The Yorklyn Bridge Trail is a paved, multi-use greenway that connects the Auburn Valley State Park with the nearby village of Yorklyn Mills in the scenic hills of northern Delaware.
The trail begins at a parking lot off Benge Road next to the Auburn Mills Historic District. After crossing Red Clay Creek on a footbridge, the trail divides in two, passing on either side of a wetland to a picnic pavilion and dog park off Yorklyn Road. From here, the trail turns northeast, crossing Yorklyn Road, then Red Clay Creek on the east side of the same bridge that carries the road.
Past the creek, the trail enters the ruins of the old Garrett Snuff Mill, which closed in the 50's. In one of the more unusual features for a multi-use greenway, the trail passes through a gap in one of the stone walls that once formed part of the mill, entering what is now an outdoor courtyard. Other relics of the old mill, including a chimney, can also be seen along this section of the trail.
The trail continues northeast, crossing Route 82 and entering the village of Yorklyn. Originally built to house workers of the nearby mills and factories, the village consists of quaint, picturesque homes, all of which can be viewed from a grass commons that the trail passes through. The paved, asphalt trail narrows to a concrete sidewalk on the northeast end of this commons and crosses a on a small bridge paralleling Upper Snuff Mill Road, ending at the Center For The Creative Arts on the east end.
Trail users who desire a longer walk or bike riding experience can go west from the trailhead at Benge Road onto Farm Lane, which leads to two other multi-use trails, the Trolley Trail and the Auburn Valley Trail. Together, these two trails provide nearly 2 additional miles of scenic trail experiences in a beautiful and historical state park.
The trail can be accessed from parking lots of Benge Road and Yorklyn Road, as well as the Dew Point Brewing Company on Creek Road.
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