Lums Pond State Park: Swamp Forest Trail

Lums Pond State Park is in northern Delaware, about a 30-minute drive from Wilmington. I visited the park on a scorching and humid summer morning.  My wife and I pulled into an empty parking lot about an hour after dawn.  

The plan that day was to hike the Swamp Forest Trail, which I’d read is one of the best hiking trails in Delaware. We made some coffee and had a quick snack before hitting the trail just after 8:30 in the morning. 

The Swamp Forest Trail is a nearly 7-mile loop that, for the most part, traces the edge of Lums Pond. It was pretty much level throughout and offers great views of Lums Pond.  The trail weaves through a forested wetland.  It was muddy and wet in places, but overall the trail was in pretty good condition. In particularly marshy areas, there were elevated boardwalks and bridges. 

Lums Ponds is man-made but also Delaware’s largest freshwater pond and a great spot for bird watching. As we made our way along the trail, the forest was bursting with songbirds. Along the pond’s edges, we spotted a few herons, egrets, and other waterfowl. Nearly 200 species of birds have been documented in the park. 

The entire hike took about three hours to complete, but we were not hurting. There is very little elevation change, which could be done much quicker if you hustle.  I spent a while unsuccessfully trying to take bird pictures. Regardless of speed, if you live in or near Lums Pond State Park, I recommend taking some time to hike the Swamp Forest Trail. It was great.