Under An Hour From Rehoboth Beach Is Delaware's Largest State Forest With Fishing And Scenic Nature Trails

Delaware, the second-smallest state in the country, receives almost 30 million visitors each year, according to the Delaware Tourism Office. Most of those people head straight for the beaches, boardwalk, and lighthouses along its 117 miles of coastline. But you shouldn't overlook the First State's three state forests. Its largest, Redden State Forest, is the perfect spot to go fishing and hiking when you need a break from the sun.

In the 19th century, the Junction & Breakwater Railroad laid tracks around Delaware. Just outside of Georgetown, a charming overlooked gem, Carey's Station was built in a vast forest covered with loblolly pines and hardwood trees, renamed in honor of Civil War Colonel William O. Redden. The building was later turned into the Redden Forest Lodge, which was eventually placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Delaware started buying these plots of land, plus the historic buildings on them, in 1936 to be protected as a state forest. Redden State Forest has grown to 18 tracts of land and more than 14,000 acres — the biggest state forest in Delaware. It's also a convenient drive from Rehoboth Beach, where you'll find one of America's best boardwalks, less than an hour east.

The Headquarters Tract is where you'll find the Redden Fishing Pond. This catch-and-release pond might be small (it's less than 1 acre), but it's a good spot to cast for bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass. To go fishing here, you'll need to obtain a recreational fishing license from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. This can be done online or at an authorized agent in advance of your trip. As with all of Delaware's state forests, there is no cost to visit Redden State Forest.

Redden State Forest has more than 44 miles of multi-use trails winding through it. It's most popular route is the Redden State Forest Loop. This easy trail winds just about 4.8 miles through meadows, swamps, and trees in the almost 1,800-acre Headquarters Tract. As you follow this trail, you'll pass a bridge, a small pond, and a historic carriage house, which is now the Redden State Forest Education Center, where you can learn more about the forest. Keep an eye out for colorful birds, as red-headed woodpeckers and summer tanagers have been spotted in warmer months. Turkeys and white-tailed deer are common, too. Just west of the Headquarters Tract, you'll find more than 5 miles of hiking trails in the Jester Tract. Its namesake loop passes a large picnic pavilion as it circles the tract in 1.2 miles. Don't be surprised if you see horses on the wide trails.

To reach Redden State Forest, there are a few options. Salisbury, Maryland, is less than 35 miles to the south. But its small Salisbury Regional Airport (SBY) only receives nonstop flights from four East Coast cities. For additional options, you should check out flights to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Though the larger airport is almost 95 miles away, it gives you a good excuse to explore Baltimore, the popular East Coast city known for its harbor and seafood.