Junction and Breakwater Trail

The Junction and Breakwater Trail is a 6-mile (9.7 km) long rail trail located on the southwestern side of Cape Henlopen State Park connecting Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, United States. It is the third rail trail built in Delaware and it is the longest in the state.[1] It partially follows the former Pennsylvania Railroad Rehoboth Beach branch that once transported passengers to several Methodist resort camps along the Atlantic coast. The line was abandoned by the Penn Central in the early 1970s.

Junction and Breakwater Trail
Length6 mi (9.7 km)
LocationCape Henlopen, Delaware, US
Established2003
TrailheadsLewes and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
UseHiking, cycling
Hiking details
Trail difficultyEasy
SurfaceCrushed stone
Right of wayPenn Central Transportation Company
Websitewww.destateparks.com/activities/Trails/locations/cape-henlopen/index.asp#8

The Junction and Breakwater Trail is named after the former railroad line between Lewes and Rehoboth in the mid-19th century. The first 3.6 miles (5.8 km) of the trail was opened in December 2003 after acquiring parcels and easements from private landowners. On June 4, 2007, an additional 2.4 miles (3.9 km) were added, extending the trail to Kings Highway in Lewes.[2] Plans are being discussed to extend the trail further into town.[3]

The trail includes two bridges, including an 80-foot (24 m) long railroad bridge originally built in 1913 that crosses Holland Glade and provides views of coastal wetlands and of a World War II observation tower located on the coast. The trail consists of crushed stone with an average width of 12 feet (3.7 m).

Notes
  1. Race, Amanda (Spring 2007). "Destination: Junction and Breakwater Trail" (PDF). Rails to Trails Magazine. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. pp. 23–25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-14. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
  2. "Junction and Breakwater Trail Extension Opens at Cape Henlopen State Park" (Press release). Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. 2007-06-04. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  3. Swick, Rachel (2007-04-16). "Hawkseye provides missing link for Lewes-Rehoboth bike trail". Cape Gazette. Archived from the original on 2007-05-06. Retrieved 2007-04-29.

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