Hoping for some drive-on surf fishing this weekend? These State Park entrances are closed

Emily Lytle, Delaware News Journal
·2 min read

Thinking about driving onto the beach for Memorial Day weekend? Know that many of the Delaware State Park beaches from Cape Henlopen to Delaware Seashore are still recovering from the nor'easter earlier this month.

Multiple beach entrances – both for driving and walking – will be closed at the State Park beaches this weekend, according to the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Surf fisher line up along the beach Friday, July 16, 2021, on Fenwick Island State Park in Fenwick Island, Delaware.
Surf fisher line up along the beach Friday, July 16, 2021, on Fenwick Island State Park in Fenwick Island, Delaware.

As of Thursday, the following dune crossings remain closed due to beach erosion:

  • Navy crossing at Cape Henlopen State Park

  • The northernmost pedestrian crossing at The Point in Cape Henlopen

  • Keybox, Conquest and Faithful Steward crossings at Delaware Seashore State Park. The Conquest pedestrian crossings are also closed.

Like other beaches down the coast, these closed dune crossings led to "unsafe drop-offs," as people try to walk from the dunes to the beach.

The closed locations also have very limited space for drive-on surf fishing because of narrow beaches even during low tide, said spokesperson Shauna McVey.

DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterway Management Section beach crew is working to reopen drive-on and pedestrian crossings along the coastline, including at other damaged beaches.

BEACH EROSION: After nor'easter lingers at Delaware beaches, towns focus on repairing dune crossings

Rehoboth Beach and South Bethany also reported a few closed beach entrances as of Thursday.

The drive-on beach entrance at Gordon's Pond was open as of Thursday, May 26, according to DNREC.
The drive-on beach entrance at Gordon's Pond was open as of Thursday, May 26, according to DNREC.

The Delaware State Parks encouraged visitors to follow the Cape Henlopen and Delaware Seashore state parks Facebook pages for updates on closed dune crossings.

The following access points were open as of Thursday:

  • The Point, Herring Point and Gordons Pond crossings at Cape Henlopen State Park.

  • 3Rs crossing at Delaware Seashore State Park.

  • North (York), Middle and South crossing at Fenwick Island State Park.

WHAT ELSE TO KNOW: Here's what you need to know before going to the Delaware beaches for Memorial Day weekend

NEW THIS SUMMER: What’s new at the Delaware beaches for summer 2022? A starter list of what to expect

Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware State Park closes beach entrances ahead of Memorial Day weekend