Export to Trail Guide
Create Guidebook 
Download GPX 
Print Friendly MapPhase 1 of the long-awaited Georgetown to Lewes Rail with Trail was officially opened to the public in October 2016. When completed, the trail will extend 17 miles west to Georgetown, making it the longest multi-use trail in Delaware.
The easternmost section of the trail picks up on the former rail line at the entrance to scenic Cape Henlopen State Park, where trail users can connect to several gorgeous beachside trails and explore the park via the Cape Henlopen Bike Loop. Further west into Lewes, a trailhead off of American Legion Road provides a nice starting point for this segment, where trail users will be greeted by the relocated historic railroad swing bridge that once allowed both boats and trains to navigate the nearby canal. With the bridge no longer in place, the trail dead-ends at the canal, so trail users unfortunately have to backtrack if they wish to continue onward - you can utilize bike lanes and sidewalks on Savannah Road to reach the main trail, but make sure to exercise caution along the well-trafficked road.
The main trail begins at Gills Neck Road, sharing a terminus with the Junction & Breakwater Trail, which has recently been extended beneath the Route 9 bridge. The trail parallels the now-inactive rail line to the north, passing the Lewes water tower and numerous private residences, many of which have lushly landscaped yards with colorful trees, bushes and flowers in the spring and summer months.
The trail crosses the tracks immediately west of Adams Ave. and passes a trailhead that also serves as an access point for the Junction & Breakwater Trail. It then passes the Lewes Public Library and crosses the railroad tracks a second time, again following the former line to the north. After crossing busy King's Highway, the trail continues through the west end of Lewes to Savannah Road, another heavily traveled road.
Phase 2 was completed in mid-2019 and the additional 4.9 miles from the initial endpoint on Savannah Road to Log Cabin Hill Road was dedicated to the memory of Tom Draper, TV station owner, avid cyclist and lover of the outdoors. Long stretches at a time are well shaded offering relief from the summer sun. Interpretive signage tells the story of the Junction & Breakwater Railroad. In 2020 the trail was extended an additional 3/4 mile to it's current terminus just shy of Cool Spring Road.
Luckily for everyone who loves this trail, more is on the way. Delaware DOT is actively working on bringing the trail to its ultimate destination in Georgetown, with several additional segments slated to begin construction in the coming years. The first section of trail on the Georgetown end was completed in November 2021, providing just under a mile of pathway along an active stretch of railroad to connect Georgetown's Little League facilities and the Sussex Academy school by the local airport.
Parking for the disconnected northeastern segment is available with a fee in Cape Henlopen State Park, or at the trailhead off of American Legion Road in Lewes.
For the main segment, free parking and restrooms are available next to the Lewes Public Library between Adams Avenue and Monroe Avenue. Additional parking is available further west along the trail off of Nassau Road, by the intersection with New Road.
Where the trail currently begins (in Milton, Delaware) is unmarked and there is no parking. We parked on the side of a little-used road (Cool Spring Road) and jumped on the trail at the intersection of the busier route US 9 East. (A good address to look up is the Brimming Horn Meadery which is right on the trail and very close to the western trailhead.) We took off on the smooth asphalt trail through an airy forest of very tall pine trees, whose canopies hovered about 30 feet above us. Riding along the flat-as-a-pancake trail, we passed by both new and more established neighborhoods where flags and flowers festooned the trail’s edge to welcome bikers and pedestrians. We’d read that there were 12 intersections along the trail, but very few had any traffic. It was a fast and easy six miles to the outskirts of Lewes, a quaint little beach town, and it is here that we transitioned onto the Lewes-Rehoboth trails, which make up essentially one big 17-mile loop.
