White Clay Creek State Park: Bryan's Field Trail (Blog Hike #1078)

Trail: Bryan's Field Trail
Hike Location: White Clay Creek State Park
Geographic Location: north of Newark, DE (39.72763, -75.72936)
Length: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A loop hike through old farm fields and past the Mason-Dixon Monument.
Park Information: https://www.destateparks.com/park/white-clay-creek/
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming July 31, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Newark, take SR 72 north 5 miles to this park's signed Possum Hill Parking Area on the left.  Pay the park entrance fee, and park in the blacktop lot.

The hike: Located in extreme northwest Delaware flush against the Pennsylvania State Line, White Clay Creek State Park protects 3559 acres of reverting farm fields.  The park was established in 1968 when overdevelopment in northern Delaware encouraged state leaders to buy small pieces of land for recreation.  In 1975, these land plots were consolidated and named Walter S. Carpenter State Park to honor the former President and Chairman of the DuPont Corporation.  Additional purchases and donations enlarged the park to the size we see today.  The park's name changed in 1995, and the current name refers to the kaolin, or white clay, that was once mined in this area.

            Recreation remains the park's main focus today, and the park offers several picnic areas, a disc golf course, and a playground but no developed campground.  For hikers, the park offers 33 different trails totaling over 41 miles.  This hike features the Bryan's Field Trail, which explores several of the many old farm fields in this park.  Even better, the Bryan's Field Trail passes the Mason-Dixon Monument, a key point in the survey of the famous Mason-Dixon line.  Thus, this hike offers some national history in addition to the local farming history.

Trailhead at Possum Hill Parking Area

            From the restroom building and information kiosk at the Possum Hill Parking Area, head downhill on the asphalt entrance trail, then turn left to begin heading clockwise around the Bryan's Field Trail.  Marked with blue trail markers, the Bryan's Field Trail curves right as it heads gradually downhill through an old field that is now a warm sunny prairie.  The asphalt quickly runs out, and the trail surface becomes dirt, which it will remain for the rest of this hike.

Pond with algae

            At 0.2 miles, you reach a floating dock on a small pond that has a thick covering of algae.  I hoped to see some wildlife around this pond, but all was still and quiet when I came here.  Past the pond, the trail continues gradually downhill, and soon it exits the prairie and enters the woods.  Vehicle noise from busy SR 72 through the woods to the left is your near constant companion, but otherwise the hiking is pleasant.

Hiking through the prairie

            At 0.5 miles, you reach a trail intersection where the Bryan's Field Trail Shortcut exits right.  We will continue straight to hike the full Bryan's Field Trail eventually, but first turn right to reach a point of interest 500 feet down the shortcut trail.  Pass a couple of numbered spur trails that access primitive hunting stands to reach the Mason-Dixon Monument.

Mason-Dixon Monument

            In 1763, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon were hired to mark "an east-west line 15 miles south of the southern-most part of Philadelphia" that would be the boundary between the Provinces of Maryland and Pennsylvania.  The point you are standing at is the point they found to be 15 miles south of the southern-most part of Philadelphia, and they started marking their Mason-Dixon line westward from here.  The original oak post they placed at this point has been lost, and the stone monument you see today was placed here in 1953 by Halleck DuPont.  A bench invites you to sit and ponder all of the history this site has seen.

Footbridge over main stream

            Backtrack to the outer loop of the Bryan's Field Trail and turn right to continue the loop.  0.8 miles into the hike, a connector trail exits left to cross SR 72; it leads to the Lenape Trail and the Middle Run Valley Natural Area.  Angle right to cross an unnamed stream on a wooden footbridge; this stream's ravine contains the entire hike.  After a brief streamside area with lots of black walnut trees, the trail embarks on a gradual climb up the south side of the ravine.  This climb gains about 140 feet of elevation in just over 0.4 miles, and all of the grades on this trail are fairly gradual.

