Trap Pond Bald Cypress
Nanticoke Watershed, Delaware · 42 ft
Typical peak
Oct 20 – Oct 28
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces E (100°)
The northernmost natural stand of bald cypress in the country, standing in tannin-dark water that turns rust-orange in early November. From the day-use shore you shoot east across the pond into the flooded trunks and their reflections.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
low
Usually quieter, especially around dawn.
Getting there
From DE 24 east of Laurel take Trap Pond Road to the Baldcypress Nature Center lot; the shoreline and boat launch are about 100 yards away.
What turns here
- bald cypress
- red maple
- sweetgum
- black gum
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 24Typical color progression for Trap Pond Bald Cypress. No change from Sep 16 to Oct 3. First color from Oct 3 to Oct 12. Approaching peak from Oct 12 to Oct 20. Peak from Oct 20 to Oct 28. Past peak from Oct 28 to Nov 7. Bare from Nov 7 to Nov 21.
Trap Pond Bald Cypress is typically at past peak on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
66°F / 47°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Trap Pond Bald Cypress on October 24, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:52 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 104° | 7:20 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light | 7:56 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:46 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset | 5:35 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 255° | 6:12 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:39 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 10h 52m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sunrise: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Sunset: front-lit
Sun behind you. Flat, even light — accurate color, little drama. Good for wide valley scenes, weak for single trees.
Classic composition faces E (100°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.
- Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Past peak
Maryland · 35 mi away
4 ft · peaks Oct 24 - Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Past peak
Delaware · 51 mi away
7 ft · peaks Oct 22 - U.S. National Arboretum Past peak
Washington, D.C. · 84 mi away
53 ft · peaks Oct 23 - White Clay Creek State Park Past peak
Delaware · 85 mi away
144 ft · peaks Oct 20