Top Kid-Friendly Trails on Delmarva

My son is the main reason I began building this website. When the world shut down in the spring of 2020, I was stuck in the house each day with a very active 4-year-old while my husband, an essential worker, went to work every day. I not only set a goal to get outside daily - I set a goal to hike nearly every trail on Delmarva, most of which my son accompanied me on. 

Not every trail is kid-friendly. In fact, many aren’t. In 2020, my son couldn’t handle much more than a mile without whining and asking for snacks. We still get outside frequently now, but hiking alone usually doesn’t interest him. But if our destination has some kid-friendly “extras” he’s all for it. He enjoys exploring places that have a variety of scenery and a variety of things to do. With all the time we’ve spent venturing outdoors, I’ve developed a list of my own favorite kid-friendly trails so I thought it’s time to share.

Trap Pond State Park

Located in Laurel, Delaware, Trap Pond has become my go-to when we don’t have any plans. Our favorite thing to do is to ride bikes around the 4-mile Bob Trail. This trail meanders through the woods, along the side of the pond, and across a beautiful boardwalk over the cypress swamp. After the bike ride, we always spend time checking out the nature center and playing on the playground. In the summer we enjoy paddling the pond because it’s fairly protected from winds and we almost always see turtles. We bring our own kayaks, but the park does offer rentals, as well as guided boat tours. 

Pocomoke River State Park: Shad Landing

If you like Trap Pond, you’ll also love Shad Landing. This park is in Snow Hill, MD and has a lot to offer kiddos. We enjoy walking the Trail of Change - it’s a short loop trail, with beautiful views of the cypress swamp. We frequently see turtles, snakes, and a variety of birds. On sunny days, we almost always see Eastern fence lizards in the parking lot! The park also has a nature center, playground, and kayak rentals. The Corkers Creek water trail is a great spot for beginner kayakers.

Cape Henlopen State Park

Cape Henlopen is probably one of the most popular state parks on the peninsula, and for good reason! We’ve been taking our son to Cape Henlopen since he was a baby. At eight months old he was touching horseshoe crabs and knobbed whelks in the nature center’s touch tank. There are several trails that are short loops and super kid-friendly such as the Seaside Nature Trail, the Pinelands Trail, and the off-road bike loop. There’s a fishing pier, playground, WWII museum, and of course beaches. Best of all, if you don’t have your own bikes, the park’s Friends group operates a free bike borrow program, complete with towable toddler trailers! 

Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center

Just a stone’s throw from Kent Island is the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center. This property has several miles of trails, many of which are loops that offer a lot of scenery. The birdwatching blinds and observation decks add some nice points of interest to little ones while you’re hiking. There is also an aviary, some interpretive exhibits, and a pollinator garden, so there’s plenty of opportunities for a little environmental education during your visit.

Pocomoke Exercise & Nature Trail

Pocomoke City, MD has a great little trail that departs from downtown near the drawbridge and heads into the cypress swamp. My son loves all the boardwalks that weave in and out of the trees. There are playgrounds on either end of the trail but best of all, you can walk to the Delmarva Discovery Museum from the trailhead. This little museum has some stunning exhibits about the cultural heritage of Delmarva, as well as live animals, including otters!

Kiptopeke State Park

Way down towards the southern tip of Delmarva is a gem of a park - Kiptopeke State Park. It is located on the Chesapeake Bay, about halfway between Cape Charles and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Prior to it being a state park, Kiptopeke was the location of the car ferry that once transported people across to Virginia Beach. There is still some old infrastructure in place, most notably the ferry dock which is now a huge fishing pier. The best trail with the best views is the Brown Pelican Trail. We always tend to think Delmarva is pretty low elevation, but this trail has some height to it, offering beautiful vistas of the bay and stunning sunsets - just be sure to make sure curious kiddos don’t try to explore beyond the protective fencing at the lookouts! The park also has a playground, hawk watch, and beautiful beaches.

James Farm Ecological Preserve

The James Farm property near Bethany Beach, DE is managed by a nonprofit, the Center for the Inland Bays. The trail system here is very well maintained and it’s just a short jaunt out to the beach on Indian River Bay. We enjoy the boardwalks through the wooded area and the observation deck overlooking the marsh. In the coming years, a new environmental education center will be constructed, making this spot even more kid-friendly.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

I love taking my son to ride bikes at the Chincoteague refuge. Before 3 p.m., Wildlife Drive is closed to cars, making it a safe, 3-mile loop. My son biked this loop on his balance bike, with training wheels, and now his 2-wheeler. There are additional trails that wind through the refuge that are all paved so they’re perfect for strollers and bikes - just be aware that a short stretch of the trail is along the shoulder of a low-speed-limit road. The lighthouse is also frequently open for climbing and just before you reach the beach, be sure to stop in the Tom’s Cove Visitor Center. For many Delmarva residents, Chincoteague is a doable day trip. We like to top our day off with some ice cream at the Island Creamery before we head home!

St. Michaels Nature Trail

The Town of St. Michaels in Talbot County, MD is packed with charming shops and restaurants, but there’s also a great 1.3-mile long trail that runs the entire length of town with minimal road crossings. There is a playground at one end, and ample parking on the other. There is also a small waterfront park on San Domingo Creek that’s a good spot for a picnic. While you’re in town, consider exploring the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum or grabbing ice cream at Justine’s!

Abbott’s Mill Nature Center

Abbott’s Mill Nature Center is a neat little property located in Milford, DE and operated by a nonprofit called the Delaware Nature Society. There are about 3 miles of trails to explore that offer a variety of forest, meadow, and wetland areas to see. We have not been to Abbott’s since spring of 2020 when everything was on lockdown, so I can’t tell you much about the nature center aside from the fact that they have one. There is also a historic mill onsite for any budding historians in the family.

Adkins Arboretum

On Maryland’s mid-shore, you’ll find Adkins Arboretum in Denton, MD. The 5 miles of trails are really well maintained and are packed with signage and interpretive displays. They frequently offer educational programs and other fun events onsite, so be sure to check out their events calendar. One time we even got to see their goats while we were hiking! Adkins is also adjacent to Tuckahoe State Park which has some more hiking trails, a campground, playground, and great kayaking.

Holts Landing

If you decide to visit James Farm, consider stopping by Holts Landing State Park too, because they are only a few miles apart. Holts has a 1.3-mile loop trail, complete with an extensive marsh boardwalk with educational displays along the way. The park also has a playground, fire pit, picnic pavilion, and fishing pier - plenty of things to keep the little ones occupied.

If you’re interested in finding even more kid-friendly trails on Delmarva, head on over to our trail search page and filter your search results for kid-friendly trails. Most of the kid-friendly trails are short, offer a variety of scenery, or provide other non-hiking activities nearby.