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Delaware | Sussex County / Delaware Seashore State Park

Rehoboth BaySavages Ditch Road to New Road water trail

An advanced, approximately four-mile Rehoboth Bay water-trail course from the Delaware Seashore State Park Savages Ditch kayak launch to the New Road access area, with an official same-launch loop or out-and-back option.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 4 tidal salt-marsh miles from Savages Ditch Road to New Road; official park map also permits a loop or out-and-back from either access point
DifficultyHard
Typical time2–5 hours depending on tide
ShuttleCar shuttle
Kayakers paddle through the Delaware Seashore State Park salt marsh during the State of Delaware Paddlefest.
Route photoDelaware Seashore State Park salt-marsh paddling context for the Savages Ditch–New Road water trailPhoto by State of Delaware

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This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 4 tidal salt-marsh miles from Savages Ditch Road to New Road; official park map also permits a loop or out-and-back from either access pointSavages Ditch Road to New Road water trail
DifficultyhardThis is a short but exposed tidal-marsh course for experienced kayakers. The route is non-whitewater, but wind-against-tide, shallow channels, mud, nesting/private shoreline, hunting-season closure, limited bailout, and inlet-area traffic require a marine-style plan.
ShuttleCar shuttleArrange a lawful shuttle or pickup at New Road before launching, or use the official loop/out-and-back format and return to Savages Ditch. Confirm park entry/parking, exact kayak carry, access hours, seasonal notices, and both waterlines; do not stage on private property or use the Indian River Marina, inlet, beach, or marsh islands as an improvised finish.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current Delaware State Parks entry, parking, boating/PFD/whistle, waterfowl, wildlife, nesting, shellfish, weather, and posted-closure rules. Fees may apply at park access areas; no route-specific paddle permit is claimed.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is claimed. Delaware Seashore State Park has separate campground facilities, but the water-trail access points, marsh islands, private shoreline, and loading areas do not grant camping or overnight-moorage rights; reserve a legal campsite or use nearby lodging separately.
SeasonMar-SepMarch through September is the practical planning season only after checking current park and waterfowl notices. The official map identifies October through February as active waterfowl-hunting season; avoid any posted closure, strong wind, poor visibility, thunderstorms, unsafe cold water, storm surge, or uncertain launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

An experienced-only four-mile Rehoboth Bay water-trail course with official park access at Savages Ditch and New Road, tide/wind dependence, seasonal waterfowl restrictions, and a same-launch return option.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Delaware Seashore State Park Savages Ditch kayak launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

The official map supplies park access and route anchors, not a guarantee of a launch-ready wetted edge, open gate, parking, fee status, or current channel clearance. Verify conditions at both ends immediately before travel.

Finish

Take-out

Delaware Seashore State Park New Road access area
Open mapDirections to take-out

The route map’s approximately four-mile distance is a planning figure; channel choice, tide, water level, wind, and marsh conditions can change the practical line and paddling time.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The official map supplies park access and route anchors, not a guarantee of a launch-ready wetted edge, open gate, parking, fee status, or current channel clearance. Verify conditions at both ends immediately before travel.
  • The route map’s approximately four-mile distance is a planning figure; channel choice, tide, water level, wind, and marsh conditions can change the practical line and paddling time.
  • The map specifically notes active waterfowl hunting from October through February and asks paddlers to respect nesting habitat and private property. Current closure signs and park staff direction override the route card.
  • The stored coordinates are public park access/parking anchors with uncertainty, not surveyed launch-edge points. Do not infer public landings at islands, beaches, private banks, docks, jetties, bridges, or the Indian River inlet.

Watch for

  • NOAA 8558690 Indian River Inlet tide predictions, USGS 01484670 Rehoboth Bay proxy context, local wind/marine forecast, heat, recent weather, visibility, water level, and daylight
  • Savages Ditch kayak-launch condition, New Road access/carry, park entry and parking/fee status, posted closures, waterfowl hunting October–February, nesting habitat, and private shoreline
  • shallow/muddy marsh channels, narrow turns, submerged vegetation, marsh debris, reversing current, wind waves, inlet/marina boat traffic, limited lawful bailout, shuttle keys, and same-launch return margin

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Kayakers paddle through the Delaware Seashore State Park salt marsh during the State of Delaware Paddlefest.
Delaware Seashore State Park salt-marsh paddling context for the Savages Ditch–New Road water trailPhoto by State of Delaware
State of Delaware public-agency image

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named moving-water corridorDelaware State Parks Savages Ditch Road to New Road Rehoboth Bay water trail

    The official park water-trail map names the approximately four-mile course, identifies Savages Ditch and New Road, and provides a loop/out-and-back alternative from either access. This record preserves the bounded park course and does not claim the inlet, ocean, or broader Indian River Bay.

    Source

  • Authoritative public endpoint evidenceDelaware Seashore State Park Savages Ditch kayak launch and New Road access area

    Delaware State Parks’ current map marks the park access/parking locations and describes the launch-to-finish course. Coordinates are official park anchors rather than surveyed wetted-edge points; verify carry, waterline, gate, parking, fee, and closure status in the field.

    Source

  • Proxy tidal-flow evidenceUSGS 01484670 Rehoboth Bay at Dewey Beach, DE, with NOAA 8558690 Indian River Inlet tide predictions

    The USGS station is clearly labeled same-estuary proxy context and NOAA provides the local tide reference. Combine both with current wind, marine forecast, observed water level, channel depth, and route-specific judgment; no numeric cutoff is transferred.

    Source

  • Route-specific safety and seasonal guidanceDelaware State Parks water-trail map and Paddle Coastal Delaware Rehoboth Bay zone guidance

    The park map classifies the course for experienced kayakers, warns about heat, wind, and tide, identifies nesting/private-property controls, and closes the area to recreational use during October–February waterfowl season. The regional trail guide adds local tide, weather, fee/parking, and inlet-traffic context.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby basecamp only

    The route uses day-use park access. Separate Delaware Seashore State Park campground reservations may be available, but no campsite, overnight moorage, marsh-island landing, or private-shore camping is claimed by this route.

    Source

  • Approved route imageryState of Delaware Paddlefest Rehoboth Bay salt-marsh photograph

    The official State of Delaware Paddlefest image supplies route-context imagery for the same Delaware Seashore salt-marsh paddling setting; it does not certify current access, tide, channel condition, seasonal opening, or endpoint landing.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

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Delaware route guideBrowse every tracked Delaware route.Sussex County / Delaware Seashore State ParkJump to routes in this region.

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Quick answers

Rehoboth Bay paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Savages Ditch Road to New Road water trail route on the Rehoboth Bay?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Savages Ditch Road to New Road water trail route on the Rehoboth Bay start and end?

This route starts at Delaware Seashore State Park Savages Ditch kayak launch and ends at Delaware Seashore State Park New Road access area, Approximately 4 tidal salt-marsh miles from Savages Ditch Road to New Road; official park map also permits a loop or out-and-back from either access point on the water.

Is the Savages Ditch Road to New Road water trail route on the Rehoboth Bay suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a hard route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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