South end of loop

            Just past 1.3 miles, a connector trail that leads south to another trailhead exits left.  Our trail curves sharply right to gain the crest of the ridge.  An open field soon appears to the left, and a white water tower can be seen beyond the field.  Your sojourn on the south rim of the ravine is brief, and soon you begin the gradual descent back into the ravine.

Hiking through the woods

            Ignore 2 trails that exit left; follow the blue trail markers at each of these intersections.  At 1.7 miles you cross another footbridge back to the north side of the main stream.  Some of the largest trees in this forest grow in this area, and I was very impressed by the beech, maple, and tulip trees I passed here.  Gradual climbing brings you beside a privately-owned parcel of land at 1.9 miles; a wooden barn with stone foundation stands here.  I mentioned the piecemeal history of this park in the introduction, and several privately-owned land plots remain within the park's boundaries today.

Old stone barn foundation

            2.1 miles into the hike, you reach the top of the hill and a trail intersection.  The trail going left leads to the Tri-Valley Trail and the Whitely Farm Loop.  As directed by the blue trail markers, our hike turns right to begin the final segment of the Bryan's Field Trail.  This segment of trail is fairly flat, and it passes first a park maintenance area and then an old stone barn foundation on the left as you hike east through sunny prairie.  Just shy of 2.4 miles, you return to the trailhead to complete the hike.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge (Blog Hike #345)

Trails: Black Farm, Blue Goose, and Boardwalk Trails

Hike Location: Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Geographic Location: southeast of Milford, DE (38.83033, -75.24834)

Length: 2.5 miles

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: May 2011

Overview: A flat hike on somewhat primitive trail with good wildlife viewing opportunities.

Refuge Information: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/prime_hook/
Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=101025
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of SR 1 and US 113 in Milford, take SR 1 south 12 miles to SR 16 (Broadkill Road).  Turn left on Broadkill Rd.  Take Broadkill Rd. about 2 miles to Turkle Pond Rd. and the signed refuge entrance on the left.  Turn left on Turkle Pond Road, and in 0.2 miles enter the refuge.  Follow the main refuge road 2 miles to the Visitor Center on the right.  Park in any of the lots around the Visitor Center, from whence the hike starts.

The hike: Located along the Atlantic coast in east-central Delaware, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 to protect coastal wetlands for migratory waterfowl.  The name Prime Hook comes from the Dutch phrase priume hoek, meaning Plum Point.  When Dutch settlers arrived in Delaware in the 1600’s, they gave this area that name due to the large colonies of purple beach plums they found here.

            Most of the refuge’s 10,000 acres consist of open wetlands, which in turn give great wildlife viewing opportunities.  With over 5 miles of trails, many routes through the refuge are possible.  The hike described here forms a loop that leads you around the best of the wetlands. 

In addition to this hike, two other items at the refuge deserve note.  The 0.8 mile Pine Grove Trail was closed on my visit, but it provides an interesting short hike through pine flats past a wildlife observation platform overlooking Turkle Pond.  Also, if you prefer water transportation to foot transportation, a 7-mile canoe trail leads along Prime Hook Creek and through the heart of the refuge.

Boardwalk at trailhead

            Start at the southeast side of the Visitor Center where a gravel trail leads to a boardwalk over a small marshy area.  A wooden post bearing colored stickers tells you that the combined Black Farm and Photography Blind Trails heads across the boardwalk through mature wetland forest.  At 0.2 miles, the two trails part ways.  We will eventually turn right and head down the Black Farm Trail, but for now turn left and walk the short 0.1 mile trail to the photography blind.

A short boardwalk leads to the door for the blind, which you must open to enter.  Take care when you enter structures such as this one: wasps and hornets like to call these blinds home.  I did not encounter anything harmful on my visit, but I did find a bird’s nest with 3 small white eggs in it.  Several view ports allow you to see the shallow pond from many angles.  The pond was rather quiet on the Sunday afternoon I stood in this blind except for a black-necked stilt poking through the mud for lunch.

