Explore Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Smyrna, Delaware
Details
Distance
12 miles
Route Type
Loop
Description
Added by Abby Shepard
Discover this unique habitat for hiking, birding, photography, and incredible scenery
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest expanses of tidal salt marsh in the mid-Atlantic, and is nestled on the Eastern shores of Kent County, Delaware.
Upon arriving at the refuge, there is a small visitor center with maps, a video presentation, restrooms, and educational exhibits. There is a small admission fee, and the visitor center is the easiest place to pay.
A 12 mile driving loop takes you throughout the refuge with places you can stop to hike, observe wildlife, or climb one of the observation towers to get a better view of the landscape.
Highlights of the driving loop include, in the order of appearance:
- Raymond Tower Trail: a 0.25 mile trail to the observation tower overlooking Raymond Pool
- Boardwalk Trail: a 0.25 mile boardwalk loop that offers fantastic views of the salt marshes
- Shearness Tower Trail: a 0.25 mile walk to the observation tower overlooking Shearness Pool, and a great place to observe flocks of birds
- Parsons Point Trail: a 1 mile trail into the forested area near Shearness Pool. There was not much to see on this trail, and it could be skipped if time is short
- Bear Swamp Trail: a 0.25 mile loop to to the Bear Swamp Observation Tower. There is also a small dock adjacent to the tower, which is a great place to catch reptiles basking in the sun.
Continue along the driving loop to exit the refuge.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Explore Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Reviews
You can drive with several small hikes or you can park and ride a bike or walk all or part of the loop. I have only been in winter and seen many species of ducks/geese. I have seen eagles and hawks. Lucky folks may see an owl. I have also seen a fox there. There is a charge to get in in a Dropbox and you need exact change.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Hike the Pondside Trail, Killens Pond SP
Kayak Killens Pond
Camp at Killens Pond State Park
Hike or Bike Michael N. Castle Trail
Hike Michael Castle Trail
Camp at Lums Pond State Park
Community
© 2025 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy