Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Beautiful place. The drive-thru aspect makes it ideal for families with small children who can't walk very far. There's a 12-mile loop of road, and all of the trails either lead off from the road or the parking lot. The trails range in length from 0.3 miles to 2.7 miles, and the distance is usually (not always) marked at the trailhead, so you know what to expect. You can also bike or walk on the road; you don't need a car. The hours listed here are a bit misleading. The Visitor Center is only open from 8 AM - 4 PM, but the park itself is open from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes past sunset. You buy your park pass using the QR code posted in the Visitor Center front window; you don't even need to go inside. It's $4 for cars and $2 if you're biking or hiking, IIRC. Then there's like a 50-cent "convenience fee" or something. The bathroom is located at the Visitor Center, but it uses a separate door and it stays unlocked after 4 PM. There are EV charging stations in the parking lot. Definitely bring plenty of bug spray. The mosquitoes and biting flies weren't as bad here as they were at some of the other parks/refuges we visited in the Rehoboth Beach area, but you still do need bug spray. There are some observation towers above some of the ponds, ideal for viewing waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds. We saw several great egrets, and dozens of snowy egrets, along with Canadian geese, sandpipers, gulls, and ducks. I was hoping to see a bald eagle, since I've never seen one IRL, and so many of the reviews here mentioned seeing them. Well, we didn't see any bald eagles, or any bird more interesting than the great egret. We had resigned ourselves to not seeing anything really interesting, and were just going to do 1 more trail (the Bear Swamp trail) before heading out. We got out of the car at the parking space for Bear Swamp trail...and were greeted by two red foxes who were quite unfazed and unbothered by our presence. I'm pretty sure people have been feeding them, because they hung around for a few minutes looking expectant and hopeful, before giving up on us and heading off down the trail. We followed them and watched them for quite some time as they foraged on the ground for what I believe were mushrooms. Often they would come within 2 feet of us as they crisscrossed back and forth along the trail. Then they walked off further into the woods, and we kept on the trail. Later, as we were driving on the road, we saw 3 of them. I'm pretty sure the first 2 were the same pair we saw earlier, but obviously it's hard to tell. Again, they all seemed curious and hopeful, as if they thought we might feed them. The 3rd one actually approached the car after we stopped and just looked up at us like, "Well? Do you have snacks, or not?" I realize it's bad for them to learn to expect food from humans, but it sure was cool to see them up close like that.

A beautiful refuge & great biking loop. I will caution, it is BUGGY here as would be expected. Not an issue if driving but we biked the 12 mile loop & really couldn’t stop despite being slathered in bug spray. Cheap entry fee & great visitor’s center as well!

Great place to go birdwatching, take pictures, and see lots of wildlife. Recently completed Visitors Center is outstanding and handicapped accessible. Fantastic staff. The main attraction is the 12-mile wildlife drive that really passes you by three main areas. You can drive it, walk it or bike it. Depending on the time of year, the flies and bugs can be unbearable, but if there is a wind, this helps and wearing long sleeves and pants is highly recommended. There are also multiple trails that you can hike varying in length and terrain. Parsons Point Trail and the Boardwalk trails are my favorite. All trails are flat terrain, and two are handicapped accessible. There are also two 30-foot towers - one at Shearness Trail and one at Raymond Trail to view the various habitats. The three main areas are the Raymond Pool, the Shearness Pool and the Bear Swamp Pool. Various habitats include tidal salt marsh, forest and man-made pools. I always recommend that you check the website to see when the refuge is open (occasionally closes for hunting, etc.) and when the Visitor Center is open. A great place to visit. The I use this for incredible bird watching. Below are some of the various species I have seen at the refuge.

I've been twice with a friend and we both love it! Very stunning and peaceful. Summertime you definitely need bug spray cause we got swarmed like crazy but the most recent time was basically perfect. Spray inside your car/before getting there since bug spray can be toxic to wildlife. Tons of different insect and bird species that are very fun to observe + foxes!! They just walk along the road with the cars, everyone is respectful of them too which is really nice to see. It's going to be a regular visit from now on.

