Description
Lums Pond State Park
is a 1790-acre (7.24 square km) Delaware state park near Bear, New
Castle County, Delaware in the United States. The park surrounds Lums
Pond, an impoundment built by the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal on St.
Georges Creek. The C&D built the pond as a source of water to fill
the locks of the canal that connected the Chesapeake Bay with the
Delaware River during the 19th century. Lums Pond State Park is open
for a wide variety of year-round recreation.
HISTORY: Lums
Pond, the largest fresh water pond in Delaware, covering 200 acres
(0.81 square km) in central New Castle County, was built in the early
19th century as an impoundment for the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.
The pond supplied water to fill the locks of the canal and water power
for the local gristmill. The pond became a natural recreational draw
for the residents of Delaware. Ownership was transferred to the state
of Delaware in the mid-20th century. Lums Pond State Park was opened to
the public in 1963.
Recreation:
Lums Pond is the
center of recreation at Lums Pond State Park. Although swimming is not
permitted in the pond, it is open to boating and fishing. Rowboats,
sailboats, kayaks, canoes and pedal boats are available to rent. Lums
Pond is a fresh water fishery with the common game fish being carp,
pickerel, crappie, catfish and largemouth bass and striped bass. The
striped bass are stocked by the Fish and Wildlife Division of the
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The
other game fish are native species.
Many visitors to Lums Pond
State Park take advantage of the wide variety of camping opportunities
that are available. There are 64 campsites without electric
connections, 5 sites with electricity, 2 yurts, and 4 sites with
stabling facilities for horses. The campsites are open to RVs or tents.
The yurts feature bunk beds and a futon, electricity, and a large
outdoor deck with a grill.
Lums Pond State Park is open to
hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on Lums Pond State Park's
network of trails. Summit North Marina is located on the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal. It has 250 private slips for boats and offers boat and
fuel sales, boat storage and boat repair. Many different ball fields
and game courts are spread throughout Lums Pond State Park. The fields
are open to football, soccer, baseball, and softball. The courts are
open to basketball, volleyball, and tennis. Horseshoes pits are
available as is a disc golf course. Hunting is permitted with a hunting
license form the Division of Fish and Wildlife but a special permit
from the Division of Parks and Recreation is also required since the
park is Parks and Recreation property. The special permit can be
acquired at the park office.
Any more questions about the park
or anything that is offered by the park can be directed to 302-368-6989
which is the number to Lums Pond's office or by calling the Division of
Parks and Recreation headquarters in Dover at 302-739-9200.
Nearby Attractions:
The following parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Lums Pond State Park:
- Bellevue State Park (New Castle County)
- Brandywine Creek State Park (New Castle County)
- Elk Neck State Park (Maryland)
- Fort Delaware State Park (New Castle County)
- Fort DuPont State Park (New Castle County)
- Fort Mott State Park (New Jersey)
- Fox Point State Park (New Castle County)
- First State Heritage Park at Dover (Kent County)
- Parvin State Park (New Jersey)
- Ridley Creek State Park (Pennsylvania)
- Susquehanna State Park (Maryland)
- Wilmington State Parks (New Castle County)
- White Clay Creek Preserve (Pennsylvania)
- White Clay Creek State Park (New Castle County)
Alerts and Important Information
- Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, camping is permitted for a maximum of 14 days per 21-day period per park.
- If arriving late report directly to your site and sign in the next day with the campground register, ranger or park office.
- Be respectful of those campers all ready setup.
- If you are going to be more than 24 hours late, please contact the park at 302-368-6989 or your reservation may be cancelled.
- All basic rates include up to 4 people per campsite. A maximum
of 8 people are allowed per campsite. An extra $2.00 per person per
night will be charged for 5 - 8 occupants.
- Yurt capacity is 5 people.
- Site capacity is 8 with a $2.00 per person per night fee.
- No Swimming allowed at the campground. Please note that the swimming area is closed.
- Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited.
- No more than 2 vehicles per site.
- One mobile unit and one tent, or two tents per site.
- Overflow parking is also available.
- The possession or display of any firearms, air guns, paint ball
guns, sling shots, martial art weapons, fireworks or archery equipment
is prohibited.
- Please do not ride bicycles at night unless they are equipped with a headlight and reflectors.
- Fires are allowed in fire rings only.
- Fire rings include a cooking grate but there are no elevated BBQ grills.
- Quiet hours are 10 P.M. - 7 A.M.
- Operation of generators are not permitted during quiet hours.
- Clotheslines, ropes or cords are not to be tied to any trees or shrubs.
- Do not hang lanterns on any trees.
- Chopping, cutting, damaging or injuring of any trees and plants on park property is prohibited.
- Downed wood / limbs may not be gathered.
- Please do not bring firewood from other states into Delaware. The parks need help in preventing the spread of plant diseases.
- Firewood can be purchased at the campground for $4.00 a bundle.
- Yurt furniture and/or equipment may not be removed from the
campsite. Renters will be held liable for any damage to the Yurt tent,
furniture, decking / equipment.
- No smoking inside the yurts.
- No pets allowed inside the yurts.
- Pets must be on a 6 ft. leash at all times. Owners must clean
up after their pets. Pets are not allowed to be left unattended at
anytime. Please do not tie or chain pets to any trees or posts.
- Waste water: Dumping or disposal of dish / bath waters, septic wastes or other effluents on the grounds is prohibited.
- Trash is to be deposited in the dumpster at the campground
entrance. Remove all trash from your site and fire ring upon departure.
Burning trash and excessive litter is prohibited.
- 7 A.M. - 10 P.M. visitors must pay the enterance fee of $3.00
per Delaware registered car and $6.00 per Out-of-State registered car.
Fee season is from March 1st to November 30th.
- Rowboats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboats available from May to September. Call for information on hours.
- Nature programs from May to September - call for more information.
- During winter months some amenities may not be available like
water. Please contact the park prior to arrival for complete
information.
- During events vehicular travel on the campground entrance road
and within the campground will be restricted / controlled during that
time. There may be up to a 15-minute wait to enter or leave the park.
- Delaware now requires a DE fishing license to cover both salt
water and fresh water fishing. This includes recreational clamming and
crabbing. The license may be purchased at agents authorized by the
Division of Fish and Wildlife or at the nearby town store. For more
information call 302-739-9914 or visit: fw.delaware.gov.
- Non-residents can buy a 7-day license verses purchasing yearly.
- America the Beautiful Access Pass discounts are available by calling the Call Center at 1-877-987-2757.
Getting There:
Lums Pond State Park
1068 HOWELL ROAD
BEAR DE 19720
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
39.55833, -75.72028
39°33'30"N, 75°43'13"W
Elkton, MD: 5 miles
Dover, DE: 30 miles
Wilmington, DE: 15 miles
Baltimore, MD: 50 miles
Philadelphia, PA: 40 miles
From the North: take I-95 South to exit 1A (Middletown & 896
South) about 8 miles to Rt. 71/301. Turn left onto Rt. 71/301. Go
northeast about 1 mile. Campground is on the left.
From the South: take 896/301 North. Go over Summit Bridge. At the
bottom of Summit Bridge turn right onto Rt. 71/301. Go northeast about 1
mile. Campground is on the left.
802)362-2307
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