Your Guide to the Delawonder Bike Trail

One of the biggest draws for people coming to visit us in Lewes is the variety of activities you can easily pick up outdoors. We get a lot of cyclists visiting us every year and there’s a clear reason for this: the Delawonder Bike Trail.

It’s actually made up of several parts between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, creating a fun and varied day out whether you’re just looking for a casual outdoor adventure or if you’re riding for fitness. This month, we wanted to give you more information about the bike trail, the different sections, and how you can make the most of it during your stay.

The three key sections

The American Discovery Trail  

Here at The Beacon Inn, we sit right along this route, but it’s actually only a short section that you’ll need along the top of Cape Henlopen State Park. This section on Cape Henlopen Drive connects the other two parts to create a loop, but it’s also pretty useful for finding your way back to us on E Savannah Road.

Junction & Breakwater Trail

Taking you from Lewes down through to Rehoboth, this part of the trail is predominantly flat, making it enjoyable whether you choose to cycle or walk. You can take in some of the beautiful scenery, spot local wildlife, and take a generally more relaxed and peaceful route to Rehoboth Beach.

Gordons Pond Trail

Beginning at the northern end of Rehoboth Beach, winding past Gordons Pond before curving between Cape Henlopen State Park and the coast, this part of the trail is an absolute must for birdwatchers and anyone looking to get closer to nature on their ride. As you hit the northern-most part of the trail, you should connect back onto The American Discovery Trail.

What to expect from the trail

Because it’s popular with cycling enthusiasts as well as hikers, you can probably already imagine that this is a nice, easy-going trail. Mostly flat and more about enjoying the natural surroundings that this part of Delaware has to offer, casual cyclists shouldn’t find it difficult to navigate. It’s even popular with locals too, providing a pleasant route between the two coastal towns. 

Some rules for the trail

To ensure that the train is safe and enjoyable for everyone, there are a few rules you should keep in mind on your visit:

• Dogs should be kept on a leash at all times, ensuring you have a sufficient number of waste bags to clean up after them.
• Only travel on durable surfaces, this is to preserve the natural surroundings and keep you safe.
• Take your waste away with you. There may not be trash cans along your route, so always plan to keep trash with you to dispose of properly later.
• Please respect the wildlife. We’re lucky to have such a wonderful variety of wildlife so it’s important to respect them and give them space.
• Be polite and considerate of others. This is a popular route so you’re bound to come across other visitors.
• Plan your route ahead of time. You can do this by checking out all the information on the Delawonder website where you can download a map of the route.

Places to visit along the trail

While the trail itself is worth exploring in full, you don’t have to do it in one complete loop if you don’t want to. In fact, one of the best ways to use the trail is as a guided tour of the region. Here are a few places we definitely recommend stopping off at:

Cape Henlopen State Park

The loop will take you through a section of the park itself anyway, but there are various other paths that snake throughout it. At certain times of the year, you can also get right up to the tip of the cape.

Rehoboth Beach

With its wonderful boardwalk featuring shops, restaurants, and other amusements, you can either spend the day or just make a quick pit stop for refreshments on your journey.

Lewes

That’s right, our very own historic town has so much to offer, from the wonderful sandy beach along Delaware Bay to the Zwaanendael Museum where you can learn more about the significance of the region.

Lewes Cycle Sports

As part of The Beacon Inn Village & Shoppes, we have the Lewes Cycle Sports shop right here, so you can get everything you need if you want to take to two wheels — including bike rentals if you don’t have your own.

If you’re planning on visiting the Delawonder Bike Trail, why not reward yourself after a day of exploring with a comfortable room here at The Beacon Inn? Reserve a room now and make the most of what this beautiful part of the state has to offer in Lewes, DE.