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Cape Henlopen State Park

Lewes, Delaware

(302) 645-8983 / N38° 46'0" W75° 5'43"

Registration is now open for Cape Henlopen's
Junior Lifeguard Program
for ages 9-15! Learn More

Beaches and Open Spaces


Cape Henlopen's beaches attract thousandsof visitors who enjoy ocean swimming and sunbathing. Two designated swimming beaches provide lifeguard patrolsbetween Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day (schedule may What's Happening at this park? Click to see the exciting programs and events being offered here!vary due to staff availability).Umbrellas can be rented during the summer. The northern swimming area also features a modern bath house with showers, changing rooms, and a food concession. This swimming area also features Mobi-Mat equipment, consisting of three 30-foot mats allowing those in wheelchairs and power chairs to access the beach from the boardwalk.


Richard Julian

Cape Henlopen Highlights from park naturalist, Richard Julian.

The park's open spaces feature many other activities. A picnic pavilion and the "Officer's Club" building can both be reserved for group events. An 18-hole disc golf course encourages friendly competition, and basketball courts promote more active exercise. Winter hunting is permitted in some areas of the park; a hunting permit is required, and information can be obtained from the Park Office. Annual events such as the Kite Festival and the Halloween Fantasy Trail are family favorites. The park also conducts a variety of entertaining recreational programs, including natural history lectures, seaside seining, and birdwatching, to name but a few.

Cape Henlopen has many year-round hiking and biking opportunities. Experience the park's scenic and ever-changing landscape - and get a lesson in history - along the three-mile-long paved trail that loops the park. Take a trail break and climb to the top of the World War II Observation Tower, where the 360-degree views are spectacular. Or take a short climb to the top of a former military bunker to view the dynamic action along the Atlantic coastline. Explore the coastal environment along the Seaside or the Pinelands Nature Trails, or hike the six miles of beach along the Atlantic Ocean.