Bird's Nest in blind

Looking out on the marsh

            When you are finished at the photography blind, retrace your steps to the Black Farm Trail.  Angle left to continue on the Black Farm Trail.  The trail stays near the field-woods boundary as it passes behind the refuge maintenance building.  At 0.4 miles, the Black Farm Trail splits to form a loop.  This hike does not use the entire loop and turns right here.  The option heading left goes to the refuge’s southern boundary and could be used to lengthen the hike.

Plate with a mink track

              The wide grassy trail heads straight west through a narrow strip of mature forest with old fields in the early stages of forest succession on either side.  Cement plaques help you identify various animal tracks in the soft soil, and tree stumps looking like the pointy end of pencils provide evidence of beaver activity.  At 0.7 miles, the south arm of the Black Farm Trail enters from the left.  Continue straight to soon intersect the refuge entrance road.  A small parking area here could provide an alternate starting point for this hike.

Cross the road and head down a wide, grassy connector trail that goes straight through an old field now populated by shrubs and young pines.  The grass under this trail was rather high on my visit, so I had to check myself for ticks when I finished the hike.  Also, the large amount of standing water near these trails ensures a large number of mosquitoes in season, so be sure to wear a liberal layer of insect repellent during the warmer months.

Intersecting the Blue Goose Trail

            At 0.8 miles, you intersect the Blue Goose Trail, which goes left and straight.  To continue this loop, go straight.  I suspect the Blue Goose Trail is named for the blue goose drawing that has become the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System, but I could not confirm that hunch.  The trail curves right as it traces a boundary line between the old field to your right and mature forest to your left.

Turkle Pond

              1 mile into the hike, a short side trail leads left to Turkle Pond.  The trail offers opportunities to view the pond both from an elevated overlook and at pond-level.  Past the Turkle Pond spur, the Blue Goose Trail angles gradually right as it weaves its way into and out of the mature forest and old field.  Ignore a pair of side trails that exit right and lead to the refuge road.

At 2 miles, the Blue Goose Trail ends at an intersection with the Boardwalk Trail.  Turn left to begin the boardwalk.  The boardwalk leads over a large freshwater marsh, which can be seen extending for miles to the north.  A blue heron glided over the marsh as I walked along the boardwalk.

End of boardwalk

The boardwalk curves right and heads back into the mature broadleaf forest, at which point it becomes a gravel path.  Continuing along the gravel path will lead you at 2.3 miles to the Dike Trail, which is used by canoeists to access the canoe trail.  A right turn will return you to the Visitor Center in quick order. 

Before you leave the refuge there is one more place you should visit.  If you turn right up the west arm of the Boardwalk Trail (marked by a brown sign that says “Boardwalk Trail: ½ mile loop”), in less than 0.1 miles you will come to the Morris family cemetery.  An interpretive sign gives you information about the pioneer cemetery, which contains headstones dating to the 1800’s.  This piece of human history makes a somber and interesting end to a nature-filled hike.

Killens Pond State Park: Pondside Nature Trail (Blog Hike #344)

Trail: Pondside Nature Trail

Hike Location: Killens Pond State Park

Geographic Location: north of Harrington, DE (38.98433, -75.53275)

Length: 2.6 miles

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Date Hiked: May 2011

Overview: A peaceful circumnavigation of Killens Pond.

Park Information: https://www.destateparks.com/PondsRivers/KillensPond
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=943613
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Dover, take US 13 south 14.3 miles to Killens Pond Rd.  Turn left on Killens Pond Rd.  Take Killens Pond Rd. 1.3 miles to the state park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park.  Pay the park entrance fee and drive past the main parking lot to the Nature Center parking lot at the very end of the park road.  The hike starts in front of the Nature Center.

