A 66-acre pond in Kent County comes with slides, trails, eagles, and campfires

Killens Pond’s got more than you’d expect

Somewhere in the middle of Delaware, past fields and pine woods, a 66-acre millpond sits quiet in Kent County. Killens Pond State Park wraps around it, and what you find here keeps stacking up.

The state’s only water park. Bald eagles in the pines.

Miles of easy trails. A nature center with live animals.

And a campground that stays open all year. The pond has been here since the 1700s.

The fun came later.

The millpond has a 250-year-old story

Long before anyone put a water slide here, the Lenape people fished and hunted along the Murderkill River that runs through this land.

Sometime in the mid-to-late 1700s, settlers dammed that river and created the pond you see today. The dam powered grist mills and sawmills that kept the early community running.

The land changed hands over two centuries and stayed mostly rural. In 1965, it became Kent County’s first state park.

Delaware’s only state park water park debuted a new pool in 2026

This is the one water park in Delaware’s entire state park system, and for the 2026 season, it got bigger. A brand-new, larger pool replaced the old one.

The main pool slopes in from zero depth, like wading into a beach, so you don’t have to jump in all at once. Four slides drop from a 54-foot platform.

Spray features and floating lily pads round things out. It’s a full water park tucked inside a state forest.

Little kids have their own corner of the water park

The youngest visitors don’t have to sit out. A separate baby pool and tot lot sit right in the mix, built for small children who aren’t ready for 54-foot slides just yet.

Bubblers and ground water jets keep them splashing, and tot-sized slides let them get in on the action at their own speed. A poolside water-play system adds a few extra surprises.

For parents and grandparents watching from the edge, the layout makes it easy to see everything at once.

The calm pond is made for paddling at your own pace

Kayaks, canoes, and pedalboats are all available to rent right at the park. If you bring your own boat, there’s a launch ramp at the pond.

The 66 acres of flat, calm water suit beginners well. You can paddle close to shore under tall pines, push out toward the middle, or just drift.

There’s no current to fight and no boat traffic to dodge. A slow afternoon on this water is about as low-pressure as paddling gets.

The Pondside Loop gives you the whole pond in 2.6 miles

The most popular trail in the park circles the water, and you can walk the whole thing without breaking much of a sweat.

The Pondside Loop runs about 2.6 miles on packed earth, stays mostly level, and passes through pine woods the whole way. Rest stops near the campground and nature center break up the walk.

Side connector trails branch off and open up extra views across the pond. Most people finish it in well under two hours.

More trails run through the forest on every side

The Pondside Loop is just the start. A paved bike trail runs alongside the main park road on an easy grade, good for cyclists and joggers.

The Cross Country Trail winds deeper into mature forest and crosses a bridge on the west end of the pond. The Life Course Trail follows a soft path of grass and pine needles.

All of them suit walkers, joggers, and casual riders. None of them ask much from your legs.

The new boardwalk puts you right above the water

A new elevated boardwalk runs along Killens Pond Road with benches and bump-outs where you can stop and look without blocking foot traffic. It’s ADA-accessible, so the level surface works for everyone.

Waterfowl and wading birds work the shallows below, and if you walk the full length, you reach the boat launch at the far end. From up here, you get a clean view of the pond that the trail doesn’t quite match.

Bald eagles nest in the pines above the pond

The tall pines around Killens Pond aren’t just scenery. Bald eagles nest up there and fly low over the water.

Listen for the hammering of the Pileated Woodpecker working through the forest. The Barred Owl lives here year-round.

In season, the Prothonotary Warbler flashes bright yellow through the trees, and waterfowl stack up along the pond’s edge in the cooler months. You don’t need binoculars, but they help.

Cast a line from the boardwalk or the shore

The millpond holds largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, bluegill, chain pickerel, and perch. You can fish right from the accessible boardwalk over the water, or set up along the shore.

The pond is calm and compact enough that you don’t need a boat to reach good spots. For someone picking up fishing for the first time, this is a manageable place to start.

For anyone who’s been at it for years, the variety of fish keeps it interesting.

The nature center has live animals and a deck over the water

The nature center sits beside the pond in a green, energy-efficient building.

Inside, live exhibits show off native reptiles and amphibians, and hands-on exploration stations give kids something to touch and try. Step out onto the observation deck and you’re looking straight over the water.

Park naturalists run programs here, lead guided hikes into the forest, and take groups out on kayak tours. It’s worth building into your day even if you’re only there for an hour.

Sleep under the pines at the year-round campground

The campground at Killens Pond stays open every month of the year. Sites work for tents and RVs alike.

If you want fewer neighbors and a quieter setup, the primitive walk-in loop puts more distance between you and the rest of the park. Cabins sleep four and come with a kitchen, a bathroom, and heat and air conditioning.

The Pond View Cottage sits closest to the water and gives you a direct view of the millpond from inside. That one books fast.

Visit Killens Pond State Park in Felton, Delaware

Killens Pond State Park sits at 5025 Killens Pond Road in Felton, Delaware. The park opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset.

The water park runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

During fee season, which runs March 1 through Nov. 30, daily vehicle entry costs $5 for Delaware-registered vehicles and $10 for out-of-state vehicles. Walking or biking in is free.

The park sits about 90 minutes from either end of the state, so it works as a central stop no matter which direction you’re coming from.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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