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Creekside and Brandywine Valley Trail Loop

Wilmington, Delaware

4.5/5
based on 2 reviews

Details

Distance

5.5 miles

Elevation Gain

20 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by John Maurizi

A nice day hike along a slow moving Brandywine Creek.  Plenty of shade for a hot summer day.

This loops starts out from the Rockland Road Trail head.  There is a pay station here that is self-regulated.  Creekside Trail starts here and runs the entire length of Brandywine Creek State Park along the Brandywine River. The trail is an easy 2.6 miles long and continues into First State National Historical Park where is meets up with the Brandywine Trail. The southern end of the trail is single track that weaves through the forest along the river. The trail exits at Thompson's Bridge where you cross the road and continue on a much more defined trail. The trail crosses into First State National Historical Park onto a dirt road. To the left is the Brandywine River and to the right is a field of soybeans, something I have never seen in this area. The crops go back to the 1600's when the land was deeded to William Penn. This was my favorite trail in the park. 


Brandywine Valley Trail in the park is a wide easy trail about 2.9 miles long, most of which is a carriage road. It is part of the Northern Delaware Greenway that extends for 10.4 miles. To the north, the Brandywine Trail leaves the park.  Hike past the soy bean field in First State National Historic Park. At the end of the field there is a carriage road that leads back to Thompson's Bridge.  The carriage road becomes paved for a short distance then back to dirt and exits back at Rockland Road trail head. 

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Features

Photography
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Forest
River

Reviews

You can really get anything you’d like out of the multitude of trails here. Some steep paths if you’re looking for that. Or some leisurely walks alongside the river/creek if you’re into that sort of thing. Lots of shade for those hot summer days too.

The Brandywine Valley, in general, is enormous. I love spending much of my leisure time just getting lost out in the Valley and finding lovely, hidden little spots for moments of peaceful quiet or for some photography. Creek Rd is one of my favorite roads, and there are many spots along the entire Brandywine that are highly photogenic! I have hiked some of the "marked" paths in the areas immediately surrounding this particular little bit of land, though I have spent more time off the trail than on, stumbling upon expansive cornfields and breathtaking early-morning vistas of the fog-laden hills. The Blue Ridge Mountains it is not, and most of the year much of the valley is, overall, not extraordinarily remarkable; nevertheless, it's a stone's throw from home and easily accessible (there are a number of areas to park for free, and little pull-off sections along most roads to stop and admire the nature). I always manage to find new things to photograph! (Just this morning, not that far from Creek Road, I stumbled upon a small stream on the edge of some private property that was laden with primroses, and one of the owner's employees, I think he was, gave me permission to walk around the area and photograph to my little heart's content!)

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Rocky Run Loop Trail at Brandywine Creek State Park

Hike the Hidden Pond Trail

Hike the Indian Springs Trail

Hike Brandywine Park Loop

Hike the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail

Hike the Meadow Garden at Longwood Gardens