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Junction & Breakwater: Biking and Hiking Trail


The Junction & Breakwater Trail lies between the resort towns of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach on the western edge of Cape Henlopen State Park. It is Delaware's third and longest rail-trail in the state and one of the most important economic and fitness boosts for eastern Sussex County in this young 21st century. The trail gets its name from the rail line that ran between Lewes and Rehoboth in the mid-1800s. It follows the former Penn Central Rail Line that once transported passengers to the many Methodist resort camps along the Atlantic coast. The Junction & Breakwater Trail officially opened Dec. 4, 2003, and consisted of a 3.6-mile crushed stone trail that extended from Hebron Road in West Rehoboth northward to the Wolfe Glade trestle. The trail deadended there until June 4, 2007, when an additional 2.4-mile corridor officially opened extending the existing Junction & Breakwater Trail to a total of 6 miles. At the Lewes end, the improved trail begins at the Gills Neck Road and Kings Highway intersection opposite the entrance of Cape Henlopen High School. Before turning into the Hawkseye Development just off Gills Neck Road, the trail parallels the road and passes Cadbury at Lewes's continuing care retirement community as well as farm fields slated for eventual residential and commercial development. An alternate way to access the trail is to follow Gills Neck Road from the Savannah Road drawbridge in Lewes. This scenic route takes walkers and riders along the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and through the rural - but developing - outskirts of Lewes. Riders and walkers should exercise care and discretion in this area because there are no shoulders; but with common courtesy there is plenty of room for motorists, bicyclists and walkers. Using this alternate, walkers and bicyclists can pick up an improved trail, paralleling Gills Neck Road just past the entrance to the Wolfe Runne development, that leads to the Junction & Breakwater Trail. From Gills Neck Road, the trail makes its way through the Hawks Eye development before reaching the old - now improved - railroad bed leading to Rehoboth Beach - See more at: http://www.leweschamber.com/trails/junction-breakwater-biking-and-hiking-trail#sthash.uiEcKVrZ.dpuf