Hidden along the Indian River Bay, Holts Landing State Park offers quiet waterfront recreation. Named for the family that previously owned the land, visitors enjoy the shoreline, intertidal zone, salt marsh, and maritime forest. The Seahawk Trail is completely ADA accessible and provides safe passage through the variety of ecosystems at Holts Landing. A fishing pier and boat ramp greet anglers and other water enthusiasts. Summer concerts are popular at the park while The Grove provides space for outdoor celebrations. A primitive campsite is available for groups.

Situated at the mouth of the Delaware Bay sits Cape Henlopen State Park and its 6+ miles of coastline. The “Point” of Cape Henlopen, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, shaped the history of this landscape. For millenia, native people lived off the land’s abundant and rich resources and in the late 1600s, William Penn granted the land and allowed citizens to harvest many of the same resources. The area’s strategic position led to the construction of Fort Miles during World war II with its iconic fire control towers along the Atlantic coast and, which served as a federal defensive site, training area and testing location both during and after the war. A diverse collection of habitats makes up the coastal ecosystem of Cape Henlopen State Park. Barrier dune, coastal beaches, and maritime forest are home to many species of plants and animals. Visitors can visit the Seaside Nature Center to participate in an interpretive program or learn about the park’s native plants and animals.

Once used as an industrial logging pond starting in the late 1700s, Trap Pond is home to the northern-most, naturally occurring, stand of Baldcypress trees. Trap Pond hosts a high diversity of plant and tree species and is an excellent fishery for bass and other warm-water fish species. The park boasts nearly nine miles of canoe and kayak trails, and kayaks, canoes, boats and paddleboards are available for rent. A ramp allows boaters to launch and fishing docks are available at multiple locations. Guided tours of the cypress swamp, numerous cemeteries and an1800s church tell the history of the area. Birders and wildlife watchers can enjoy the plentiful woodlands while more than 12 miles of trails await hikers, bikers and equestrians. The campground features tent and RV sites along with cabins and yurts for a variety of woodland stays. Disc golf, playgrounds, pavilions, a picnic area and two primitive youth camps round out the recreation opportunities. The Baldcypress Nature Center which offers exhibits and interpretive programs about the park’s natural and cultural history, is also available for special event rentals.

Redden Forest Lodge is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers a rustic and picturesque setting for family gatherings, special occasions, and group meetings.

Named for the clay that was once mined in the area, White Clay Creek State Park’s natural vistas, woodlands and creek with its many small tributaries span piedmont ridges and stream valleys along Delaware’s northern edge. White Clay Creek, a National Wild and Scenic River, is stocked with fish for anglers. The forest provides critical habitat for migrating and nesting birds, including the rare cerulean warbler. More than 37 miles of trails welcome hikers, bikers and runners on the most diverse trail system in Delaware. The rich history of the park, woven through natural and cultural resources, is still evident in the ruins and buildings found here, like the 1790s Judge Morris Estate and Chamber’s House Nature Center.

As overdevelopment in the northern part of the state became a matter of increasing concern in the late 1960s, the state began to purchase lands adjoining a small recreational park, which in 1975 became known as Walter S. Carpenter State Park. State land acquisitions and donations, from the Du Pont family and others, eventually expanded the park to over 3,600 acres. The park was renamed White Clay Creek State Park in 1995. The White Clay Creek was named a National Wild and Scenic River by the National Park Service in 2000, which added an additional layer of protection to the area. Today, the park continues to serve as a vital protected area of scenic and recreational open space in northern Delaware. White Clay Creek State Park also features a pavilion, a bandshell and stage, a playground, accessible fishing docks, disc golf course, and more.