White Clay Creek

Park Highlights

Go Fish!

White Clay Creek is the most heavily stocked water in the state of Delaware! Try fly-fishing, or casting your line from the creek’s edge. The park offers catch-and-release fishing for largemouth bass, and Smith Mill Pond offers accessible docks for anglers of all abilities.

Get Your Trail On

With 37+ miles of trails, White Clay Creek is a popular destination for hikers, bikers, runners, and mountain bikers! Hikers of all abilities can enjoy paved trails, and historical monuments throughout the park tell the history of White Clay and the state of Delaware.

Play Disc Golf

The disc golf course at the Carpenter Recreation Area is an fan-favorite 18-round course that meanders through wooded areas.

Mountain Bike Paradise

White Clay Creek’s elevation changes and rock outcrops have made it one of the most sought-after mountain biking areas in the region. The diverse easy-to-moderate trails offer opportunities for new riders to gain experience while veteran riders can enjoy lots of variety.

About the Park

Named for the clay that was once mined in the area, White Clay Creek State Park’s natural vistas, woodlands and creek with its many small tributaries span piedmont ridges and stream valleys along Delaware’s northern edge. White Clay Creek, a National Wild and Scenic River, is stocked with fish for anglers. The forest provides critical habitat for migrating and nesting birds, including the rare cerulean warbler. More than 37 miles of trails welcome hikers, bikers and runners on the most diverse trail system in Delaware.

Park History

As overdevelopment in the northern part of the state became a matter of increasing concern in the late 1960s, the state began to purchase lands adjoining a small recreational park, which in 1975 became known as Walter S. Carpenter State Park. State land acquisitions and donations, from the Du Pont family and others, eventually expanded the park to over 3,600 acres. The park was renamed White Clay Creek State Park in 1995. The White Clay Creek was named a National Wild and Scenic River by the National Park Service in 2000, which added an additional layer of protection to the area. Today, the park continues to serve as a vital protected area of scenic and recreational open space in northern Delaware. White Clay Creek State Park also features a pavilion, a bandshell and stage, a playground, accessible fishing docks, disc golf course, and more.
Master Plan

After significant input from the public, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has adopted the White Clay Creek Master Plan. The plan will provide the park with a vision and framework for the next 10 years. Top strategies include infrastructure improvements to the White Clay Creek Nature Center area to meet the demand of programs and relocation of the park office to the Maxwell House.

Learn more about the Master Plan.
Chambers Hill Nature Center

Visit the 200-year-old Chambers House Nature Center to learn the history of the park and the natural and cultural resources of this piedmont stream valley. Hike along the creek trail to enjoy views of the creek, wildlife and geologic outcroppings.

Learn more about this and other nature.
Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club

Built by the DuPont Corporation for its employees in 1955, the club was originally called Louviers Country Club. In 1994, MBNA purchased the club from DuPont and built the new clubhouse ballroom and recreational building, renaming it Deerfield. In 2005 the state of Delaware acquired the 145-acre property to protect the land from development. The club is part of Delaware’s White Clay Creek State Park and is supervised by the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation.

Learn more about golfing in state parks.