Absolutely beautiful place to see wildlife. We went mid-day so we didn't see as much as we could have, but what we did see was wonderful. Roads are well maintained. Paths are easy to navigate and the site towers are great to view. We did have a strange phenomenon happen. While viewing from a tower we saw a huge boat? plane? behind a car but when we drove there, there was no evidence of it. Would love to know how that happened. Please see first picture posted.

Like other’s say, it’s mostly drive through. I really enjoyed the wildlife observation towers — they give great views of the lakes! It wasn’t too busy when I was there, so I could stop when I wanted to check out certain birds. Not sure if that’s average. Saw lots of great waterfowl, a few shorebirds, and some hawks/birds of prey.

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is hands down the best place for bird watching! I love that you can drive through at your own pace, making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience. The flies can be a huge nuisance and initially ruined the experience for me as I was scared they would get in my car. They did, but they left just as quickly. I drove the auto trail twice; the first time, I kept the windows up, which made taking photos difficult. The second time, I kept my driver’s side window open, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Overall, it’s an incredible spot for bird enthusiasts, and I highly recommend it!

Awesome place to see wildlife, unscripted and raw. The way it should be. Take your family, you won't regret it!

WOW what an active NWR tonight. This location has tidal salt marsh, birding destination with trails, observation towers & a 12-mile wildlife auto drive. We unfortunately arrived after the visitor center closed but called before it closed to ask for the passport stamp to be on a piece of paper and left outside for us and they DID!!! Also Included was a brochure with two stickers of the local wildlife. The horseshoe crab is the official marine animal of Delaware and plays an important role in Delaware Bay ecosystem. Also a sticker of a red knot. It's one of the longest annual migrating birds on Earth traveling up to 9,300 miles and during their spring migration most of them can be found in the Delaware Bay region. It was nice to enjoy the auto tour. We did hike up to one of the observation decks for a video and view but it started to rain so we took advantage of the paved auto tour. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest remaining expanses of tidal salt marsh in the mid-Atlantic region. The refuge, located along the coast of Delaware bay, is mostly marsh, but also includes freshwater impoundment and upland habitats that are managed for migratory birds and other wildlife. Established in 1937 as a link in the chain of refuges extending from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. It is primarily a refuge and breeding ground for migrating birds and other wildlife. The value and importance of Bombay Hook for migratory bird protection and conservation has increased through the years, primarily due to the management of the refuge and the loss of high quality habitat along the Atlantic Flyway.  Very happy we came today. Stamp #86 in the book

Always something to see - summer has lots of flies so beware. Each season is different. The 12 mile drive is great. Go slow and look around and maybe go around again.

Highly recommended! Gets you into the marshlands. Saw egrets, herons and swans .Maybe Red Knots , definitely ducks.

I'm big into birding so this has always been a bucket list spot. The driving tour is great! I ended up just getting a year membership and going two days in a row, I saw so much wildlife. The trails are well kept, there are great views along the drive but it's also fun to hike the trails too. And the gift shop is cute.

New Visitor center being built which will only make this already great Refuge even better. A very nice 12 plus mile wildlife drive with plenty of pull-outs with open viewing spaces. Plenty of wildlife variety from a fox that greeted us as we started our drive. We saw plenty of waterfowl from all species of ducks to Tundra Swans. We saw Snow Geese as we approached the entrance to the park which was lucky as we only saw one inside the park. It is a great Refuge with plenty to see and photograph. We will definitely will be back.

Very nice place for birders and others. Saw many eagle parents teaching their young (eaglets) how to fish -- just fascinating. Awesome wildlife drive: it's well laid out and interesting. You don't have to get out of your vehicle to see many kinds of migratory birds. The walkable trails are fun and pretty easy to do. Love the observation tower at Shearness Pool. What a great national treasure.

