Gordons Pond
4.8(400)google
4.5(16)yelp
WetlandBird WatchingHikingOutdoor
Overview
James Pond 3: Operation Starfish (stylized as Operation Starfi5h, after the fictional secret service F.I.5.H) is a 1993 video game for Mega Drive, Amiga and Amiga CD32, Super NES and Game Gear. It is the third and last game in the James Pond series. It is also the only one that was only released for AGA Amigas: the Amiga 1200, Amiga 4000 and CD32.
Practical Info
Every dayOpen 24 hours
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeSpring (April-May) and autumn (October) are prime for wildlife watching along this pristine salt lagoon. Aim for early morning from 5:30 AM to 7:30 AM to experience the sunrise over the Atlantic boardwalk trail and witness thousands of migratory waterfowl nesting and feeding.
Getting ThereAccessible via the southern entrance of Cape Henlopen State Park. Drive to the southern terminus of Ocean Drive in Lewes, which opens directly into the dedicated Gordons Pond paid parking area. No public transit serves this ecological trail; biking or driving is required.
Travel Tips
- As the southern salt marsh extension of Cape Henlopen State Park, the iconic elevated wetlands boardwalk is highly constrained. Between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM in summer, severe pedestrian-cyclist friction occurs; because the structure lacks side railings over deep muck, cyclists are legally speed-restricted to 8 mph.
- The elevated boardwalk spans a marsh wilderness hosting venomous copperheads, black widows, and deer ticks. Never lean over the structural boundaries or dismount into the mudflats to retrieve dropped gear; if an item falls into the marsh, call Cape Henlopen Park Rangers to deploy specialized structural recovery tools.
- The dedicated asphalt lot at Gordons Pond provides limited parking stalls and fills completely by 8:30 AM on clear summer days. When 'Lot Full' signage deploys, idling on Ocean Drive is banned; out-of-state plates must purchase and display a Delaware State Parks daily pass from the automated kiosk to avoid fines.
Reviews
Positive
- The elevated boardwalk stretching along wetlands and ponds offers stunning open views, making it an excellent trail for biking and hiking.
- The wildlife ecology here is fantastic, allowing visitors to easily spot various migratory birds, wading birds, and wild deer along the way.
- The trail is impeccably maintained, smooth, and wide, perfect for families with strollers or wheelchairs to enjoy an accessible walk.
- The end of the pond connects directly to a relatively quiet, pristine beach, offering the charm of both wetlands and the ocean.
Heads up
- The trail has almost no shade trees, leaving you exposed to the scorching mid-summer sun, making sunscreen and hats a must.
- The south parking lot fills up early on summer weekends, and the daily parking fee for out-of-state vehicles is quite pricey.
- The wetland environment breeds many mosquitoes and biting flies during certain seasons, ruined the comfort of stopping to admire views.
- There are no public restrooms or trash cans along the entire trail; facilities are only available at the parking lots on either end.