The First State
Delaware
Salt marshes, coastal forests, and the first state to ratify the Constitution.
Delaware at a Glance
State Forests
Delaware manages about 17,000 acres of state forest, with Blackbird State Forest the largest at 3,800 acres
Coastal Habitat
Delaware's coast and estuaries are federally protected through Cape Henlopen State Park and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Shorebird Migration
Delaware Bay is a critical stopover for millions of migratory shorebirds each May, feeding on horseshoe crab eggs
Flat Terrain
Delaware is the flattest state in the nation, with most public land focused on coastal marshes and river bottomlands
Wildlife Refuges
Prime Hook and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuges together protect over 40,000 acres of coastal wetlands
Appalachian Proximity
Though Delaware has no mountains, the Pennsylvania border is within an hour of the northern part of the state
When to Visit
April through June and September through November. Summer brings good beach conditions but high humidity inland. Delaware's modest terrain is accessible year-round.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Lewes
Southern Delaware hub for Cape Henlopen State Park and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, with ferry access to Cape May, New Jersey.
Smyrna
Central Delaware gateway to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, one of the best birding sites on the Atlantic Flyway.
Did You Know?
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest remaining areas of tidal salt marsh in the mid-Atlantic, hosting 300+ bird species.
Delaware's Trap Pond State Park protects the northernmost stand of naturally occurring bald cypress trees in the US.
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge underwent a massive restoration in 2016, converting former agricultural fields back to native coastal marsh.
Delaware's entire length from north to south is only 96 miles, making it possible to hike across the state in a weekend.
The Northern Delaware Greenway connects several parks and natural areas into a 10-mile corridor through Wilmington's western suburbs.