Delaware State Parks Trail Challenge 2010

Cass listening to the water at White Clay Creek State Park

All endeavor calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hours toil. The fight to the finish spirit is the one characteristic we must possess if we are to face the future as finishers.

Henry David Thoreau

I like to set goals. The kids like to hike.

We’ve discussed it and we are going to try and complete the Delaware State Parks Trail Challenge– 15 trails throughout the state:

Brandywine Creek State Park

Hidden Pond 2.8 miles Easy to Moderate
Indian Springs 1.8 miles Easy to Moderate with challenging sections
Rocky Run Trail 2 miles Moderate with challenging sections

Cape Henlopen State Park

Junction and Breakwater Trail 5 miles (one way) Easy
Pinelands Trail 2 miles Easy
Walking Dunes Trail 1.6 miles Easy

Fort Delaware State Park

Prison Camp Trail 0.8 miles Easy

Fort DuPont State Park

Fort DuPont Trail 1.1 miles Easy

Fox Point State Park

Riverview Trail 2 miles Easy

Holts Landing State Park

Seahawk Trail 1.5 miles Easy

Killens Pond State Park

Pondside Trail 2.6 miles Easy to Moderate

Lums Pond State Park

Swamp Forest Trail 7.1 miles Easy

Trap Pond State Park

Loblolly Trail 4.6 miles Easy

White Clay Creek State Park

David English Trail 2.4 miles Moderate
Twin Valley Trail 3.9 miles Moderate

The ones that are moderate or have challenging sections all are close to home.

The only ones that have me a bit worried are the Lums Pond, which seems a bit long at 7.1 miles (but I hiked it as a kid with my brother, who had to be about Cassie’s age at the time) and the Cape Henlopen, which is 5 miles one way– how am I going to get back to my car?

My husband, by the way, thinks that I have lost my flipping mind. But I think that this is a good way to ensure the kids and I get unplugged and exercised this summer, excited about getting outdoors in new places, not to mention exploring all these lovely parks that I’m always meaning to revisit and can never find the time for.

There’s also some sort of prize you can win, but I’m guessing just the satisfaction of completing the challenge will be enough for the kids.

I’ve only ever hit the local trails with the kids. Any advice for daytrip hiking?