New Castle County: Trails, Parks and History

New Castle County’s park system includes 251 parks covering nearly 6,000 acres in total. It also features greenway trails, historic sites and museums. Offerings range from long recreational trails to individual gardens and exhibits, making it easy to choose a focus for your trip.

Parks, Trails and Landscapes

In Brandywine Hundred in New Castle County, the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail encompasses more than 1,200 acres of protected natural areas. The trail includes a 10-mile paved section and connects with 19 miles of trails in seven parks. The paved section is 10 miles long and connects with 19 miles of trails in seven parks.

The Brandywine Valley unit also combines trails with a varied landscape. It preserves more than 1,300 acres of farmland, pasture, wooded hills and streams, and offers more than 23 miles of recreational trails. In the Brandywine Valley area, smaller parking lots provide access to numerous hiking, biking and horseback riding trails.

Another clearly defined trail option is the loop in White Clay Creek State Park: It is 4 miles long, starts in Delaware and leads to Pennsylvania.

The Northern Delaware Greenway Trail’s recreational offerings also include the Brandywine Zoo. Carousel Park Equestrian Center covers more than 200 acres and features several miles of walking paths as well as a unique dog park. The different scales—from a single loop to a connected trail network—offer concrete points of reference if hiking or outdoor activity is part of your travel plans.

History, Architecture and Museums

Fort Delaware State Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bellevue State Park was formerly a DuPont estate. These two examples reflect different historical connections: Fort Delaware’s recognized historic designation and Bellevue’s former use as an estate.

Rockwood was built between 1851 and 1854 in the Gothic Revival style. Its design was intended to reflect the beauty of an English country estate. During a self-guided tour of the museum’s first floor, staff are nearby to answer questions. The six-acre Heritage Garden surrounds the historic mansion. The architecture, tour and garden offer different perspectives on Rockwood, without requiring a tour of the entire house.

The New Castle Court House was built in 1732. On June 15, 1776, thirteen delegates voted there for independence from Pennsylvania and Great Britain, establishing the state of Delaware. The New Castle Court House Museum presents the state’s history through guided interpretation and exhibits. These address the perspectives of Indigenous communities, the first European settlers, legislators, prisoners and judges, escaped enslaved people, and the free African American community.

More Things to Do

At Carousel Park, tours are offered of the stable, feed room and riding arenas. Visitors can also take part in a hands-on activity and groom a horse. This sets the experience apart from the walking paths and dog park: The focus here is on a look inside horse operations and a specific hands-on activity.

The Route 9 Farmers’ Market offers locally grown fruits and vegetables, meat, and vendors selling prepared foods. Market visits thus complement the trails and cultural sites with food and ready-to-eat options.

Explore more destinations: Brandywine, Christiana, Wilmington, Newark, Brookside, Bear, Claymont, New Castle, Hockessin, Delaware City.

For the main travel overview: Delaware.