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| 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?
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