Explore the best rated trails in Dover, DE, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Elephant Swamp Trail and Springlawn Trail . With more than 82 trails covering 239 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This trail goes through forest, field, and some pretty neighborhoods. Excellent for Pokemon players, dog walkers, and meanderers.
I ride this trail end to end around 2-3 times a week. It needs to be repaired off the Summit/Lums Pond parking lot. There needs to be a speed limit set for EV bikers. Dog owners need to keep their dogs on leash at all times. I've been run at by off leash dogs at Summit where people can camp overnight. Not a great experience.
It is a beautiful ride. Just be considerate of others and share the trail, please.
While the trail in town is very lovely, relatively short, it’s very clean and enough meandering through green space, I really enjoy the less known western spur more. That trail spur on the opposite side of Easton Parkway is really awesome. I love riding through the well laid curves and tree canopies. Enough trail benches and smooth pavement. Love it!
Very nice trail. I just discovered the western spur the other day and it’s very nice. Was curious that it’s not on the trail map though.
I grew up on this trail and I highly recommend it!
Good trail to bike! Pretty flat paved trail. Not much foot or bike traffic. We biked on Memorial Day Weekend and we passed only three bikers.
Great Trail with a seemless connection to Delaware’s Michael Castle Trail Paved the entire route, and “car width” wide. Parking at the Chesapeake City end is under the MD213 bridge. (The new paved lot mentioned in previous reviews is for the restaurant). Make sure it is not windy on your ride day. The canal is very wide and there is no windbreak, so a good tailwind turns into a terrible headwind on the way back. There are a couple switchbacks to get elevation gain but those are only for about 50’ of gain. Ice Cream shop right of the trail in St.GeorgesDE.opens the end of April.
Q: If I bike ride the short 1.8 mile Ben Cardin trail in Maryland, should I bother continuing on to Delaware's Michael N. Castle trail?
A: Most definitely! Why stop after just two miles?
Q: Is it as flat and easy as the Ben Cardin trail?
A: It's mostly long, flat and occasionally curves as it parallels the not perfectly straight canal, but there are three places where the trail leaves the canal and climbs up the side of the hill. There it's curvier and takes you through woodlands and by a marina.
Q: Are the hills strenuous?
A: For regular, fit bikers and old guys like me with a Swytch pedal assist system, no. For others I would say yes.
Q: How strenuous?
A: One is steep enough to warrant two switchbacks. I also encountered a middle aged couple at the top of one of the hills resting, recovering, and acting like, What have we gotten ourselves into? I also observed another young, fit woman jogging who had to stop halfway up the hill, bend over, and put her hands on her knees.
Q:Is it picturesque?
A: Yes, lots of interesting photo ops of bridges, the canal, birds, woodlands, salt marshes, watercraft, charming homes, and historical sites.
Q: So if I start in Maryland and reach 5th Street in Delaware City, that's where I turn around?
A: Technically, that's the end of the Castle Trail, but why stop there? Cross the road and continue for another mile or so along quiet Canal Road and the Delaware City Marina to old, historic Delaware City, Battery Park, and Delaware Bay! You'll regret it if you don't!
Q: Are there any rest stops or restrooms?
A: There are restrooms at South Lums Trailhead on the trail and at Battery Park. There are also benches consistently along the canal about every 250 yards!
Q: Is it safe? What are the trail users like?
A: The friendliest and most polite you could ever hope for!
Q: As a former educator, what grade would you give this trail?
A: An A, but not an easy A. You'll have to work hard to complete those six inclines (assuming you're traveling the entire distance and doing a round trip).
Officially, this Maryland trail is only 1.8 miles, perfect for the fine folks of Chesapeake City or tourists to take a stroll out to the state line with Delaware and back. In fact, as I sat on the deck of the Ship Watch Inn across the canal from the path's trailhead the evening before I rode it, I saw so many people doing just that.
The 3.6 miles round trip is perfect for walkers since it is flat, quiet, and picturesque. When I started my bike ride the next morning at sunrise, all I encountered were runners and friendly dog walkers.
However, those of us on bikes aren't going to stop after two miles, so be sure to combine this with the Delaware portion of the canal trail for an additional twelve miles.
AND . . . don't stop after those twelve miles. Since you've already gone that far, continue across 5th Street in Delaware City into the park and then bear right toward Canal Street to travel another mile or so to historical Delaware City, Battery Park, and Delaware Bay! Total round trip of thirty miles.
WARNING: If you decide to continue on to Delaware City, there are three hills on Delaware's Ben Cardin Trail. Thank goodness for my Swytch pedal assist!
Firm fine gravel or dirt through the woods around the pond. A small section near the dam was paved. The south side is about 8 feet wide with gradual curves. The north side is about four feet wide and winds through the trees with a couple of sharp turns. We went counterclockwise out of the campground and found that to be downhill all the way around, or felt that way. Really no hills, just a slight up on the wider path for a short distance. We had two inch tires which were fine. One inch tires would probably be fine too. It was an enjoyable ride through the woods. Stop at the lovely church restored church
I biked 2 miles South (Corson Tavern Road) from the Thousand Trails Lake and Shore campground (Oceanview) to the northern most trailhead and continued on to the Cape May Point Lighthouse State Park. What a great 24 mile ride! Very little interaction with cars. 100% paved (recent). This trail interacts with Middle Township and Cold Spring trail. Worth looking for...it was a bit tricky to find the trail heads. There was limited parking at a few of the trailheads. No restrooms on trail but I did see a few convenience stores along the way and also a city park (Railroad Avenue Park) closer to Cape May that had a bike station, drinking fountain and portable toilet.
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