If you want to get out and see the beauty of Gods creation, then there is no better place to go than the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Besides the visitors' center and one lonely outhouse, it looks very much untouched by the human hand. Depending on how interested you are in wild life, the drive could be 30 minutes, or it could be 2 hours, depending on how many times you stop to look. I drove through, and it took me about an hour and a half. There are places all around the trail where you can pull over and gaze at the wildlife. It's funny. I was reading one of the other reviews, and the writer said they were greeted by a fox, lol. Well, that fox must be the neighborhood watch because when I pulled over to take photos of the fowl, I felt someone or something watching me. It turns out it was Mr. or Ms. Fox, lol, he or she was about 50 yards away from me. I was standing about 10 feet away from my car, so since I was on his property, I got closer to my car in case he wanted to have a word or two with me. The driving trails are well marked and very easy to follow. However, for the really adventurous, there are hiking trails. I was alone and never go hiking alone, but I did see that the walking trails were marked as well. I just didn't want to meet up with any wild life alone. I am a wanna be bird watcher, and from what I was reading, Bombay Hook is a nationally recognized birding spot. When driving, I have banochulars and saw many birds not just water birds but many different colors. No, I can not tell you what kind there were because again I am a wanna be bird watcher. I suppose this is a good place for the birds to take a breather when flying back and forth to the south for the winter months. I noticed while driving the ponds had different names, initially I thought oh you could use the names as markers to find your way, but you can't get lost in this place because it is basically a circle. So if you are directionally challenged like me, then rest assured when visiting this place, all roads lead to home. I will be posting photos momentarily. Just remember, with autumn fast approaching, this place would make a good place for a refreshing invigorating walk. They are open daily from 8 am to 4 pm, and they also use the honor system when collecting admission fee. I can not remember how much the entrance fee is because I have a military pass for all national parks. There is a collection box at the entrance for your fee. Please support our national parks . I hope you take advantage of the beautiful days to come and treat yourself to a breath of fresh air. Go visit the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Have a good day, VJ

Bombay Hook is a large wildlife refuge with about 8 miles worth of a drivable loop. You can also stop along the loop to visit various observation towers (which are well-marked), or you can bypass the drive altogether and just stick to the walkable trails they have. It is customary to pull-over if you're going to stop to take pictures or look at something so the folks behind you can pass. There is a fee to enter - I think it's $4 for a regular car. It goes up from there depending on how big your vehicle is. There's also a discount (or no fee?) for those on foot or bicycles. They have porta-potties at the entrance and also at various spots along the drivable route. I think I recall seeing one specifically at Bear Swamp. You will likely spend between 3 and 6 hours going through this place, if you really want to experience what there is to be seen. It reminds me a lot of Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, if you've ever been there. I recommend checking this place out and potentially doing the drive more than once. You see different things each time through!

This wildlife refuge is a different view of Delaware than the standard drive through sleepy farmland to commercial beaches that most of us know the state for. There's a difference between a park and a refuge, and leaving the land untouched is clearly the priority. What is available for visitors is a set of unpaved roads-navigable with a regular car, though I'd say the 25 MPH speed limit is optimistic given the rough ride. The scenery is marshy, with plenty of signs warning about ticks. A few short trails and boardwalks seemed to be in good condition, and a couple of towers have been constructed for those inclined to survey the scene. There wasn't a ton of exciting wildlife on the day I stopped by; mostly common waterfowl. I think one of the other visitors was a bit peeved that I drove by them without stopping to observe a Canada goose next to the road; I suspect they were not from around here because no one from the Mid-Atlantic region gives a shit about those geese. The scenery, even during the last days of winter, was pretty. I would spend an hour or two at most in nice weather, but the cost is low (or free with a national parks pass, unlike the numerous state parks which Delaware wisely claimed for its own financial gain). Also of note, the visitor center did have rest rooms and wifi.

This was a beautiful stop that my family and I made on a recent trip through Delaware. We drove to the wildlife refuge entrance and parked at the visitor center. The visitor center was really nice, clean, had lots of informative displays and even kid-friendly puzzles and games. The park ranger was really nice as well and was super excited to tell us about some of the recent wildlife sightings. One animal species of note was the pink spoonbill, a bird that is normally native to tropical areas, such as Florida and Louisiana. The refuge also celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and was giving out commemorative pins which was a really cute touch! The refuge is a large area along the Delaware coast and is therefore mostly marshes. A car is recommended to get through the park, but is not necessary. I saw a few families with road bikes and thought that when I come back, biking would be wonderful! Through the various walking routes and paths that we stopped at, we saw lots of various waterfowl, including the rare pink spoonbill! We also saw lots of fiddler crabs and their distinct holes in the sand. This is a perfect place for families with children, birders (there were plenty there set up with lots of binoculars and tripods), and nature enthusiasts alike. I will definitely be stopping by the park again on my next visit to Delaware!

