prime hook national wildlife refuge

Off season there are lots of various birds here and few people. Great place for a short visit. If one has the time, worth a bird watch.

Perfect for kayaking, bird watching, walking, fishing, activities, plenty of space! Close trip from the beaches, would recommend!

We just visited this sanctuary and very much enjoyed our stroll along the paths and the boardwalk observing the birds and beautiful scenery. It wasn't crowded and we were able to spend quiet time to reflect and observe.

We decided to stop on our way home so my husband could check out the duck hunting possibilities. The visitor center has a lot of information and great maps. We walked all the trails and enjoyed the quiet and beauty of the refuge. So glad we took the time out to visit. It is free to walk around and trails are easy to follow and some are even wheel chair accessible. Great area, would come back again.

The trails are great. Visitor Center is informative. Birdlife is abundant. What a great respite from our beach vacation.

Tired of the beach and want to wander along trails and do some bird watching, Prime Hook is the place to visit. Learn all about the animals and birds that frequent the marshes and forests in our area.

My only issue with this place is that there's not more of it, and, yes, there are a lot of tics and mosquitoes, but that's what you get with nature. The hiking is easy and pretty, not spectacular, unless you are an avid bird-watcher, in which case, it is. We hiked the perimeter on the Snow Goose and Black Farm trails, and there were plenty of observation decks where you can sit and wait for the birds. The Dike trail is short but very cool, as you are walking between ponds and can sneak up on the water birds pretty easily. There's a nice observation deck at the end with FREE(!) binoculars, if you forgot your own. We also paddled around the portion of Prime Hook Creek that is still open. The water was smooth as glass, and the scenery is almost surreal as you transition from one area to the next. We didn't have time to kayak on Fleetwood or Turkle Ponds, but just looking at them made me wish that we had. The staff and volunteers here deserve a full 5 STARS because they could not have been friendlier or more helpful, and the trails on the preserve are very well-maintained. Also, the wildlife gets a full 5 STARS because there is a lot to see in that regard. We're still trying to identify some of what we photographed. The gift shop is worth a visit, lots of books, not a huge selection of T-shirts and hats, but what they have is of good quality. This is well worth a visit.

As I recently learned, a wildlife refuge is for the "critters"! If you shut off your radio and roll down your windows as you pass through the gate - free admission!- you will hear the wonderful sounds of nature. First stop should be the visitor information center where impassioned volunteers can guide you through the auto tour, hiking trails, canoe and kayak trails, impoundments where one can see all manner of shore life and explain what you may see along the way. The refuge is a magical, ever-changing oasis in all seasons. Children can earn a Junior Ranger Badge and anyone can shoot amazing photos. My husband and I recently put our kayak in at Fleetwood Pond and were able to get into the lily ponds and drift along on a lovely summer day. The gift shop at the visitor center has a wide range of very reasonably priced items from bird books, jewelry, t-shirts and hats and fabulous stuffed animals and finger puppets. Become a friend of the refuge for a minimal fee and enjoy their newsletter and a 10% discount. If you are in the area and love wildlife, the refuge is a must see.

My first visit was last summer and I will never forget my feeling of awe. Such a beautiful sight. The water glistening, the birds in flight, and the marshland is a memory I will never forget. We are now back in February and the beauty remains with different sights...snow geese, water glistening with ice, and a daily watch of a hawk. Just as beautiful in the winter! Truly an amazing place to visit and feel the peace of the surroundings.

We had a wonderful, peaceful day walking, bird watching, enjoying the Delaware Bay. would like to return.

Great preserve, helps one to truly experience the habitat of migrating birds. Free admission to various trails that take uou through forest and marshlands. Numerous birds seen everywhere, including a few predatorory species. Totally worth the time if you like birds, nature, or hiking.

Wonderful kayak and hiking trails.Nice gift shop. Occasional periodic presentations. Great for bird watching. Wish they had a bike trail though.

We stopped here last year with our kids. It's not very big, it's a little out of the way but it was nice. There was a nice little gift shop and lots of area to drive around. The kids enjoyed it. You won't spend much time here but it's worth it.

Since moving to Delaware a little over a year ago, we finally went to Prime Hook. It's a beautiful, peaceful place to be ...quiet...and if you love to see and watch birds this is the place to be. We love to watch the birds and all the varieties there are to see. If you want to get back to nature and enjoy what Delaware has to offer, visit Prime Hook.

This 8000 acre free national wildlife refuge is on the eastern coast of Delaware, northwest of Lewes. It has a small visitor center where you can pick up information, maps, trail maps, etc. There are a number of short trails to see a great variety of wildlife, especially birds. One behind the visitor center is a half mile trail with a boardwalk that goes over a part of the 4200 fresh water wetland. There canals for boating and fishing. It is 50 years old this year and is a true gem of a refugeWe went in the wet, hot summer and be warned there are many bugs, so carry some insect repellent with deet.