Order of Visit: High Point #25
Date Visited: December 23, 2020
Route Taken: Walk from the corner of Ebright Road and Ramblewood Drive (200 feet roundtrip)
Type of Terrain: Concrete sidewalk and paved street
Elevation: 447.85 feet
Ancestral Lands: Lenni-Lenape
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Most state high points include Mountain, Peak or Hill in their name. But Delaware doesn’t have any mountains. So why is this state high point called an Ebright Azimuth? And is it true that it isn’t actually the state’s highest natural point?
The origin story of Ebright Azimuth begins with James and Grant Ebright, who once owned the property where the geodetic survey marker now sits. Ebright Road was named after their land, so it’s not surprising that local surveyors also used the same name when designating the brass benchmark placed there.
But what about the latter half of the name? Where did that come from?
The word Azimuth is derived from the Arabic word as-sumüt, meaning “the directions.” An azimuth is an angular measurement on a sphere (like our planet). Usually measured in degrees, the concept is commonly used in navigation, astronomy, engineering, mapmaking and surveying. The word is
Thus, Ebright Azimuth is just a routine name designating the user’s location (Ebright Road) when taking other survey measurements. When put into the ground, the Ebright Road survey benchmark was measured at 447.85 feet above sea level, which, at the time, was believed to be the highest natural point in the state of Delaware.
However, in 2007, additional survey by the Delaware Geological Survey (DGS) and National Geodeic Survey (NGS) indicated that several areas about 300 yards west of the Ebright Road had an elevation of approximately two feet higher than the Ebright benchmark.
In fact, you might have noticed the bright blue sign on Ebright Road doesn’t claim to be the state’s highest point. It merely says it’s “in the vicinity of” the highest natural elevation.
Nonetheless, the Highpointer’s Club and the state of Delaware ask that folks please limit their visit to the public marker on Ebright Road instead of trespassing in search of a small spot that might be higher elsewhere.
TRIP SUMMARY
After needing two attempts to summit Borah Peak (Idaho’s nerve-wracking high point) a few months ago, my visit to Delaware’s high point was a walk in the park.
At a meager 447 feet above sea level, Ebright Azimuth requires no skill or physical stamina beyond getting out of your car. It may have been my most mellow state high point since stopping at Britton Hill (in Florida) or Jerimoth Hill (Rhode Island).
Yet, as we found ourselves visiting family in New Jersey this Christmas, I simply couldn’t pass up the short one-hour drive down to Delaware. I wanted to snag my 25th high point before the end of 2020.
During our ride out to Delaware, I was a little worried we might have a bit of trouble on the roads. The East Coast received more than a foot of snow just a few days before our visit. Would the high point marker be buried under a snow pile or treacherous ice?
When we finally turned up Ebright Road though, I could see the bright orange radio tower ahead. And then we saw the open field and the brightly-colored blue Ebright Azimuth sign in front of it. My worries were for naught. The sidewalks were clear and the snow was melting quickly.
There wasn’t any sort of designated parking lot for Ebright Azimuth visitors, so we ended up parking in the residential neighborhood immediately across the street and walking back to the sign.
It seems like the neighborhood is fairly accustomed to people coming in search of this spot. Not only had the town put in a stop sign (so pedestrians could make their way safely across Ebright Road), but there was an island several feet in front of the sidewalk to make it even easier to snag a good photo without blocking traffic.
After a quick photo with the sign, it was time to find the bronze-colored survey benchmark in the ground. It was only about 50 feet away (down near the section of sidewalk that bizarrely zigzags), but when we got there, it was completely hidden by muck and mud from the melting snow. If I hadn’t known to look for it, I might have missed it entirely!
I used the heel of my shoe to wipe the 1/4 inch of mud away and reveal the disc underneath. Then, I grabbed a handful of nearby snow to clean the etched letters on the monument to the point where you could actually read it. With just a little effort, I’d successfully found my 25th state hight point! Woohoo. Halfway there!
After 10 minutes, it was time to head back to the car for the return drive to New Jersey. I got a bit of a kick of checking off one more high point with such little effort. 2020 had been a crazy year all around, and few things in life were this easy.
details
When to Visit: Ebright Azimuth can be visited year-round.
Getting There: Delaware’s highest point sits a mere 400 feet from the state’s border with Pennsylvania and is located 7 miles north of Wilmington, DE. It’s also just 28 miles south of Philadelphia, PA.
Entrance Fees: None.
Parking: The easiest place to park during your visit is in the residential neighborhood on Ramblewood Drive -just opposite from where the sign and benchmark are located. There is no parking along Ebright Road, and there are several private roads (on the west side of Ebright Road) that have signs warning visitors not to park there.
Safety: Near the intersection of Ebright Road and Ramblewood Drive, the road curves around a small raised island. Visitors can safely use the island to take their photos of the blue Ebright Azimuth sign without blocking traffic or getting hit by a car.
Accessibility: Suitable for any ability level.
Bonus: Since this high point will take relatively little energy, why not round out your day with a visit to Independence Hall in Philadelphia? The Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were both signed in this historic building. And when you’re done, you can head next door to the museum to visit the iconic Liberty Bell.
Resources:
- Ebright Azimuth (Summit Post)
- Highest Point in Delaware (The Delaware Geological Survey)
- Independence Hall (National Park Service)
- Liberty Bell (National Park Service)