Cape Henlopen, site of Delaware's largest state park, juts out into the Atlantic with its Great Dune rising almost 80 feet. One of the most prominent points along the Atlantic seaboard, made an excellent World War II observation post.
The Cape Henlopen area became America's first public land, set aside in 1682 by William Penn. The Department of Defense turned 543 acres of the cape to the state in 1964. Today, the park boundaries have expanded taking in 5,200 acres.
Besides being a popular beach for sunbathers, anglers and swimmers, the park offers biking routes, hiking trails, disc golf and winter hunting. But there's no doubt the largest draw has to be the six miles of beach and the famous walking dune. The Delaware coastline is constantly changing. Since 1850, Cape Henlopen's sands have shifted a mile to the north, encroaching on the breakwater and its lighthouse.