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White Clay Creek State Park & Middle Run Valley Natural Area

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.8 (36)
  1. Areas
  2. DE
  3. …Northern Delaware
  4. …Newark
  5. Middle Run Valley Park
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“A grand tour of several trails in White Clay Creek and Middle Run. ”

Leslie Kehmeier
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12.4

Miles

20.0

KM

95%

Singletrack

323' 98 m

High

137' 42 m

Low

715' 218 m

Up

714' 218 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

No biking in White Clay Creek State Park during hunting season.

Overview

Middle Run Valley Natural Area is located between two sections of White Clay Creek State Park. Both Middle Run and White Clay have plenty of fun singletrack options.

The trails are generally smooth, hard-packed clay which enables fast, flowing rides mostly at the intermediate skill level. Both areas are connected by trails, so all trails are available from any parking area.

Need to Know

There is a fee for parking in White Clay Creek parking areas. Middle Run has a free day-use lot near the Tri-State Bird Rescue off Possum Hollow road. The free lot fills up quickly when the riding conditions are good.

Another free option is Paper Mill Park located a couple of miles north on Papermill Road. There is a connector trail from Paper Mill Park to Middle Run.

Description

This tour begins in the Middle Run day-use parking lot and covers the trails north of this parking lot.

From the parking lot, follow the Lenape Cutoff and Lenape Trail to a tunnel that goes under Papermill Road and into White Clay Creek.

The tour follow the major trails in this section of the White Clay Creek. The Bryan's Field trail loop is taken to a connector to Whitley Farms Trail, where you'll experience some of the open, grassy fields intermixed with the forest. The northern half of Whitley Farms leads to another connector which crosses Pleasant Hill Road into the David English area.

Our tour did the entire David English loop. The Twin Ponds cutoff trail can be taken just after passing the park office to shorten the David English loop if desired.

After the David English loop, the tour follows the Whitley Connector trail back to the southwest section of Bryan's Field, which leads back to the tunnel. Riding through the tunnel and back into Middle Run, the tour explores the entire Lenape Trail before return to the parking lot.

If you still want to ride, head south from here. There is a similar amount of mileage with both the Middle Run Natural Area and the Judge Morris section of White Clay Creek.

Contacts

Local Club: Delaware Trail Spinners

Land Manager: DE State Parks - Division of Parks and Rec. Office

Shared By:

Leslie Kehmeier
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.8 from 36 votes

#1

in Middle Run Valley Park

#366

Overall
  4.8 from 36 votes
5 Star
78%
4 Star
19%
3 Star
3%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Middle Run Valley Park

#1

in Delaware

#366

Overall
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38,864 Since Mar 21, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate
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Photos

White Clay Skills Park
Dec 19, 2020 near Pike Creek, DE
Here's a picture of the camelback rock garden in the build process.
Oct 27, 2017 near Pike Creek, DE
The eight rock garden will be built on this base - you can see the 5, 6, and 7 in the backgroud
Oct 27, 2017 near Pike Creek, DE
Skills trail start.
Nov 29, 2019 near Pike Creek, DE
We recently made some changes on the Lenape Trail and manufactured technical rock gardens.
Oct 27, 2017 near Pike Creek, DE
This is after we finished compact around these machine place boulders. The expert line is center with intermediate, beginner, and crusher stone lines surrounding. There's plenty of options.
Oct 27, 2017 near Pike Creek, DE

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Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 6 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Nov 7, 2023
Mike Fossa
2h 30m
Dec 21, 2022
James Bishop
Awesome network!! 22.8mi
Nov 14, 2021
Bo Zhou
Oct 15, 2021
Nathan Blomquist
Jul 3, 2021
Ron Liao
13mi — 1h 45m
Dec 13, 2020
Mike Nosal
Great flowy 3hr ride all pedal time 12.5mi — 3h 10m
Sep 18, 2020
Jack Ansley
9' Rd, skills trail, to reservoir and back on roads 7.8mi — 1h 19m
May 30, 2020
Debbie M

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