The hike: Built in the late 1700’s, the tranquil Killens Pond we see today has industrial roots: it was built as a millpond on the Murderkill River.  Local legend traces the river's name to a local American Indian tribe's massacre of a Dutch trading party at the mouth of the river in 1648.  Now located less than 20 miles from downtown Dover, Killens Pond State Park, established only in 1965, protects an area of mature broadleaf forest around its namesake 66-acre pond. 

            The park is a favorite among anglers, as I found out when I hiked this trail on a warm sunny Sunday morning.  The park also contains a developed campground, a primitive campground, a water park, and a sports complex with volleyball courts and baseball fields.  For hikers, there are several hiking trails in the park, but the best trail is the 2.8 mile Pondside Nature Trail described here.  Not only does the Pondside Nature Trail give you the best pond views, but it stays in the mature forest around the pond for most of its distance.

A selfie at Killens Pond

            There are several places to pick up the Pondside Nature Trail, but I chose to start at the brown unusually-shaped Nature Center.  The Nature Center contains some interesting interactive exhibits and has a patio overlooking the pond.  The Pondside Nature Trail passes in front of the Nature Center.  To get to the mature forest first, I chose to hike the trail counterclockwise, which is accomplished by turning right on the trail if you are walking from the parking lot or left if you are coming out of the Nature Center.

            In only 0.1 miles the trail forks.  Yellow plastic stickers on a wooden post tell you that the Pondside Nature Trail heads left down a wide, sandy-soil track while a side trail to the water park exits right.  At 0.2 miles, you reach the first of several side trails that exit left down to the pond.  I recommend you explore each of these short side trails, as each one leads to a slightly different pond view.  This trail leads to a point that juts out into the pond, giving views down the pond’s entire length.

View of Killens Pond

            At 0.3 miles, another spur trail exits right to head for the park’s main parking area.  The official pondside trailhead is located at that parking area, and it could be used as an alternate starting point for this hike.  The pond remains out of sight through the trees to your left.  Some large tulip poplars dominate the forest, while the lower wetter areas feature a dense understory of maidenhair ferns and skunk cabbage.  At 0.7 miles, another side trail leads left to the pond.  This trail leads to a nice view of the pond’s lotus colony, which blooms in late July to early August.

            Just after crossing a wooden bridge over a wet area, the trail reaches a T-intersection with the gravel two-track Cross-Country Trail.  Turning right here would lead you to the Sports Complex, but the Pondside Nature Trail turns left and crosses Murderkill River on a wide wooden bridge with steel supports.  The bridge gives a good opportunity to view wildlife around the dark pond waters.  On my visit, several geese were making their way downstream.

Crossing the headwaters of Killens Pond

            Now on the south side of the pond, another short spur trail leads left to a pond overlook.  Very soon the Pondside Nature and Cross Country Trails part ways.  Turn left to stay on the Pondside Nature Trail.  A cluster of pinxter azalea brightens the forest here in early May.  At 1.7 miles, the trail passes through the fringe of the park’s cabin area, which you can see through the trees to your right.  The trail is a little hard to follow here, but some carsonite posts bearing orange blazes reassure you that you are on the right track.

            Where some wooden steps lead left and downhill to a pier, continue straight on the main trail.  The trail next traces the fringes of the park’s main campground before reaching the next side trail to the pond.  This side trail leads out a narrow finger ridge surrounded on 3 sides by water.  The Nature Center can be seen across the pond from this point.

Trail heading down steps

            After passing through a deep ravine, the trail comes out at the boat launch area on Killens Pond Road.  This would be another potential starting point for this hike, but I do not recommend it because the small parking area is usually crammed with trucks hauling boats.  To continue the hike, turn left and walk along the shoulder of Killens Pond Road as it crosses the dam that forms its namesake pond.

            On the opposite side of the dam, leave the road by turning left on a wide grassy trail that heads through a gap in the fence.  Pass the boat rental area and climb a small hill to return to the front door of the Nature Center and complete the hike.