The best road cycling routes around Claymont

Beaver Valley is a beautiful, bucolic area that spans the Pennsylvania-Delaware border in Delaware County, PA, and New Castle County, DE. Much of this area falls within the First State National Historical Park and is adjacent to Brandywine Creek State Park, which you can walk to via scenic hiking trails. Most of these trails are open for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, birdwatching, and cross-country skiing. Birders often come to the area to observe numerous migratory and resident bird species. This is a fantastic, beautiful place to explore when visiting Brandywine Creek State Park or First State National Historical Park; if you hike up to Beaver Valley, you can tell people that you've walked to Pennsylvania!

In the Brandywine Park, the "Augustine Cut-off" features three significant bridges: a small pedestrian suspension bridge within the park, the stone arch CSX Brandywine River Railroad Bridge built in 1910 by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the Augustine Bridge, a truss bridge originally built in 1885 for railroad use and converted to vehicular traffic in 1920. This area, historically notable for its water-powered industry and designed in part by Frederick Law Olmsted, is just downstream from the Augustine Paper Mill complex. The mill, with its seven 19th-century stone buildings, is largely replaced by modern construction, though Building 7, a three-story mill with thick stone walls and a slate roof, survives. It was acquired by the Container Corporation of America in 1942, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and redeveloped into a gated condominium complex in 1985.

Brandywine Park in Wilmington, Delaware, established in 1886, was the first city park developed by the city of Wilmington, Delaware and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Spanning approximately 178 acres on both sides of Brandywine Creek, it features walking trails and scenic views down the water, and over several gardens and green spaces. The park includes wilderness areas, formal gardens (a rose garden and a cherry blossom garden), and active recreational facilities like playgrounds, athletic fields, and the Abessinio Stadium. It also houses the Brandywine Zoo, which occupies 4.75 acres in the southeastern part of the park.

Right at this spot, Alapocas Run cascades into the Brandywine Creek on the far western edge of Alapocas Run State Park in Wilmington, Delaware. You can reach these falls via the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail. Just a few hundred yards from here is a rock climbing wall set up in an old granite quarry, offering opportunities for climbing and rappelling.

Rockwood Park centers around the Rockwood Museum. This English-style country estate was built between 1851 and 1854 by banker Joseph Shipley and serves as an excellent example of Rural Gothic Revival Architecture. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. There are lovely walking paths around the estate's grounds, which connect to the Northern Delaware Greenway. The park is open from dawn till dusk and the museum is open Thusday-Saturday from 10 am-4 pm and Sunday from 12-4 pm. Admission to the museum is $10, except for on the first Sunday of the month when admission is free for all ages.

Bellevue State Park, a 328-acre park in Wilmington's suburbs, offers year-round recreation from 8 a.m. until sunset. Named after Bellevue Hall, the former mansion of William du Pont Jr., the park features facilities built by du Pont, including barns, horse stables, indoor and outdoor horse tracks (which is now a fitness track for people), tennis courts, and a pond. The park is also home to the historic Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Cauffiel House near Stoney Creek. The state of Delaware purchased the estate in 1976, transforming it into a public park with a variety of recreational facilities. In addition to the paved walking trails, the Northern Delaware Greenway runs through it, connecting it with several other parks in the area.

The Ardens Historic District is a registered as a National Historic District and comprises of nearly 600 building, homes, and structures. It's a quiet, relaxed place to ride.

Nice little park with a playground for the kids. It's right next to the little league fields so parking can be tight during games.