Seek Adventure at Lums Pond State Park

Hiking, biking, boating, fishing and even ziplining! If you're seeking a place for outdoor adventure this summer, then you'll want to check out Lums Pond State Park. Located in neighboring Delaware, Lums Pond State Park is a short 15-minute trip from the Inn at the Canal. Recreational opportunities abound at this park that surrounds Delaware's largest freshwater pond.

Start your exploration at the Whale Wallow Nature Center, where you can learn about the park's amenities and its native wildlife. Visitors will see live animal exhibits including a 500-gallon freshwater aquarium exhibit with fish that are native to the pond. Wetlands around the park are home to reptiles, amphibians and notable dragonfly species.

Next, it's time to hit the trails. Nearly 18 miles of trails wind through hardwood forest. The challenging Swamp Forest Trail is 6.4 miles long and offers hikers and runners spectacular views as it weaves through diverse habitats along the pond’s edge. All skill levels can enjoy the 7.7-mile Little Jersey Trail, which forms an outer loop around the park. It's a shared-use trail designated for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. For a quick trek, try the Whale Wallow Loop, which is adjacent to the nature center and is a raised boardwalk over fresh wooded wetlands.

Explore the park from a whole new perspective by opting to zipline through the trees. At the Go Ape Adventure Park at Lums Pond, you'll tackle dangling obstacles, rope ladders, treetop crossings, a Tarzan swing and five epic ziplines that will take you over the pond. Plan on spending two to three hours conquering the main course, or try the shorter Treetop Journey course for a one-hour introduction to this aerial adventure.

Maybe you'd prefer to explore the 200-acre Lums Pond up close. There's a boathouse that rents rowboats, canoes, kayaks and pedal boats. From the water, you'll spot turtles basking on logs, Great Blue Herons standing along the shoreline and osprey flying overhead. The pond also offers some of the best fishing spots in the state. Reel in crappie, bluegill, perch, pickerel, largemouth bass and more. Fishing licenses are required.

A little history about the park... Lums Pond State Park is located at what were the headwaters of St. Georges Creek, a tidal stream flowing to the Delaware River. Before the pond existed, St. Georges Creek flowed through a hardwood forest and was the site of several Native American hunting camps. The creek was dammed in the early 1800s when the Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D) Canal was built. Water from the pond was used to fill the locks of the canal and power a small mill.

Lums Pond State Park
1068 Howell School Road
Bear, DE 19701
302-368-6989