Boyfriend and I decided to visit today despite the cold and we're glad we did! This is a very interesting and unique area of the state. We really appreciated how well everything was marked and maintained. It was easy to find the observation towers and other areas. There were also several educational placards which we enjoyed reading through. I can see this place being even better in the summer but since all the walks are short it's doable in winter too. Definitely recommend checking it out, especially if you live in Delaware.

One of the best birding spots on the east coast. You can see a ton of birds almost any time of the year. Peak migration times you will be amazed at the variety and quantity of birds that stop in. From snow geese by the thousands to tiny little warblers You can drive your car through the park and see plenty of birds without ever getting out Or you can ride your bike or walk down the wooded trails to see more of nature. Take binoculars or a scope and some bug spray

I lived in Delaware for 30 years growing up and never visited here until my trip home last weekend. Like anywhere in Delaware that's near the river you don't want to visit when the weather is too hot as the mosquitoes are horrible. We picked a perfect 65 degree Monday to visit. The staff at the visitor center is very welcoming and kind. The trails are well kept and easy to navigate as Delaware is basically flat. Make sure to climb all the towers to get some amazing views of the coastline and wetlands. The birds and wildlife are something to behold. It is a great place for couples, children or anyone that likes the outdoors. There are lots of places to eat within a few miles of here that are fantastic and plenty of places to stay.

Nice spot. Was there in February. A lot of birds and bird watching. Some cool boardwalks to take you out around the marshes. Neat little outing to take the kids.

Well, this place was okay. Not super memorable, lots of marshes (and resulting "marsh trails" :)). My friend was terrified since all the of the trails had tick and/or snake warnings, so she felt pretty nervous walking around there. There were some fallen trees too and since it was so close to the marsh you felt like you were pretty close to walking on water. Still, some of the scenery was quite pretty. They had a couple (maybe five?) different trails, each .5-1.5 miles long, with cool look-out observation spots. These are great for seeing some fancy cranes and other types of birds! So perhaps a cool place for an ornithologist :))

What a wonderful little treat of a refuge! We visited from Minnesota in January when it was bitterly cold. Still, it was beautiful! We saw lots of birds including red-tailed and red- shouldered Hawks, Northern Harriers (by the dozen), Coopers Hawks, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Goshawk, Short-Eared Owl, Bald Eagles, turkey and black vultures and even two barn owls!!! That doesn't mention all of the waterfowl and other birds that hang out. Oh! And a little red fox. What a treat this place was! Would I go again? Yes, definitely. I would (and plan to) travel all the way from Minnesota specifically to come to this place.

I like to call this the "Everglades of Delaware"...it's a massive salt marsh with roads and trails, elevated viewing platforms, and a small and not-always-staffed visitor's center. This is one of the largest intact salt-marshes in the mid-Atlantic region, and the parts viewable by the public represent a tiny portion of the total preserve: view it on an aerial photo using google maps to see its true extent. It's $4 to enter for the day, you can get in free if you have a duck stamp. It's a steal, if you ask me...you can easily spend all day here. I always end up going home after only having explored a small fraction of the place. Sometimes I can spend hours at a single pool watching all sorts of different birds fly in and out. This place is outstanding for birdwatching. A birding scope is very useful here, but it's still fun without one. On a busy day, you will encounter groups and other birders with scopes, some of whom will gladly share. This refuge is without a doubt one of the best places on the east coast for migrating shorebirds and for wintering waterfowl, and definitely the best place for seeing these in Delaware. But it's also a great place for migrating songbirds, and there are some breeding songbirds here that can be hard to find elsewhere too, including a lot of sparrows. There's also a lot of other great wildlife in here. Some of the trails go near small pools in which you can find eels, turtles, and all sorts of other critters. There are many deer, foxes, and other mammals as well. Insect lovers will find interesting insects here that you may not see elsewhere as well. Very buggy during the warm times of year. On some of the trails, the mosquitos will eat you alive, and depending on where you are, you may also find ticks, no-see-ems, and chiggers. Basically, cover up and prepare for some serious itching. Excellent for visiting in late fall, early spring, and winter though--pleasantly bug free during these times. The main downside? This place is loved by ecology geeks like me, but it isn't exactly user-friendly for the casual tourist. If you want a quick-and-easy tour of nature, go somewhere else. But if you want to really delve in to the beauty (and ugliness) of a large, relatively intact ecosystem, check this place out.

