Edward H. McCabe Preserve

Broadkill River
© Stephen Kirkpatrick

Why You Should Visit
The McCabe Preserve offers opportunities to observe a wide range of Delaware's ecosystems, including tidal marshes, upland forests and Atlantic white cedar swamp. A canoe trail links the historic town of Milton with the preserve along the Broadkill River, and a three-mile hiking trail system allows visitors to enjoy the tremendous natural diversity and beauty of the McCabe Preserve.

Location
Sussex County, near Milton.
Directions

How to Prepare for Your Visit
Access to the preserve is available through both hiking trails and the canoe trail which links the McCabe preserve with the town of Milton. A brochure on the Greenway canoe trail is available at the Milton boat ramp, or contact the Conservancy's Delaware chapter at delaware@tnc.org.

Download a brochure (.pdf, 944 kb):
Edward H. McCabe Preserve and Greenway Trail

When visiting, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

Walk, jog, or rest on existing trails.
Observe nature, including the preserve's diverse plants, animals, and habitats.
Be aware of ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, and poison ivy. We strongly recommend long sleeves, pants, socks, comfortable shoes, and insect repellent. Wearing light-colored clothing will make it much easier to spot and remove ticks.
Remove your trash (or someone else's, if you don't mind) from the preserve. Enjoy yourself.
Do not bring your pets. No pets are allowed on Nature Conservancy preserves in Delaware.
Do not smoke or start fires of any kind.
Do not ride bicycles or use any motorized vehicles.
Do not remove any plants, animals, or other naturally occurring features from the preserve.

Hours
Dawn to dusk.

What to See: Plants
McCabe's marshes and wetlands provide important habitat for a number of rare and biologically important plants, including

Bluejoint
River bulrush
Seaside alder
Red maple
Sweet pepperbush
Spatterdock
Sweet flag
Swamp rose
Tulip poplar
White cedar

What to See: Animals
The diverse landscape of the McCabe Preserve supports more than 100 species of migratory and nesting birds including waterfowl, raptors and songbirds. The highlight of the avian year is the passage of migratory songbirds on their way north in the spring. Birder list

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The environment of the McCabe preserve offers the opportunity to protect a wide range of habitats, plants and animals within a relatively small area (143 acres). The McCabe preserve provides critical habitat for a number of imperiled species, helping the Conservancy further its mission of preserving Delaware's biodiversity.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The preserve was donated the Conservancy in 1993 by Constance P. McCabe, who wished the property to be maintained in its natural state in perpetuity as a memorial to her late husband and grandson. The Conservancy manages the Edward H. McCabe Preserve as a natural area, allowing controlled public use. While virtually all of the upland forests on the Delmarva Peninsula have been altered by repeated logging, the Conservancy's stewardship of this property is allowing the young woods on the preserve to naturally grow into mature forest.

After your visit to the McCabe Preserve stop by and explore the historic town of Milton.