We decided to head counterclockwise on the loop, riding south, then east, through cornfields, neighborhoods, open marshes, and wooded patches outside Rehoboth. The town itself is where you can find any number of stores or restaurants to buy food or water. After a fairly short jaunt through the neighborhood streets of Rehoboth, we rode on the wide shoulder of Ocean Avenue heading north along the coast. Soon we were entering Cape Henlopen State Park and riding on one of the most unique and picturesque trails we’ve ever encountered. It’s almost entirely marsh land, inland bodies of water, and sand dunes. Snowy egrets, gray herons and a wide variety of marine life populate the marshes. At various points along the trail, there are observation decks and places to view the ocean and the remains of abandoned World War II-era watch towers, artillery, and barracks. It was a little tricky winding our way out of the park but eventually, we ended up on a road that paralleled the beach and led back into Lewes. There’s a cute little brewery right on the trail, then another big name brewery – that is a favorite of ours – back in Milton.
Recently relocated to the area and I couldn’t wait to explore the bike trails and learn a bit more about the area. This trail is magnificent!
One of the highlights of vacationing is Lewes is riding this trail. Well maintained and marked, and people are very friendly. Many residents along the trail have decorated entrances which my 10yo enjoys looking for/at while we ride
We rode the trail today with our Schnauzer behind in a pet carrier. The trail is in excellent condition and the massive trees and beautiful flowers and honeysuckle fragrances make it a tremendous experience. When finished it will definitely be a Rail Trail Hall of Fame nominee. Don’t miss doing this trail if you are visiting the quaint town of Lewes. The parking lot next to the Lewes library has beautifully clean restrooms and a fix-it station with a pump for minor repairs.
We rode the trail today with our Schnauzer behind in a pet carrier. The trail is in excellent condition and the massive trees and beautiful flowers and honeysuckle fragrances make it a tremendous experience. When finished it will definitely be a Rail Trail Hall of Fame nominee. Don’t miss doing this trail if you are visiting the quaint town of Lewes. The parking lot next to the Lewes library has beautifully clean restrooms and a fix-it station with a pump for minor repairs.
Rode the entire trail yesterday as an out-and-back from Lewes. The trail is in perfect shape and is certainly popular based on the traffic of cyclists and walkers.
As noted in the description, at the northern end there is an easy connection to the Breakwater trail and "downtown" Lewes. The current endpoint is at busy Log Cabin Hill Road but there are multiple possible on-road loop routes back to Lewes.
This trail gets a lot of use
Rode the entire trail and back with the family. It was a bit tiring towing the little ones behind me but the whole family had a blast!
Road from Tall Pines to Lewes and back, plan on making it longer by continuing on the Breakwater trail. Nice ride and mostly cars stopped and let you cross.
This is the way a bike trail should be done. It's only finished about half way to Georgetown as I write this, but they continue to make progress every winter. Flat, smooth, shady, well marked, and built up with stone berms and wooden fencing wherever there is any drop-off. I can't remember being on a nicer trail than this one. It is entirely paved, but keep in mind that if you want to connect near Lewes to the Junction and Breakwater Trail to Rehoboth, after about three miles, that trail is crushed stone. It's in good shape and beautiful, but you can't really do that portion on a road bike.
Made it out to this trail last weekend. While some areas did get a little crowded, was a relaxing and beautiful walk.
Enjoyed a bike ride from Tall Pines campground all the way to Lewes for lunch! What a gem!
Phase two of the new trail opened this past spring. They really did a fantastic job building it, and it is a pleasure to ride on. Now, you can go about 13 miles in one direction by connecting to the Junction-Breakwater trail towards Rehoboth. The road crossings are fairly frequent, but well marked. I'm happy to report that most drivers stop and waive bicyclists across. I'm excited about the prospect of the trail being completed all the way to Georgetown.
Finally rode it this weekend and loved it. It's nice and flat and was not crazy crowded for a Sunday morning. It hooks right into the Junction Breakwater so you can really get a nice workout between the different routes. The trail now ends at Cool Spring. However, once it is completed to Georgetown, DE it is going to a great addition to Sussex County.
This trail is only a little over one mile but it will eventually go the whole way to Georgetown. The part that is completed is paved. I hope this trail is completed as soon possible. It will be great for Sussex County.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy
(a non-profit) and we need your support!
