Pinelands Nature Trail

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Pinelands Nature Trail, Delaware/Cape Henlopen State Park, by photographer Nathan William Okuley.

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Within walking distance of Lewes and within easy reach of millions of summer visitors, the park and trail are a blend of nature, history, archeology, and geology.

The Pinelands Nature Trail is nestled behind the great dunes along the Atlantic Ocean and meanders through two distinctly different natural landscape features - dry, shifting sand dunes and low-lying wetland cranberry bogs. Both unusual flora and windswept pine woods add character to this natural environment. The park and its natural features are defined by the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay, and Cape Henlopen itself, a spit of land jutting into Delaware Bay where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. The intermingling of the Ocean and Bay environments makes for an exciting region of dynamic coastal processes and geology all subjected to sea level rise. Because of its water-bound location, this site was important to Native Americans. Evidence of their existence is found in the seashells middens found in the park.

World War II bunkers provide glimpses of history that this site once knew when it was the Fort Miles Army Base. Enter this NRT from either of two trailheads: 1) at the Seaside Nature Center; or 2) from within the former boundaries of Fort Miles Recreation Area and across from several World War II gun casements that were critical to the nation's coastal defense system. Twelve-inch guns were installed at Fort Miles in 1942 to counter any threat from German U-boats which could have wreaked havoc on the northern oil refineries and chemical plants on the Delaware River. The trail is interpreted for its natural and historical values.

Allowed Uses:

• Certified as an NRT
  May 22, 1981