They have lots of pamphlets in the visitor's center about trails, amphibians, birds, mammals, etc. that are in the refuge. The auto tour, aka driving loop, was a real treat! Saw an incredible amount of birds, so so so lovely! I wanted to take a walk to the observation decks and do a trail or two, but it was just way too buggy! The green flies were awful! I went in August, so next time I'll come during a cooler season. It was only $4 per car to enter ... WORTH IT

Wonderful place to explore and see the multitude of birds and wildlife. It was the middle of July when we went so the green head flies were kind of brutal outside so we stayed in the car and just drive the scenic loop. We saw herons, egrets, etc out in the marshes hunting for food and generally hanging out. It's great in the spring and fall when the birds migrate, but even in the summer it's worth a trip.

The weather was perfect for bicycle riding today; so I decided to tour this wildlife refuge. The park rangers and other employees at the visitor's center are helpful. Borrowing a birding book and binoculars was hassle free and the binoculars were awesome. Saw some interesting birds and a fox. Everyone else drove the 12 mile loop. The drivers were courteous to me and my bike and the birders on the trails were friendly. Extra bonus.. no bugs today! Wish I had a fancy camera. Cheap entertainment and a little exercise.

You want to see birds, oh you'll see birds. A ton of em! Egrets, Blue Herons, Blackbirds, you name it, they're waiting for you here! I went literally yesterday, June 12th 2017 and have bird pictures for days. The place is beautiful. I would give you a a word of advice that's been given by many others. Bring plenty of bug spray! You will need it.

This was a beautiful place to visit. I consider myself an outdoorsy person (hiking, kayaking, jogging) but this place presented a challenge for me. I was not able to overcome the persistence of the flies (horse flies, I believe). I first encountered them at the visitor center but didn't think much of it. But by the time I made it to the stop for the first observation platform I knew they were no joke. I tried getting out of the car to walk to the platform but was swarmed by the flies and literally ran back to my car. As I drove along the path they continued to swarm my car and hung on to the car for the ride. After putting on protective wear, including a sweat shirt (it was 80°+) and sunglasses, I was able to step out of my car for short periods to take a few pictures. The flies were slightly manageable at this point. I was able to get a few good pictures outside of my care including some of a fox that seemed unbothered by the noise of humans. I got some pics of it hanging out by the side of the road. I saw a few foxes along the way (and a tiny bunny) but this one in particular seemed unphased by humans. I would have loved to explore the refuge by foot but this seemed impossible considering the elements. It seems that coming during the cold months would help one avoid the flies but I'm not sure how much of the wildlife is active then. If you visit be prepared to stay in your car most of the time and dress/spray accordingly ( and of course there are also ticks).

If you like nature this is your place to be!!! 12 mile auto tour plus trails and so many birds!!!! Conservation at it's best!

Nice getaway from the norm. Make sure you bring binoculars to see the birds better and bug spray to not get bit, the horse flies are everywhere!

This is a great place to observe wildlife from your car, if you are disabled, and there are many trails for those who like to walk, this is Delaware and we boast hundreds of kinds of mosquitoes and biting flies so bring bug repellant and treat your shoes and pant legs to avoid deer ticks. The birds change through-out the year and sometimes there are butterflies. I have many photos posted on-line at PANARAMIO user number 5765552, enjoy your visit, Gene Alderson