Is White Clay Creek our favorite? That’s a pretty hard question to answer, with so many lovely and enjoyable state parks in this little state. But there are lots of reasons to visit and areas of interest within White Clay Creek State Park.
Trails
There are over 37 miles of trails throughout this park. Trails are well maintained and clearly marked, but because of sheer size, it is always a good idea to carry water and download a map. AllTrails has kept me from being hopelessly lost on these extensive trails more than once. You will cross bubbling streams, meander through forested switchbacks along ridges and hills, and pass through wide open meadows on many of these lovely trails. The trails are not crowded, but you will likely encounter a mountain biker or two. You are welcome to bring along your leashed dog to enjoy the trails as well.
Wildlife
There is an abundance of fishing and birding opportunities in White Clay Creek State Park. The Creek itself is protected as a National Wild and Scenic River, and is stocked with fish for anglers. The pond at the Judge Morris Estate (called the Smith Mill Pond) includes fishing docks and is also stocked with bluegills and large mouthed bass. Both the forest and ponds include an abundance of natural habitat for birds, and for serious birders, the rare cerulean warbler can be spotted in the woods.
Historic Buildings
The Judge Morris Estate includes a manor house built in 1792 and refurbished in 1934. It was owned by a founder of the University of Delaware at one point, and was purchased from UD by Delaware’s Park System. There is a fishing pond and several trails that pass through this historic section of the park.
The Chambers House Nature Center was built around 1820, and now serves as the park offices and nature center. It is staffed by volunteers and occasionally utilized for camps and meetings. It is open to the public during limited weekend hours in the summer, and includes several small residents, such as snakes and turtles, who are native to the park.
Mason Dixon Marker
For geography nerds like myself, or for history buffs, it can be fun to find and view the Mason Dixon Marker that marked the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania. The marker dates back to the 1760s, when Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon made their way through then Maryland and Pennsylvania (including the lower counties which are now Delaware) to create the boundary now known as the Mason-Dixon Line. The wooden post that originally stood at the boundary was replaced in 1849 by the stone marker that remains today. The marker only shows Maryland and Pennsylvania since Delaware was part of PA at the time, though the current park passes into all three states.
The quickest way to find the marker is to park at Possum Hill Parking lot (right off Paper Mill Rd, where the little pond is) and walk past the pond to find a trail and walk parallel to the road until the trail forks. Take the right fork and you will come to the marker – it is less than a mile.
The fee for inland Delaware State Parks is $4 for in-state vehicles and $8 out-of-state. Annual passes can be purchased for all parks for $35 in-state and $70 out-of-state.