Explore Delaware’s northern most cypress swamp.
As the northern most surviving cypress swamp that includes both bald cypress and cypress, Trap Pond State Park gives a glimpse of what was once the landscape of southern Delaware. Much of the surrounding farmland was drained for agriculture and Trap Pond was used as a drainage sump for this run off. Trap Pond was created in the 18th century when loggers were clearing the cypress swamp of its valuable lumber. A lumber mill and dam were built on one end of the swamp, essentially turning much of the swamp into a pond. The dam is still there (albeit updated with concrete). In 1951, Trap Pond became Delaware’s first state park.
Geese chilling on the edge of Trap Pond on a rainy day.
A couple of geese channeling their inner flamingo.
The Bob Trail was chosen. It was a good trail for a rainy day.
A peak at Trap Pond through the trees. While the Bob Trail follows the pond for quite a while, the pond isn’t always visible.
Little swamp!
Raccoon Pond, also created by a dam.
The trail narrows a bit, while going through this lovely section of woods.
A short path from the Bob Trail leads to a cemetery and church.
Bethesda Methodist Episcopal Church, a rural country church built in 1879 and restored in 2008.
Finally, we reached the cypress swamp.
A very green swamp.
So pretty.
A little river flows through the swamp.
Such a wonderful forest.
A winding path. You can always tell in these cases that the trees were there before the path.
An extremely green pond.
Nearby the water is more mirror like.
And this is why I love swamps. It was surprisingly not that buggy.
I may have had to go off trail a bit to get this photo. I just thought that the mirror effect was super cool here.
Getting closer to Trap Pond again.
A dark and very gray day.
Trap Pond from the side of the dam.
After the Bob Trail, we took the short Cypress Trail to see more swamps and Trap Pond. It is located on the other side of Trap Pond from where we started the Bob Trail.
We saw some cypress trees very soon after starting the trail.
Trap Pond was even becoming mirror like.
Surviving bald cypress trees out in the pond. The best way to see some of the cypress swamps is by canoe or kayak.
Much of the cypress trees are fairly small in the park as a result of the clear cutting over the past few centuries.
However, this cypress swamp is very thick and full of life.
Mini-cypresses and lots of green.
Trap Pond State Park is a wonderful park in Southern Delaware, less than 30 minutes north of Salisbury, Maryland and not much of a detour from US-13. While Trap Pond might not be as much as a draw as the ocean parks in the area, it is still a really cool park preserving one of the few remaining cypress swamps in Delaware.
Check out my next update where I return to the nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C.
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Check out more national parks and other public lands!
