Nockamixon State Park

Updated on Dec 09, 2024

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- elevation 440 ft (134 m) Phone +1 215-538-1340		Area 21.38 km² Established 1973

Address 1542 Mountain View Dr, Quakertown, PA 18951, USA Hours Closed now Tuesday6AM–5:45PMWednesday6AM–5:45PMThursday6AM–5:45PMFriday6AM–5:45PMSaturday6AM–5:45PMSunday6AM–5:45PMMonday6AM–5:45PMSuggest an edit Similar Nockamix Boat Rental, Peace Valley Park, Ringing Rocks County P, Little Red Barn Camgrou, Tohickon Family Campgro

Glamp ing at nockamixon state park

Nockamixon State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 5,283 acres (2,138 ha) in Bedminster and Haycock Townships in northern Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is one of the most popular in southeastern Pennsylvania, with most tourists visiting in the summer months.

Mountain biking nockamixon state park

Lake NockamixonEdit

Lake Nockamixon is an artificial reservoir formed by a dam on Tohickon Creek and serves as the centerpiece of Nockamixon State Park. Swimming is not allowed in the lake, but boating is popular, and the park maintains several marinas and boat rentals. Fishing is also popular, and common species include walleye, pickerel, carp, and various kinds of bass and catfish. The water is clean and blue and has a very faint current, since the lake is part of the course of Tohickon Creek, which feeds in midway along the northwestern edge of the lake and discharges at the dam at the southeast corner. Lake Nockamixon is also fed by two other creeks known as Haycock Run, which feeds in at the northernmost point, and Three Mile Run, which feeds in at the southernmost point.

In the winter, the water generally freezes over, allowing for ice skating and ice fishing.

Visitors to the lake can stay in one of several cabins or at a nearby youth hostel.

Another recreational activity at the park is whitewater kayaking. Every March and November, if high water conditions exist, there are timed water releases from the dam for one day. This turns all of Tohickon Creek south of the lake into a whitewater course, and kayakers can go all the way from the lake to where the creek meets the Delaware River.

Horseback ridingEdit

While the northern side of the lake is very friendly to bike riders and walkers, the southern side of the lake is bike free, and therefore very friendly to horseback riding. Horse rentals are available in the Haycock area and riders can park trailers and/or ride to the park from various locations. There are 20+ miles of trails that are horse friendly and well maintained.

HuntingEdit

Hunting is permitted at Nockamixon State Park on about 3,000 acres (1,200 ha). Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are squirrels, turkey, pheasant, and white-tailed deer. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. Hunters are limited to using shotguns at the park as per the regulations established by the Game Commission for southeastern Pennsylvania.

SwimmingEdit

Swimming is prohibited in Lake Nockamixon. The swimming pool is open daily from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm beginning Memorial Day weekend and ending Labor Day weekend. The pool is closed on weekdays the first 2 full weeks of June and the last 2 full weeks of August and is open weekends only during those time periods. The pool is operated by the state and there is an admission fee. The pool is 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) in size and features slides, fountains, and a children's splash area.

HistoryEdit

Creation of the lake was first proposed by the Secretary of the Department of Forests and Water, Dr. Maurice K. Goddard, for recreational uses. It was originally to be called Tohickon Lake, after the creek, but its name was later changed to Nockamixon, meaning "place of soft soil" in the Lenape language. The park today contains several historic Native American sites.

Following its proposal in 1958, the dam was built by the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters. The state park was opened to the public in December 1973.