Nockamixon State Park

Recreation

Lake Nockamixon

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 riding

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.

Hunting

Hunting is permitted at Nockamixon State Park on about 3000 acre. 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.

Swimming

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 acre in size and features slides, fountains, and a children's splash area.

History

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.

In order to create the lake, the state bought 5,286 acres of what was known as the Tohickon Valley, including the community of Tohickon, and surrounding Bucks County areas.

Hostel

The Weisel Hostel, a 100-year-old country estate in the park, is maintained by Hostelling International USA as an 18-bed youth hostel.

Climate

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Nockamixon State Park has a Temperate Continental (Dc) Climate with hot summers (a), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation. Dcao climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F, four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 72.0 °F and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. According to the Köppen climate classification, this climate is Dfa (hot-summer humid continental). Although summers are typically slightly humid at Nockamixon State Park, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values 104 °F. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 101.7 °F on 07/22/2011, and the highest average mean dew point was 74.1 °F on 08/12/2016. The average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.62 inches (168 mm) on 08/27/2011. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of -2.7 °F. Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was -13.7 °F on 01/22/1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values

| Jan record high F = 69.9 | Feb record high F = 77.7 | Mar record high F = 86.6 | Apr record high F = 93.0 | May record high F = 94.2 | Jun record high F = 94.7 | Jul record high F = 101.7 | Aug record high F = 98.6 | Sep record high F = 96.4 | Oct record high F = 88.8 | Nov record high F = 79.5 | Dec record high F = 74.0 | year record high F = 101.7 | Jan record low F = -13.7 | Feb record low F = -6.4 | Mar record low F = 1.3 | Apr record low F = 15.9 | May record low F = 31.3 | Jun record low F = 39.4 | Jul record low F = 45.6 | Aug record low F = 40.3 | Sep record low F = 33.5 | Oct record low F = 22.5 | Nov record low F = 9.9 | Dec record low F = -0.3 | year record low F = -13.7 | Jan dew point F = 20.0 | Feb dew point F = 21.4 | Mar dew point F = 26.9 | Apr dew point F = 36.7 | May dew point F = 47.9 | Jun dew point F = 58.9 | Jul dew point F = 63.1 | Aug dew point F = 62.7 | Sep dew point F = 56.0 | Oct dew point F = 44.3 | Nov dew point F = 34.5 | Dec dew point F = 25.0 | year dew point F = 41.5

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Nockamixon State Park would have dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).

References

References

1. "Nockamixon State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
2. Haycock Historical Society. (2010). "Our Lost Tohickon Valley".
3. "Youth Hostel Quakertown Pennsylvania Budget Backpacker Cheap Hotel".
4. "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". [[United States Department of Agriculture]].
5. "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University".
6. "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)".