When hikers ask which trails in Delaware are worth a full day — or several — the conversation always circles back to the same handful of routes. Below we've ranked the ten longest hiking trails in Delaware by total mapped distance, drawing from the 843 trails OutsideAtlas currently tracks in the state. Each entry includes the distance, what makes the route distinctive, and an honest note on who should actually attempt it.
Delaware is the second-smallest state — flat, low-elevation, and dominated by coastal plain. Hiking here means refuge boardwalks, beach trails, and gentle hardwood loops. Delaware's mapped long trails are mostly coastal or state-park loops rather than wilderness through-hikes. Spring and fall are ideal; summer brings humidity and biting flies in the marshes; winter is mild but bare.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 843 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Delaware — but the data has limits worth being honest about. OpenStreetMap distance tags are crowd-sourced and inconsistent. A route may appear longer or shorter than the official measurement, especially when long-distance trails (like state and national scenic trails) are tagged in segments rather than as a single relation.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Claymont Train Station Auxillary Parking Footpath
Claymont Train Station Auxillary Parking Footpath earns the #1 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect paved surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Claymont Train Station Auxillary Parking Footpath trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Eolyne K Tunnell Nature Preserve Walking Trail
Eolyne K Tunnell Nature Preserve Walking Trail earns the #2 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Eolyne K Tunnell Nature Preserve Walking Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Gloucester Township Health and Fitness Trail
Gloucester Township Health and Fitness Trail earns the #3 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect asphalt surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Gloucester Township Health and Fitness Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Path connecting the Clearview Avenues
Path connecting the Clearview Avenues earns the #4 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Delaware, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Path connecting the Clearview Avenues trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Rittenhouse Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail
Rittenhouse Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail earns the #5 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Rittenhouse Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Twin Valley Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail
Twin Valley Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail earns the #6 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Twin Valley Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Arc Corner Road / Mason-Dixon Trail
Arc Corner Road / Mason-Dixon Trail earns the #7 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect gravel surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. A gravel-and-dirt tread holds up well after rain, though loose surface on descents calls for trekking poles or careful footing. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Arc Corner Road / Mason-Dixon Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Tri-State Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail
Tri-State Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail earns the #8 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Tri-State Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. PennDel Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail
PennDel Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail earns the #9 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Delaware, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the PennDel Trail / Mason-Dixon Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Racetrack Pond Pedestrian Bridge
Racetrack Pond Pedestrian Bridge earns the #10 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect wood surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Racetrack Pond Pedestrian Bridge trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Delaware trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Delaware. Spring and fall are ideal; summer brings humidity and biting flies in the marshes; winter is mild but bare. Ticks and chiggers are abundant in coastal scrub; deer ticks carry Lyme.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Delaware hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Delaware coverage continues below.
- Steepest trails in Delaware — Hikes with the most elevation gain in the state.
- Best beginner hikes in Delaware — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Delaware — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Delaware — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Delaware — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Delaware — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Delaware — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Delaware last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
