceania Cruises

Reef & Rythms

Castles of New York &

NY State Capitol

Iceland's Magical Northern Lights October 23-29, 2025

TRIPS -PLEASE READ OUR NEWSLETTER

The Cape Henlopen Senior Center has a variety of trips for your enjoyment.  We have a 16 passenger bus and a 7 passenger van. Our trips are open to all members and any non member with an additional fee.

IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE FUN ON ANY OF THESE DAY TRIPS, CALL CENTER (1.302.227.2055) TO REGISTER BY PHONE WITH CREDIT CARD, OR COME INTO CENTER TO REGISTER AND PAY WITH CASH, CHECK OR CREDIT CARD. NEW POLICY -YOU MUST PAY FOR THE TRIP TO BE PUT ON THE TRIP LIST.

If you have any questions, please fill in the form below and send message , CHSC Staff will be in contact with you.

Portions of Cape Henlopen fishing pier to remain closed, $1 million in repairs needed

New areas of the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park, in addition to the last 145 feet, will close following an engineering review.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control first closed the end of the 1,300-foot, World War II-era pier in November 2023. The department announced Wednesday the review, which included in the inspection of pilings by a dive team, is now complete, and repairs are expected to cost $1 million.

Once funding is acquired, construction is expected to take three to six months, the release said.

More: No permits, possible wetlands and a questionable deed on Rehoboth Beach's Silver Lake

The popular fishing pier has lasted "well beyond its life expectancy," the release said. Previously, the dilapidated far-end of the pier was removed in 2012 and pile jackets were added in 2021.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.

'A microphone and a van.' Route 6A Tours, on Cape Cod, is in its first summer season

Sean Whelahan is back doing what he loves the most: sharing the history, stories and beauty of Cape Cod in a series of intimate tours. The Sandwich resident has taken his 25-year experience with Collette Tours and fashioned his own company called Route 6A Tours and Transport . 

The launch of his business came after losing a job he loved, owning and working in restaurants (which he didn't love) and a fair amount of soul searching. One day he was sitting at the kitchen table with his wife, Tara, when she asked him what he'd do if he could do anything.

"I said, 'If I could do anything, give me a microphone and a van and I’ll drive down 6A and give tours,'" he told her.

John F. Kennedy Memorial to Chatham Light

It took years for that dream to come to fruition. Launched in December, Route 6A Tours and Transport now offers transportation services for travelers, wedding parties, and a variety of small and customized tours.

Visitors can choose from half-day tours, lobster fest and sunset tours, tours with time to kayak, and customized tours. Whelahan will work with customers to give them the type of tour they want.  

“I can show you stuff in four hours that if you’re on your own with kids in the back seat is going to take you four days,” he said. “I know the directions, the traffic, the history. I have itineraries designed for them to get in and out.”  

He’s confident that his signature half-day tours cover many of the Cape’s highlights, from the John F. Kennedy Memorial in Hyannis to the Chatham Light , the Cape Cod Canal to quaint villages that can be found throughout the Cape. Visitors will see the sights that make the Cape world famous: miles of sandy beaches, osprey nests scattered through salt marshes, storied sea captains’ homes, sail boats catching the wind in Cape Cod Bay.   

A mix of standard and customized tours

Whelahan is counting on running a mixture of standard and customized tours and transports in his first season. He offers transportation to and from local airports. On Monday he and another Route 6A Tours driver took a total of 56 guests from Wequassett Inn to a series of locations in Chatham. 

The guests were from Texas, so Whelahan scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs at Chatham Light, an oyster farm for a tour, and a Chatham restaurant for dinner.  

Half-day tours last about 4 1/2 hours and are available seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tour guides provide historical, environmental and anecdotal information along the way. The vans are outfitted with comfortable seats, spacious headroom (6’5” worth), cup holders and chargers. The vans have dual control air conditioning in the front and back and riders can wear earpieces with their own volume controls should they desire.  

Snacks and drinks during the tour

Route 6A Tours provides snacks and drinks during the tour.   

Cape Cod Sunset Feast on the Beach tours begin with sightseeing and end with lobster rolls (or other fare) on the beach. Prices are $199 per person, $79 for children under 12, and $100/hour after four hours. 

A Kayak Cape Cod tour mixes sightseeing with a paddle on Scorton Creek in Sandwich. Prices are $189 per person, $129 for children under 12, and $100/hour after four hours.  

Customers can book standard tours easily and online. Whelahan will work directly with customers who want to create customized tours.  

“It’s the private tours that people want,” he said. “That's what I suggest people do. If you want to stop at Truro Vineyards for wine, we’ll do that. If you want to go antiquing, we’ll do it.” 

Whelahan said his tour guides from the Cape and Island Tour Guide Association are experienced in the field.  "There’s so much to learn,” he said. “It’s more than beaches and saltwater taffy.” 

Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape’s residents and visitors. Contact her at [email protected] .    

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription.  

• Departs 43 Cape Henlopen Dr Lewes

Dolphin Watching-Lewes Ferry Terminal

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 1.5 hours
• Tag Tour Type: Non-narrated tour
• User Ages: All ages

See Dolphins in Their Natural Habitat

IMPORTANT: THIS TOUR DEPARTS FROM THE LEWES FERRY TERMINAL @ 43 CAPE HENLOPEN DRIVE LEWES, DE –  NOT OUR HOME DOCK ON ANGLERS ROAD

Come cruise with Cape Water Tours and Taxi on the Delaware Bay and if conditions are agreeable, the Atlantic Ocean, in search of dolphins! Do we guarantee you will see dolphins? Nah. Is it likely we will see dolphins? Yes!

This tour follows the same path as our Delaware Bay tour, with plenty of fascinating sights and points of interest along the way. Although this tour is not narrated, it offers our guests stunning views of popular attractions such as the East End Lighthouse, Cape Henlopen Point, the Cape May Lewes Ferry terminal, Lewes Beach, and Cape Henlopen State Park, just to name a few.

There is a good chance we will see dolphins as we cruise along, so bring your camera and be on the lookout for our aquatic friends. The tour departs from Lewes Ferry Terminal, 43 Cape Henlopen Dr. Lewes, DE. Reserve your spot now!

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Cruise the Canal with Delaware State Parks-Anglers Road Lewes

On Fridays June 23 through August 18, explore Delaware State Park’s coastline and see Thompson’s Island Nature Preserve and much, much more.