Bombay Hook
Smyrna, DE 19977-2912
Plan Your Visit
Stretching eight miles along Delaware Bay and covering 16,251 acres, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge provides extensive habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Most of the refuge is tidal salt marsh with a mix of cordgrass meadows, mud flats, tidal pools, rivers, creeks, and tidal streams. Other habitat includes forests and forested wetlands, freshwater impoundments, and open meadows.
Know Before You Go
- On 2026 HQ hunt days (October 9, November 13, and December 16), all roads and trails are closed, though the Visitor Center remains accessible.
- The refuge is open from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset daily.
- The visitor center is open Monday-Friday (except Federal holidays) year round and on weekends (dependent on weather and volunteer availability) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The visitor center features interpretive exhibits, a multipurpose room, and the Friends Nature gift shop.
- The visitor center is wheelchair accessible.
- During summer months, visitors should bring insect repellent and wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants. Sunblock and water is always recommended.
- Unmanned aircraft systems (Drones) are prohibited.
Entrance fees are available for purchase on Recreation.gov and at the Visitor Center when it is open.
Senior Lifetime, Senior Annual, Interagency Annual, Access and Military Passes are available on Recreation.gov.
Activities
Featured Species
Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community and fish and wildlife by doing what you love.
About
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest remaining expanses of tidal salt marsh in the mid-Atlantic region. Established in 1937, it serves as a critical breeding ground for migrating birds along the Atlantic Flyway and is recognized as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The refuge features diverse habitats including freshwater impoundments and upland forests, and it also manages the historic 18th-century Allee House.